Disciples II: Gallean's Return 1.0

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

Combination of simplicity of rules with strategic depth is what makes Disciples II a great game title. You hire heros, which can lead up to five units each to capture castles as well as build garrisons and auxiliary armies to hold your land. We especially liked that Disciples II incorporates role-playing game features such as the ability to gain experience; this attribute makes the game very addictive. As your army wins one battle after another, you and your armies gain new tricks and abilities. Combat is based on initiative of units: faster units strike earlier than slower ones. In each round of combat the game finds the unit with highest initiative, lets it hit, then finds the unit with second highest initiative, gives it an ability to act, and so on till the unit with lowest initiative value has done his job. Then a new round starts, and the battle continues untill all units of one side are dead. Striking earlier than the opponent can mean difference between victory and defeat. To win you have to combine strengths of melee fighters, spellcasters, and ranged units. Given the game's excellent graphics and superb music, we found listening to and watching it almost as enjoyable as playing. In Gallean's return you can play for four races: Empire (excels in melee fighers and healers), Clans (units are very tough, but slow), Legions of the Damned (good spellcasters and demons), and Undead Hordes (tricky special units). Overall, Disciples II is a must-have for all serious strategy buffs, who will no doubt cringe at the three-hour trial limitation as far too short. Interested gamers may also look for Disciples II: Rise of the Elves for an additional race of Elves, which are excellent bowmen.

Publisher's description

From Strategy First :

Get both Servants of the Dark and the Guardians of the Light together for the first time in Gallean's Return! Watch as the epic struggle unfolds between Good and Evil... and now is your chance to play both sides. The Empire is decaying from within as self-proclaimed rulers struggle for control of the now vacant throne while a cruel Inquisition sweeps across the human lands causing rebellion and misery. Meanwhile the Clans recovering from their near-destruction begin to reunite their tribes. They have received divine instructions and now seek to uncover an ancient ritual that will let them communicate with their god Wotan. On the dark side the Legions of the Damned enact a plan to spread Bethrezen's plague across Nevendaar. They sense the threat brought about by the rebirth of the Elven god and will stop at nothing to steal this power for their own purposes. Perhaps most pivotal to the conflict however is Mortis and her army of Undead Hordes!

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