Posted on: May 26, 2020
Machinators
Verified ownerGames: Reviews: 75
New & old content, is it worth it?
This expansion adds a lot of content but not all of it is brand new to the series, such as world events, which came as an expansion in AOW3. Nonetheless, it's a welcoming returning. New content includes a new race (Shakarn) and NPC dwelling, which resemble real life animals (foxes, deers, goats) but more humanoid... aesthetically fitting for the AoW series but the "cuteness" of them might put players off as they tend to downplay the serious undertones of the game. Let's get this out the way: the Shakarn are NOT Draconians from AOW3, they are more like the Halflings of the game metawise; rather squishy and easy to kill but they have some unique abilities. The Shakarn look cool but they are severely underpowered given their low HP and low damage output from further-ranged attacks. My favourite aspects of the expansion are the gameplay modifiers and as mentioned this covers world events. There are a few new exploration sites, new customisation items and Voidbringer invasions, which bring an "impending doom" feel to the game should you wish to experience it. It's a refreshing touch to keep each match interesting as you're forced to adapt tactics once they arrive and they effect ALL commanders, not just you. If you're looking for more of these gameplay changes then you'll want to look into the just-added free base game patch that adds and fixes many things but one of them is the new diplomacy system with added personality traits. They make making allegiances and choosing who to ally and betray more of a tactical choice now that each commander are unique in terms of AI capabilities. So, the expansion, is it worth it? If you love the game then definitely, if you don't then this won't suddenly win you over, but if you're new to this game (or series) it might seem a little overwhelming but it DOES add lots of cool things for you to do. In conclusion, this is a must-buy for established fans and perhaps a sale otherwise.
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