I also played other great RPGs like Dragons Age, but this one really deserves best Game so far for me. It is not for everybody, but if you want a game with unparalleled freedom and meaningful decisions and you do not flinch from turn based combat, than you should try this game. The atmosphere of this game is supported by a great cast of voice actors which also have all their movements recorded, so you can immerse yourself even into the feelings of your companions and a huge world of fantasy and magic. There are so many possibilities and options you can chose from and the quests are so rich, that the replay-ability is really great. I already finished the game once and have started multiple other playthrews, because I wanted to see how the other character builds are working. Larian also brought huge updates with additional content after launch, so they really care about the game. If you care about RPG and you don't flinch from turn based you should play this game and not miss out on this piece of art!
I decided not to buy the game, at least until it is massively discounted. Reason: In former times, you got a manual with every game you bought. Here you have to buy the double priced version of it,to get a manual (according to the "features" list). When I buy some electronic equipment for a similar price in Germany, I could sue the vendor for not giving me a manual. I think, I am in-line with many comments here. Vendor: Please take more considerations in pricing, the next time! I might add more review, when I bought the game ... but ...
The whole setup and the ideas of the game are very good and also playing it is fun. But there are some drawbacks (at least in the Steam version that I own): * Difficulty can be rather unbalanced at times. Some scenarios can be real difficult and then the next scenario (with supposedly higher difficulty level) will be outrageously simple. * Ok, my Windows PC is not the newest one, but most games with much higher graphic demand work real good with it. But this game is ridiculous slow, when changing screens. Even when going back from a scenario to the overview or the entry screen, you wait and wait and wait and nothing seems to happen. At least, inside one scenario, the game shows no performance problem. Without these problems, it would be a clear 5star game for me. So, when you look for a colorful, funny and fun game with Fantasy-flair, this is a good place to look for. But be aware, that after a while, the game also can become a little tedious.
I was a little afraid, because somebody wrote something about a platformer -- and I normally don't play platformers, because they fast become incredible frustrating to me. But this game is no platformer, but a very intelligent puzzler. It is very interesting, what they made out of the very limited basics of the game. Also the puzzles are very challenging without becoming frustrating. All the puzzles are solvable by logic instead of hand-eye-coordination (like many platformers do). Very elaborate, challenging and fun. Full five.
On my machine, castles 2 had some serious bugs (at least it seemed to me that it must be a bug) and castles 1 did crash on start. The fights in castles 2 are also very old fashioned and the interface is "clumsy" at best. Seems, that this title did not age well and having these video clips and speech inside the game does not make up for it. This is my biggest disappointment in GOG games till now, because I trusted all these good reviews, but many did report their experience decades from now, it seems.
I did not expect to much, since some of the reviews here where quite negative. First of all: The controls might not be as polished as in other games, but I think they are rather good. I don't care if other games close the inventory with the second press on I -- it is not *that* important. There are always things that could be better. Some positives to counter the critics: a) the inventory system is rather good (I have seen many that where not halve as good) b) Have the critics here ever tried the path-finding? I think it is really neat that I can point on a position far away on the map and unless no big obstacles or enemies are in between, your party will find the way. That is a big relief when you have to travel the same map several times -- just lean back. Of course it would be still better to have a time-warp facility ... but who wants to be impudent? Also the story and the whole content is rather deep (deeper than I expected after reading the critics). Of course it is no Bioware classic, but where do you find one today? I want to say: "Hey guys, what do you want? This is a three head company!" The big games are made by dozens or even hundreds of people. Of course there is more polishing possible and much more work goes into storytelling, side-quests etc. ... Such things can not be done to the detail by small companies today. But the story is rather rich and new. Anybody who likes complex RPGs and turn-based combat, should give this one a try!
It is a good turn based game with minimalistic graphics. As a turn based enthusiast, I don't worry about that much. Also it has a really amazing big scope with many possibilities. What I am really missing is a good background story. The background story that is contained is more a generic container for fighting everywhere. But not much flesh for the people who want also to be inspired .... I also can't see that the campaign is a really campaign, it seams to be more like an tutorial. Also (as much I could see from my experiences of two days) the choice of different unit types is rather limited. That would be the biggest drawback of course for those who don't care about background stories. Also what I did not like is, that after a while the hero is so decisive for the play, that the other units are nearly neglectable, even when they also can grow in experience -- but their power grows so slow and they are so fast killed, that building up an army can be very very frustrating. Only three points from my side, because of the lacking background and the limited unit types. Also much to develop for the hero -- but the army is just very limited. So, 5 stars minus two (1 background, 1 unit types). No minus for the graphics, since it is ok for an indie game.
I come back to this again and again. Because it is unbeaten still. No other strategy game did convince me like that. It is sad that the following games did not follow the path -- they where better looking but did not give that playing value at all. The graphics are simple compared to todays standard, but what graphics do you need for a strategy game? The graphics are fully adequate to the job and it is much better then other titles in the series. The units are easy to distinguish and are simple to identify. Not all games in the 5Star-Series did comply to that. If you like 2nd WW, if you like turn based strategy, if you don't need the newest hires graphics .... You definitively *must* try this, if you did not before. You will not regret!
How does it come, that the predecessor of a game is claimed as a clone? One poster gave this good game a one star rating, because it would be a "Elven Legacy" clone. Fact is, Elven Legacy is the successor of Fantasy Wars. I also found Fantasy Wars more fun as Elven Legacy -- though I must admit that Fantasy Wars is technically a little behind -- but that campaigns where more fun to me. Fantasy Wars was the reason, I bought Elven Legacy -- because it was really appealing to me. Ok, I don't need all the animations and stuff and games like Panzer General are far more balanced and more playable ... but it is a really good adaptation of the game mechanics into the fantasy realm and Magic gives further twists (though sometimes annoying). So, this is a five star rating for me. Panzer General II of course would get a 7 star rating -- if it ever will be published via gog!
