Rating: 
Summary: A descent game
Review: After playing Lords of the Realm I was pretty excited for LoM. I was slightly disapointed when I started playing it. It is pretty difficult to get started. They start you of with a warlord and three other types of warriors. But, to purchase new warriors it is too expensive. So, you take your time trying to collect resources, then an enemy army attacks and kills you real fast. To the upside if you actually get passed the first part of the game it starts getting fun. It really gets fun when you take over other villages and can make new types of armies. Even though I wasn't really impressed by this game I have played it a lot.
Rating: 
Summary: One Of the Best Games I've Ever Played!
Review: As I said above this is a really great game, even though the graphics are not 3-D. I would suggest that if you like 1 minute killing games like halo, then this game would probably not be very enjoying. But if you like Dungeons and Dragons type games, then this is the game for you! If you are a first timer, I have a few tips. Let's say you have a high leveled Thief, Warrior, or Mage. Then you should put that unit in either the Barracks, the Mage Tower or the Theves Guild. Then you wait a couple of turns, and after that look back at the "make unit" and you will see a unit that you can make at a higher level! This is also different from normal Lords of magic because you can customize and create a party. To do that you choose a faith,(Life,Air,Order,Death,Chaos,Water,Fire, or Earth,) and click on custom you should see a setup. The object of the game is to kill the evil mage death lord, Balkoth. But if you are balkoth than you have to kill all the other faiths. (You Must kill balkoth first to be death!) The big deal about faiths is that you like some other faiths, and others you hate. This game has a very, very good AI reation system, making it able to parley, or fight.(Parley means to barter over units,artifacts,buildings and spells.) Oh! And speaking of fighting, you can autocalc, which means the computer calculates the battle. (I like to use this when i'm not sure of the outcome of the battle.) Also I like to save before I fight a high Leveled area. Well, I hope you buy this game, it is a real winner!
Rating: 
Summary: Unused Potential
Review: At first I really was enjoying this game, but it's gotten old after I beat it the first 3 or so times and I began to realize a bunch of things concerning usability. Maybe I'm just not using all the features to their fullest advantage though, so I'll give the game the benefit of the doubt. As for the interface, there are plenty of ways to make gameplay much more smooth. I find it primitive and, if possible, at the same time it is overcomplicated. I can't say I'm an expert at this, but it seems from reviews I've read concerning other software (concerning "intuitive" interfaces) that the interface can best be described as not at all intuitive. The saving system and the restrictions imposed when one gives commands in combat are my biggest pet peeves.What the game lacks in functionality, it makes up for in amazing graphics and music. Both are truly magnificent. The quests may give you a challenge where the normal mode at times doesn't. I enjoyed Lords of Magic but I'm sure I could have found a game that was more worth my time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Good game... but flawed
Review: Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed this game from front to back. It has graphics that, while not amazing, you won't be confused about anything visually. The sound, however, should be award winning. It is simply magnififcent and gives you the feel of combat (when the combat music is playing, of course). BUT: This game has bugs. One really bad one I found is when i was making a trade (this is a easy thing to do, and will happen often). I paid a lot of gold and stuff for some crossbowmen, and I never got them. It has only happened to me two times. The game features a quest pack, but I don't find it fun. They expect you to win against dozens of creatures and evil guys and God knows what else, while you control, at best six or seven creatures. The Lords of Magic part, however, is much better. You control one of 8 'Faiths', each with different creatures, buildings, and spells. Some of them are much better off than others: the weaker faiths have many more allies. The stronger faiths tend to have more enimies. Two Faiths, Fire and Choas, start out with only one ally, which is each other(two other faiths view them as neutral). No matter what you do, your opposite faith and the Death faith start out powerful. This adds a new challenge to the game (The Death faith is out to kill everyone). So, this game has good graphics, sound, and completly different gameplay. It does have bugs, but they won't ruin it for you. You should check out this game. Now, I'm going to go play a game that you, for whatever strange reason you have, still have to purchase...
Rating:
Summary: Difficult To Love, But Worth The Effort
Review: Find a demo first! What fans of LOM don't mention is that it is a SLOW paced game for a looong time. You start out with very little in the way of resources - either money or troops, and even with an unbroken chain of victories you'll go forty/fifty turns before your army starts to amount to more than three units! I didn't find the tactical game (the "heart of the game" according to one reviewer) all that compelling - the battlefields are similar, your opponents are generally more experienced and more numerous, and after dozens of encounters recapturing outposts, mines, etc. from random marauders, I am thankful for the autocalc option. I am frustrated by the long time(two/three turns)needed for my handful of troops (basically, my entire army!) to recover from their wounds since more marauders and enemy faiths continue to move through my land with impunity. The artifacts, experience bonuses, character improvements, all of those details that make you want to play one more turn, are just not impressive! Tiny amulets, unusuable potions, weird spell buttons, clumsy unit grouping/ungrouping, are all put offs. I've grown to enjoy LOM but I invested a lot of time in it, and I don't know whether many will want to do the same.
Rating:
Summary: Impressions of an amateur
Review: First of all, I'd like to say I got a demo of "Lords of Magic : Special Edition" from a friend who never liked it, and when I started playing I immediatedly enjoyed it, especially for the combination of turn-based strategy with the real-time one, which allows a lot of independence on the battlefield to the player. The way followers are being introduced to the player is also one of my preferences, but I think the methods of renewing troops is a little difficult for anyone who plays (I hate having to go all the way to my fortress to recruit warriors so that my experienced ones don't die). Other than that, the game is great. I gave it five stars.
Rating:
Summary: What's wrong with a little competition
Review: First of all, this is not necessarily an easy game to play, at least from the strategic standpoint. I found the graphics great, the interface very workable, and the flexibility of the possible scenarios outstanding. The game can also be used with initial defaults, if you don't want to be flexible. The game is a basic game of good vs evil, with eight (8) "Faiths", or groups of people in the fictitious world of Urak. Each 'faith' has it's strengths and weaknesses. I prefer the Order faith, but that's because I like the Medievel group of Knights, Paladins, and Wizards. This game was not easy for me in the beginning. I got knocked around pretty good when I first started. But, after a couple of times of getting beat up by a Hydra, I learned pretty quick. I'm glad the game was challenging. That's why I buy a game, to be challenged a little and to test my brain. This game can definitely be complicated, with all the possible characters and scenarios. For instance, each faith has its own version of a warrior, a thief, and a mage user. That's 24 different beginning characters types. Not to mention the ability to choose what the beginning character start with in the way of experience, or other characters. Then, there are 8 different maps that come with the game, and a map editor that allows you to create your own.(This part wasn't always easy, though). I have won adventures taking as short as 40 'days'and as many as 400. Somehow, I get more fun from the 400 day adventures. 1.(The regular game starts with all 8 groups of people taking turns in sequence. When all groups have had a turn, that's one 'day'. this takes about a 30-60 seconds after the player is finished with his/her turn, barring any conflicts)
Rating:
Summary: Lords of Magic-Special Edition
Review: FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T PLAYED BEFORE: This game is very exciting anc challenging, even on the easiest setting. You play a Lord (A barbarian, human, gnome, elf, dwarf, undead guy, etc.) who sets out on a perilous quest to slay the terrible Lord Balkoth, who is planning to (what else?) rule all of Urak with his undead army. You start out with little of anything. Your first priority is to liberate your Great Temple, and then amass a large army to fight with. This is a sort of turn based strategy game. You group your units into little groups, and select Champions to lead them. You'll need to spend and gain 3 resourses: Ale, Crystals, and Gold.
You also can direct little followers to work in the various buildings of your kingdom, to give you more recourses. RIVAL LORDS: There are seven other lords as well, each building their own empire. Some like you, some hate your guts. There is a very good AI system they use, allowing you to barter and fight with them as you wish. The best part is slaying an enemy and then taking control of their empire as well! GRAPHICS: The graphics are so-so. They aren't 3D, but they are beautiful and painting-like. MUSIC: The music, I think, is beautiful, pulling you into the world of Urak. Sometimes haunting, sometimes thoughtful, it always makes you think. Why? I don't know. COMBAT: This is really cool. No matter where you are, if you initiate combat, you zoom from a bird's eye veiw of the map to a close-combat realtime mode, where you can direct your troops into battle! The combat system is very developed. You can fight a number of enemies, explore a number of lairs and dungeons and caves, and invade a number of strongholds. You can pause the game a lot, though, so if you want more strategy, you can play it in a more turn-based fashion. You also have the option to Autocalc combat--where the computer automatically calculates the outcome for you, instead of animating it. REPLAYABILITY: The game is very replayable. There are 62 different starting conditions, so that it's different nearly every time you play! MULTIPLAY: The game lends itself well to multiplayer. I haven't tried this yet, but it looks great. I can't wait to try it over LAN! MAP EDITOR: The game includes a map editor, which you can use for multiplayer or a special quest. This is lots of fun to try out. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED THE ORIGINAL GAME ALREADY: The new Special Edition version offers even more features to try out! LORD EDITOR: Now you can decide which artifacts, recources, creatures, even Champions and spells you start out with, using a point0buy system. Hey! Even more replayability! LEGENDS OF URAK: An entirely different game in itself. I haven't done these yet, but they are cool to look at. 5 new quests--Including an Arthurian adventure where you play Merlin guding King Arthur, and a Beowulf epic...play a hobbit like creature named Beon and battle the vicous Golem! LEGENDARY CREATURES: Now, every Faith can summon their own LEgendary Creature at the Great Temple! This is the coolest new thing of all! These include Ice Drake, Hydra, Fafnir, Pheonix, Giant SPider... NEW UNITS: There are a whole lot of new units and monsters who are ready to take you on now. I still haven't found all of them. PROS: 1. Great Strategy.
2. Nice Music.
3. Very Replayable.
4. A great Map Editor.
5. Intense Multiplayer.
6. 5 Cool Sub-Games. CONS: 1. So-so graphics.
2. Very Difficult.
Rating:
Summary: Fun!
Review: Great game: Music: 5/5. Great soundtrack, 2nd to none. Gameplay: Fun, good strategy and unit placement=victory. 5/5 Graphics: Good for its time, 4.5/5 in other words, this game is really good. One weakness- Net play. Its net play takes wayyyy too long- but other then net play, one of best games ive ever played.
Rating:
Summary: One Of the Best Games I've Ever Played!
Review: I first encountered Lords of Magic as a demo and immediately fell in love with this engaging, difficult, sometimes maddening but eminently addictive game. Even in the relatively spartan demo game LOM's strong points were irrisistible: the classic theme of pure good vs. pure evil, the picturesque maps, the enchanting and absolutely gorgeous music (probably the best of any game I've encountered), the multifaceted tactical combat system, and last but not least the game's superb replayability. Naturally, when I got my hands on the full game I was hopelessly spellbound. My wife might say "hexed"! Be warned: if you do buy this game, be aware you will be investing not only hard-earned cash (though not much--the price is a steal), but huge pockets of your time. This is not only because LOM is great fun, but because it's exceptionally difficult as well. Beating this game is not easy. Be prepared to take your lumps and go through a lot of frustration (albeit fun frustration!) before you finally win the day. The game itself is strategy-based, and runs on turns during which each of the eight paths--called "faiths"--that populate the world of Urak make their moves. Though the turn system is convenient and offers your character many choices of action, each turn does take a while. Healing and resource accumulation are based on the passage of time, so after a tough battle you will have to sit passively through a few turns to recuperate. Moreover, the map of Urak over which your character moves is pretty big, and it can take several turns just to get from A to B, during which time you may be attacked by wandering monsters or see one of your fortresses sacked by raiding parties. To put it mildy, LOM is not for the impatient! LOM follows a straightforward fantasy formula: the world of Urak is being overrun by the armies of Death itself, led by Balkoth the Destroyer, a diabolical necromancer who commands huge armies both living and dead and a powerful arsenal of black magic. You the player must choose a champion from one of eight different faiths (Order, Water, Air, Chaos, Fire, Earth, Life, or for those who have beaten the game at some point possibly even Death)and take on Balkoth and his seemingly limitless hordes on as either a Warrior, Mage, or Thief. (I personally usually choose to be a Warrior of Order, since that allows me to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a Paladin or Knight.) Each class of character is different from faith to faith, so the possible characterizations are many and varied. Whichever type of hero you choose, your character starts out weak and unknown and must slowly, painstakingly build himself up in terms of experience, magic, artifacts, fame, money, and military might. This means liberating besieged dungeons and forts and defeating enemy troops or marauding monsters, or bartering with friendly neighbors (of which there aren't many). Battle resolution is fun and plays in real time so there's a lot of variety. Battles do feature a "pause" option if you want to reconsider things and there's also an "autocalculate" button if you want the computer to determine the battle's outcome for you, though it seems the computer often underestimates the player's strength. If things go badly, the "restart" option lets you give it another go, and you may want to save your game often. If--and I do mean if--you meet and defeat Balkoth head-to-head, you win! Lords of Magic probably isn't for everyone. The slow pace will aggravate those more inclined towards fast arcade-style games, and the fact that you may have to play for several days on end is an understandable turn-off for others. Moreover, the game can get repetitious at times, as you're likely to have to conquer and reconquer the same territory several times and spend an awful lot of game time simply convalescing. And then there's the simple fact that LOM is a very difficult game. Merely staying alive can be a problem, especially if you're ambitious, and actually killing Balkoth may seem like an impossible dream after you've just given your 53rd character the last rites. But you can win, if you've got the time, patience, and energy it takes. If you do, then I heartily recommend Lords of Magic to you. When you finally finally kill the Arch-Demon of Death, it will all be worth it!
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