Eador: Genesis

About problems with shattered sound and framerates on W7. I have the same when I connect USB headphones. So I disconnect them and use just onboard soundcard with standard (not USB) speakers - it works fine. If you have same problem you can try to disconnect any non-necessary audio (or USB) devices. As for game - it is nice but not in the league with HOMAM, AOW and similar. If you already played those, you will probably like it. If not, try HOMAM, King's bounty or AOW (all on GOG) first. Biggest disadvantage I see is you don;t transfer anything (hero) from map to map, thus you start always from the beginning and it is basically each time the same story, it can get boring/grindig quite soon.

Likely the best 4x game ever made. Eador Genesis pushes the boundaries and makes some of the competition look simple in comparison. Yes, it is repetitive, but so are all other 4x games. Difference here is that the repetition is meaningful - it advances your heroes and empire in a way that tests your brain with each turn, and if you do it right, the map is yours for the taking. The game is very challenging with an excellent tactical map, varied heroes, lots of units and balanced gameplay. Expect to spend a lot of hours learning the mechanics of the game and the building tree. In the beginning, you start with a home province and must proceed to expanding into outer provinces, and for this task, and ultimately the victory over other lords, you can recruit four different heroes, each having their strengths and weaknesses. At your disposal you get hundreds of different units and spells to kill and counter whatever the game throws at you. One of the strongest aspects of Eador Genesis is that each new game is fairly unique, requiring you to adapt your playstyle according to situation. It's not a perfect game, for example sometimes the building tree can feel like a chore to research, but I hold it as the best of its kind, having played most other 4x games.

People have been writing nice reviews, so I figured for a game under $6 it's worth a try. I downloaded it at 8:00 p.m. and the next thing I know I've been playing it until 2:00 in the morning and wishing I had taken the next day off from work. All for a deceivingly simply looking little RPG that I didn't think I'd really get a kick out of. This game is something that those who played the first generation of computer RPG's in the 80's and early 90's will really enjoy. The graphics aren't going to win any modern 3D CGI awards, as you would expect, but it works well, is colorful, and shows youu all the necessary information without being too cluttered -and it manages to do it in a charming, eye-pleasing way. The game shines in an important way that newer games have abandoned as they push ever onwards with flashier graphics - a sense of achievement. The story isn't terribly deep, but it doesn't need to be and it doesn't detract from the feeling that you're actually making headway and building up your different conquered lands; that you're growing more skilled and more powerful. And indeed there is a decent amount of simple strategy involved both in and outside of battles, so you will find yourself becoming more and more interested in the outcome of your actions. The first part of the "Campaign" (which you can choose from the loading screen) is more like a tutorial and is a great way to get started on an easy level, learn the basics in a few short minutes, and then run free. The tutorial is fleshed out with a bit more than just the typical "click here to do stuff" messages and is very forgiving, so you don't have to worry about throwing the game away because the tutorial turns you off. It's been a long time since I've downloaded an inexpensive game where I didn't immediately realize that I should have bought something else. It's been even longer since I got one that made me forget to go to bed. Highly recommended for: Those who prefer a patient, rewarding gaming experience over a fast, bloody FPS.

I'm sure there's a great game here but i got incredibly poor performance from the title screen onwards that makes the game practically unplayable, I have a modern Windows 7 machine that shouldn't really be having any problems. Hopefully this is something that will be ironed out with future updates.

This game isn't terribly old, still it looks old because of the (excellent) 2D graphics. Besides my personal preference of 2D over 3D, there is such an attention to the details, that makes the world almost living. There are a number of races (humans, elves, orcs, goblins, centaurs, dwarves and many more), random events with different moral approaches (that have serious consequences in the long term), a sect of inquisitors that can claim the right to 'punish' some of your provinces or even invade them, and a ton of other contents. What makes this game great, is that all this content doesn't distract from the strategy, it's part of it and makes it richer. Eador is the quintessence of the strategy game, and it is very hard and unforgiving. The gameplay itself is rather similar to the most illustrious of the fantasy strategy games, Master of Magic. In the campaign mode you have to fight over shards, small worlds of their own, whose size is tiny or small at first and becomes bigger as the game progresses. Fortunately, if you lose in one shard the game isn't over, you can still progress. It is a sort of matryoshka, where the battle on each shard is part of a bigger picture. Every victory on a shard grants knowledge of new buildings and units, and more astral energy income. To make it short, this is a game that you could play for a lifetime, like MoM, without getting bored. That's why it's a masterpiece, for me. My best buy on GOG together with Geneforge Saga.