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Fantasy Wars is a turned-based tactical strategy game for the PC with 3 campaigns featuring an in-depth storyline. Set in a fantasy world rife with war. The game is played in a hex format that strategy gamers will be used to. However, when zoomed out, the players will see their unit represented more accurately with, for example, the actual number of orcs in your orc archer unit. While zoomed out, you'll also be able to see the battles take place in real-time.

I also absolutely loved Fantasy General, like others who have reviewed this game, and indeed, it very much feels like Fantasy General, 2010, in many ways. (I must admit though, I liked the music in Fantasy General more)

This game is really tough. In fact it's so tough, you could easily spend hundreds of hours playing it and trying to find just the right blend of attack troops that work to your best advantage in a heated battle. You really have to use artillery attacks, archers, hand-to-hand troops, flying attacks and the occasional spell, just to succeed in a battle. Because it's turn-based, you have much time to try to make the right decisions. I did finally finish the game, playing all three factions, but it was at the expense of playing about 50-70 hours a week, for probably over a month. (and, I admit, I had to resort to using cheats for some battles as it was so difficult, I could not see a way to win without them, and as I said, I played "easy")

There isn't much the developer could do to make this a better game though. The only suggestions I could make would be to provide a random map generator, as this would definitely add to re-playability. Part of the fun of such a game is exploring the unknown, and once you've played all the maps, why would you want to play them again?

If you like to use your brain and not your reflexes, this is the game for you. It is a turn based strategy game, with it's roots in the old SSI Fantasy General.
The graphics are good, and the campaign is lengthy. You will lose some battles until you develop a personal battle system. Leveling your hero and the individual units is key to success. Losing a unit that you have developed over several battles really HURTS. It's a strategy that strategy WORKS!

I have not opened this game, because I bought it thinking it was a roleplaying game but found out after buying it it is not so I will sell it, trade it or give it away.

So in all fairness I can not really rate it at all.

If you are like me, and loved playing the old 5-star series of Panzer General Games and related - this is the game for you. This is a game very comparable to Fantasy General. I only hope these guys redo the WWII stuff next.

First the basics:

Video - 4.5; Positives include generally crisp resolution in higher settings, excellent terrain. Negatives are include character models, which are less convincing as well as some cinematics.

Sound - 5; excellent sound and musical score. Music was appealing and seemed broadly "period correct" - whatever that is for a fantasy game!

Gameplay - 4.5; Positives include ease of play and user interface, which is very intutive, as well as in-game battle sequences and sounds (though you have to get close to the action to really hear the sounds, which is realistic, I suppose). Spells effects are decent, overall, though most of the actual impact on troops is marginal. With a couple of noted exceptions, the magic takes definite second stage to the battle elements.

Atmosphere - 4; I found the maps and story line to be engaging and immersive, within the limits of a turn-based wargame (v. a first person game). Lanscapes and buildings were overall well done and evoked the right reactions.

Replayability - 3 (5); Not much, unless you want to play it again at a differnt difficulty level or try some different units or tactics since the overall storyline is the same. There is a map editor and if you can master that (I'm still playing with it trying to figure out how to get a scenario to work) so you can make your own scenarios, maps, etc... If I can get it to work, I would raise my score to a 5, but so far, I complete the scenario build and everything looks OK, but then won't load in the game when launched. In fairness, this could just be me - I have to believe it works, but figuring it out is not intuitive and there is no real manual.

Commentary: Overall, I found the game one of the more enjoyable and engaging fantasy wargames I have played in some time. I admit I strongly prefer turn-based wargames that are NOT RTS (Real Time Strategy - but actually have little strategy and are mostly just "gather resources/build structures/produce troops" efforts with little or no real military tactics or strategy). Fantasy Wars is - refreshingly - NOT an RTS, but a thoughtful turn-based strategy/tactics game with NO resource gathering, NO structure building, and troops are purchased/recruited rather than produced in structures. The only resource is gold (money), which you get for accomplishing missions or taking ground in cities.

So if you like turn-based wargames, and a fantasy theme is up your alley, this is a great game (as is Eleven Legacy, the sequel to this game and using the same game engine). On the other hand, if you really like the RTS "gather/build/produce" games, Fantasy Wars probably won't be what you are looking for.

In the end, with a few tweaks, this would have made a GREAT engine for nearly any historical wargame (ancients to medieval or early renaissance) or, with the right licensing and graphics changes, for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I especially think of the Hobbit, and the Battle of Fice Armies, and how well this game would model that with the right changes (goblins riding wolves instead of hyenas, etc...). Great game.