This game is considered to be the least strong of the LoK games, and for obvious reasons. The bugs when this game first came out were annoying, and now you have to jump through a couple hoops to make this game function. You have to: 1. find the fan made patch to put a dll file into the main folder 2. when you run the game, you have to go to control panel and change the 'affinity' of the game to use only 1 core, instead of the like 2 or more that most CPUs are using nowadays With that said, I have always had a soft spot for BO2, and actually consider the game play (despite the bugs) to be a bit more creative than SR2, though the plot driving dialogue in that other game was more valuable to the story. BO2 (if it didn't have the bugs) would actually be perhaps one of the most unique additions to the franchise. It is still dark fantasy at its best, and exploring the terrain (city especially) was a lot of fun. The only other thing that this game had going against it were the plot holes (like Vorador being alive) that never got a proper answer, but was supposed to get an answer in a later LoK game per true LoK fashion. With that said, go into this game knowing it's limitations, but if you do the above fixes, you should be fine and get it to run.
Blizzard was once a great company. The GOG.com versions of WC1 and WC2 are thankfully still around after the Microsoft acquisition of Activision. One can only pray that WC3 eventually is released to GOG.com so the old school classic vr. of the game is restored.
No Activison. No Microsoft. Just Blizzard goodness with some slight updates that makes this the closest thing you are going to get to the classic. Thank you GOG.
Difficult game by modern standards in a number of respects, like if you don't capture all the points on the battle map...you are boned. Needless to say the gameplay is unforgiving of those that are careless. With all that said, I LOVE the army manager and found myself on the battle map having to think carefully where I deploy my people. My only real gripe is that dragons and spellcasters are a bit too underpowered to be effective in combat, you have to be choosey with those units.
This gets a 5/5 from me. I recommend a youtube tutorial on how to properly build a "city block" to make sure resources are given to your citizens in the most efficient possible. I tried playing it when I was much younger and didn't understand that concept, so that is a good place to start if you want to know how to make your city actually function without people starving or getting mad all of the time (while you have enemies attack your palace). With that being said, this game is very charming. Love the deep dive (but tongue in cheek) stab at Greek mythology and stories. You will find yourself immersed trying to please a god or hold a horde of wine-thirsty centaurs back! A game appropriate for all ages, they keep the crude stuff out, but give just enough to where adults too can enjoy it (I still ocassionaly play it after having played it over a decade ago at this point). I doubt we will ever see a remake or a sequel by the same people, but if they ever did, you can rest assured that this gamer would be happy. This one is a MUST HAVE for your collection, especially if you are into city builders with some fun not-so-serious backdrop, while still somehow making you feel immersed in ancient lore.
I am giving this game a 5/5, though it probably deserves a 4/5 for some of the strange places where it falters against expectations. I left a side review for the DLC, which unfortunately fell flat, this vanilla/original release of this game though is a strategy game in its own right. True, there are other games out there that use similar mechanics, so it is not necessarily the most original in this strategy game genre, BUT it more than makes up for it in terms of creativity. PROS: -Military structures or OOB concept is very in depth -Custom designing models/units -Logistics & resource management actually matters -Tactics/Strategies (like defeat your enemy in detail) are viable methods -Lots of original lore on these fallout-theme alien worlds -Interesting nation building mechanics with some intriguing political UI CONS: -Can't custom name things that you could in say a CIV game (like small towns or terrain features) -In respect to the military or OOB, I don't like how when a unit is destroyed, you can't seem to properly resurrect it with the same name (custom names disappear) -The UI, as hinted at here, can be a bit odd in places where you don't expect it, like when units disappear (destroyed) and you bring them back, they don't sort themselves in Unit number order, which makes your OOB menu kind of a cluster to deal with -Lack of naval assets, that the DLC attempts to deliver, but does not deliver actual boats I know some of the CONS seem kind of nit picky, but I like the idea of being more immersed into a fantasy/sci-fi setting where I can go to town naming locations. Also, you can't customize the unit designation number on the unit icons (which is weird), so you will have mismatched units with your customized names. I will say this, the game has so much promise or at the very least the promise of a future where strategy games make a comeback. If the studios improves on the flaws (UI mostly) then any sequels are sure to be worth considering. Try this one.
I like the original game a lot, and in fact am leaving another review for that game seperate right now. What starst out as an interesting concept in the original sort of teeters and lands flat with this DLC. I am not mad I spent the money, it was cheap and I do hope this studios creates more content. However, I think time would have been better spent programming actual watercraft you can put to the Ocean, instead of the current "contracts" system with water tribals. Over time I figured out how to use the contracts, but the AI (even on beginner) becomes obscenly obnovious with the overuse of the transport contracts, leaving you having to constantly defend your shores from foreign invaders you can do virtually nothing about, especially if you hit a lag in certain key resources. Like I said, original is fine, but I just get frustrated at the fact that if I had the option to build ships to keep the shores of my soverign country safe, then I would much rather do that than have to use the political game to keep everyone happy. I love the military use in the game, but sweet Jesus it would have been amazing to apply that to the ocean as well. I call this one a missed opportunity.
Buckle yourself in and enjoy this classical tale of a man turned into a vampire against his will. He embarks on a journey of revenge only to be drawn deeper into a plot that sees him topple the established order and on quest to do the impossible, change the fate of the whole world! If you have never played a Legacy of Kain game, I suggest starting here. My first LoK experience was Soul Reaver back in the day, but when I went back to play Blood Omen, I had a good time. This game has always moved a bit sluggish, but the DIALOGUE and the SCRIPT are down right Shakespearean in depth. You find yourself immersed several games into this franchise pondering the deeper questions of morality, philosophy, and multiverse theory.
If you are used to new games...you might hesitate picking up these titles...but trust me...it is worth picking up this bit of gaming history. Warcraft 1 has aged hard, due to the only selecting 1 unit at a time. Warcraft 2 has aged better, but you if you have played newer strategy games you may feel the wear on it too. This by no means detracts from the play. There is still a good deal of CHARM to this game that titles in the decades that followed have never fully been able to replicate...aside of course from Warcraft 3 (improvement in every way except for maybe the removal of water craft). If I had to give a game to someone that has NEVER tried strategy games before...these would be the first thing to give them. Everything they play after will make them appreciate how far we have come in such a short time. Also, the Orc 3 song from the Warcraft 2 soundtrack you can find online...perfection.
If you have WIN10...just turn away. I should have known that updating would impact so much, but older games to include this MARVELOUS GEM OF A GAME won't function properly or do wonky things. I have attempted multiple solutions to get it to function properly without having (patchwork tiles appear everywhere in map editor and in-game to include FREEZES), and some people can't even get the game to work anymore. There is no actual FIX in sight from GOG or whomever is responsible for keeping these things patched for public consumption. So until they get serious about that. Save your money and the heart break. It is a shame because this is one of the golden games of the early 21st century that shaped strategy games to come...now just an abandoned relic unable to keep up with RAPIDLY changing WINDOWS money-grabbers.
