Well, this game is quite easy, it has engine that allows you to create your empire fantasies. If you're a racist that's fine, if you're a green skin enjoyer that's cool too. If you want to be a human that's okay as well.
Want to be a bird? No problem.
The spells aren't hard to grasp, one session is all it takes to almost fully understand all of the mechanics needed to enjoy the gameplay.
No tutorial that is annoying to go through.
Overall a pretty good experience.
That's my first Age of Wonders game I've actually played, I remember seeing adds for the AoW and AoW2 as a kid, and now I can finally enjoy it myself.
It is a bit pricey for what it is.
Combat is enjoyable, heroes-style, I'd say The endless Space 2 is the better 4x but I don't enjoy the combat there.