Age of Wonders II is the wildly anticipated sequel to the award-winning strategy phenomenon. Delivering an invigorating mix of Empire Building, Role-playing, and Warfare, Age of Wonders II brings s turn-based strategy to new heights.
Players can choose from 12 distinct fantasy races to lead, including Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Draconians, Frostlings, Humans, and even Undead. As players conquer new territories, they can assimilate the local population into their existing faction or maintain the conquered race's identity, allowing for the creation of diverse, multi-racial empires. This faction diversity introduces a multitude of unique strengths and weaknesses for players to leverage strategically.
The game's magic system is a core component of the gameplay, featuring 7 distinct spheres of magic - Fire, Water, Life, Air, Earth, Death, and Cosmos. Each sphere offers unique spells, enchantments, and summoned creatures that players must research and unlock over the course of the game. Mastering the synergies between these magical spheres and their associated abilities is crucial for success.
The turn-based tactical combat system takes place on a separate battle map, where players must carefully position their units, leverage terrain and unit abilities, and utilize their wizard's spells to outmaneuver and defeat their opponents. Factors such as unit fatigue, morale, and line of sight all play a significant role in the outcome of battles, providing depth and realism to the combat experience.
Players can recruit and customize a roster of champion hero characters to lead their armies into battle. These heroes can wield powerful artifacts, gain new abilities and skills through leveling up, and significantly impact the course of a conflict. Effectively managing and deploying these hero units is a crucial part of the gameplay strategy.
The game's single-player campaign spans 20 unique scenarios, each with its own narrative, objectives, and challenges. This campaign allows players to experience the game's mechanics and systems through the lens of different factions and magical spheres, providing a well-rounded introduction to the depth of the gameplay. Beyond the campaign, the game also includes a variety of standalone scenarios and the ability to create custom maps, ensuring a high level of replayability.