If you like Xcom, you'll definitely enjoy this one. I really liked the recent Xcom games but couldn't find others that satisfied that itch. Xenonauts in particular was very lacking. However, Phantom Doctrine is really nice and the whole "spy vs spy" feel is fun, story is nice and the puzzles where you have to connect clues together add to the overall atmosphere. It's not perfect but it's really good.
I have this game on Steam and i can say it's the best recent game in the genre. I was never a big fan of Age of Wonders (the designs always felt a bit too bland and "neat" for some reason) but love the Homm series. The Eador games were subpar and overall, no recent game really captivated me. There is now one. Songs of Conquest has really nice changes to the heroes formula. The way settlements work is excellent, same for the magic system (which you might find confusing at first). You will sometimes sacrifice troop efficiency for better magic uses as it can be crucial in fights. Some spells can totally change the way the battle is going even though damage is not the focus of this magic system. The different factions feel very distinct too. The visuals are incredible, this is the best mix of 3D and pixel art i've seen. Special mention to the zooming when you finish a fight :) If you like HOMM, Spellforce, Age of Wonders and other games in that genre, buy this. You won't regret it.
Crashed 10 times in 1 hour of gameplay, you have to quick save every 2 minutes because of this. Disappearing UI, graphical glitches, it's just not a finished game. Looks like an early alpha to me.
