Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic - Gameplay with Commentary

[bludshedx]

Awesome video, thanks! I always wanted to play and enjoy one of these turn based strategy games. For the likes of me, and I don't know why, I just could never get into HOMM3. There was just something about it that kept putting me off it. Just bought a copy of this on gog.com (50% off this weekend for anyone interested) and hope this is my foot into the genre!

Could not agree more with you more on the graphics. Some genre's should be kept 2d and refined artistically rather than go full 3D, IMHO!

[fetteforskrudd]

You cannot judge every "Heroes of Might and Magic" just from "trying" Heroes 5 (which is the WORST in the series). My opinnions: Heroes 3 is by far the best. 1 and 2 is also very good. 4 is meh, 6 is bad.

[godlessCommie7]

Great commentary! This games on sale on Steam and this pushed my other the edge to pick it up.

[Warcheiftin]

i played the original was lots of hours of fun :)

[DeZxSNiiPeR]

Nice i had this game a wil get it soon and subscribe

[ObsidianHellWolf]

The only reason why I'm favouriting this is because of your accent. <3

[Danny6984]

Is there any game like this one but more advanced in graphics? I've been loking for a game like dominating a map type of game(RTS) but I would like to be in the battles. For example I send a army and theres like a ''hero'' in it but I can actually play the hero maybe in a first person combat. I dont know something like that

[darthbandon10]

@Danny6984 Dawn of War II i guess? Don't know why people are such graphics whores, if they're functional then gameplay\AI\balance is more important surely?

[hamerschy]

thumbs up if minecraft sign near minecraft logo at start is written age of wonders is better and u searched it :D

[ghjgdjgyd]

@hamerschy did that too xD never heard of this game b4

[sirmoglok]

try heroes 3! my favourite turn-based strategy game of all time. I'll give age of wonders & warlords 3 a shot.

[sirmoglok]

i don't at all like heroes of might & magic 5. but i LOVE heroes of might & magic 3!! still play it!

[DaiReith]

Sooo.....this kind of like an advanced Monster of Magic?

[Silkorvelvet]

It's a shame this game isn't known as much as he deserves to be.

I was a regular player of the first age of wonders, who stays in my memories as one of the greatest games I've ever tried. It's simple :

- The map editor is easy

- The hero customization is verry advanced

- The fight are epic, and require sometimes a verry talent in strategies (when you're outnumbered, but you know you can still win by doing the right movement or spell).

It's fantasy, it's magic, and it's awesome. =)

[ByPolerBear]

please make more! :D

[mhd112211]

It's one of "those" dry games!

[bud389]

You think THIS is complex, try playing Dwarf Fortress.

[myFragx3]

i got here through minecraft :D

[RoyalFireFoxVIDZ]

i came here from minecraft.

anyone else?

it said with yellow letters..

"AGE OF WONDERS IS BETTER"

i would like to hear that from you guys.

[Wispwor]

@RoyalFireFoxVIDZ Yea I did :P

[SnugOFP]

Never use quick battle. Its so bugged. I lost a entire army to 2 of the worst units in the game using that system. I was infuriated. Now I always use manual even if its to capture something small.

[madclowntapia]

yes it's a simple game... but the AI was STUPENDOUS!!!

that was 1 of the high points for me....

have you figured out any way to make warlords 3 DLR or RoH play on windows 7?

what about heroes of etheria.... is it good? compared to 3 that is

[TheFinalHighlander]

@madclowntapia I don't have Windows 7 yet so I couldn't say, but I can't imagine there would be much of a problem. In a lot of ways Windows 7 is better at backwards compatibility than XP. Heroes of Etheria is awful, it was universally hated by fans. I thought it had a few nice ideas like hero retinues that could be taken from game to game, but in every other way it was bad. Like, if you lose your capital city then it's game over, even if you have a million cities standing.

[madclowntapia]

@TheFinalHighlander

thanks for the heads up

i decided to dl and try heroes of might and magic III

it works... crashes occasionally.. but auto saves so u don;t lose anything much.

but it sucks...i'm convinced there's some glitch towards to computer

[TheFinalHighlander]

@madclowntapia I had the same experience. I bought it from GOG to try just recently. I get the feeling that it's one of those games that you really had to play back in the day, because I just can't get into it at all.

[iamLI3]

@TheFinalHighlander do yourself a favor and don't get windows fucking gay 7 , it's a piece of shit......

also i have this game , the first one maybe , not sure but aside from the one starting song in the random maps game i didn't like the game at all.....

only turn based game i could ever stand to play is advance wars , and i freaking love that franchise......

[wowathena]

<3 this game too.Yeh bout gold problems u mentioned earlier,i used to mass produce a lot of settlers to make new towns cause each new erected town is simply like a free goldmine,and its get better as time progress.Heroes in this game can become extremely powerful,specially in campaign when they get carried over to next scenario,try to weak enemy using ur army then deliver killing blow with heroes asap.And eventually hell become super strong.In AoW1 u could disband ur unit then kill it with hero.

[pidromonz]

i like your video, it's good , but don't like the game so much , like heroes 3 better and bounty:the legend

[Mauritiux]

If you like turn based strategy games then try out disciples 2 you will like it.

[Gultgolv]

Hey man, really liked your video. The quality is great and I can read what all the menus say so don't worry about that. AoWII:SM really is a magnificent game, though you should really play AoWI aswell. It has a different tone and feel (more cartoony and playful, with Dire Penguins etc) but is well worth the time. Neither is better than the other and there's nothing stopping you from enjoying both! My only gripe with AoWII is that characters eventually get OP (lvl30 with a Twister is just GG...).

[polarlarve]

A new Play and Ramble... I have been waiting for this for years!

[AustinKay]

I've been playing the original Age of Wonders for almost like 10 years, are the newer ones as good?

[TheFinalHighlander]

@AustinKay I bought the original game as well just to have it but I haven't played it much. The community over at Heaven Games only really focusses on Shadow Magic now and even releases unofficial patches for it so I take that as a sign that it's regarded as the best but I don't know enough to say either way myself.

[JoeBauer11]

This game looks pretty good. I am a fan of RTS, might have to try this one out!

[BATTERIESc]

yea , you are right 3d isnt necessary

[icein88]

This game is so awesome that it want allow fraps to record this video.

[kalashnikov96]

YOU REMIND ME OF THE BABE.

WHAT BABE?

BABE WITH THE POWER.

WHAT POWER?

THE POWER OF VOODOO.

WHO DO?

YOU DO.

DO WHAT?

REMIND ME OF THE BABE!

[laffer35]

Gareth... since that goblin there looks rather pissed off, I first thought it was a nod to someone else :o :p

Not meant as any kind of insult or jab at the guy in question btw, I happen to greatly enjoy watching several of his vides (have for years).

[taratasarar]

wow, this is realy a heroes rip off.. :/

[Karakta]

@taratasarar Not at all. More of a Master of Magic spiritual successor.

[ginoco]

@taratasarar

Yes and no. It was certainly inspired by HOMM, but differs because the race abilities are very diverse compared to HOMM. Each race has different creatures, different magic, and different castle upgrades. Yes HOMM had this too, but if you play them both you'll see that AOW takes that to a new level. I loved HOMM3, but feel that AOW:SM really refined and extended the gameplay. Now AOW would not exist if it weren't for HOMM, so there is that :) Best regards.

[taratasarar]

@ginoco Cool, will check it out! Appreciate the videos man, keep it up! ;)

[luismanuel89]

cool. I used to be addicted to HOMM 3 when i was younger and try playing the other ones but never got interested. Thank you for uploading, its becoming a bit of a treat for us... lol. By the way, liked your video about the viking ceremony or parade thingy. Cheers

[ProcolHarum1967]

What software did you use to record this?

[TheFinalHighlander]

@ProcolHarum1967 It's something called BB Flashback Pro. It's really, really good. Far better than Cam Studio.

[ProcolHarum1967]

@TheFinalHighlander Thanks. Cam Studio doesn't work on my computer.

[olfan92]

@TheFinalHighlander aboot?

[Icythedragon]

AoW was amazing, but only the original.

I randomly bought it for $8 when I was young and was amazed. The map editor and mechanics were nice. Then, later, I remembered how fun it was and bought the expansions. Sorely disappointing. The mechanics were ruined. The movement/attack system is sorely flawed and supports camping. The casting system is far less useful.

[Cimlite]

@Icythedragon

Yeah I was sort of under the same opinion when they came out too, that the original was far superior. Time has somewhat changed my mind though, it's not *that* bad.

Original is still better of course but if you look at it as a standalone game without the constant comparisons to the first game, it's still one of the better ones in this genre.

[Karakta]

Glad to see you got into age of wonders. I bought AoW 1 and 2 several years ago just out of curiosity and I got completely addicted to AoW 1. Didn't care too much for AoW 2 though.

By the way, Heroes of might and magic 5 is far from being the best HOMM game. You might want to check III, it's one of the best TBS ever. If you want a real challenge you can also go for HOMM 2, back when it came out this game kicked my ass one full month before I won my first game...