127|40.6
323|41.78

Warlock: Master of the Arcane

Developer: Ino-Co Plus
International Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Official Website: English
Genres: Empire / Fantasy / Grand / Strategy / TBS / Wargame
Platforms: PC, Steam
Release Date: 08.05.2012 (PC)
System Requirements: Dual Core 2.0, 2 GB RAM, 512 MB 3D Card, 4 GB HDD
Our Score:
7.5

Warlock: Master of the Arcane

Review

Total Conquest

Warlock: Master of the Arcane

Your arsenal in the Warlock: Master of the Arcane strategy game will include a great set of magical creatures to summon or receive as nice gifts for cleaning out monster dens. Yet, let us not forget that the ancestor of the new title is the Majesty (2000-2009) series, so both the Archers and the Warriors feel comfortable in combined expeditions, while covering each other backs. In general, a variety of units available is one of the best moments of the project.

Each unit is endowed with unique animation frames and has special use on the battlefield. After a series of upgrades a seasoned veteran becomes a true war machine smashing away many opponents alone or holding out a short front line, while you deliver the reinforcements. However, the «Rock-Paper-Scissors» is still in place, so every strength has its weaknesses or an effective counterpart being able to bring this regiment down quickly. You need just a few seconds to learn that after holding your mouse cursor over any unit to open the detailed information window and study the characteristics.

Even the movement over water tiles in the Warlock: Master of the Arcane title will be easy for most games. If the distance is short, the units can instantly create a small boat to travel between two shores of a channel without the help of the big ships. The latter ones carrying weapons are presented in a couple of types being able to discover new lands, hunt sea monsters, collect treasures and shell coastal fortifications with cannons. In terms of aquatic life, I once met a rather unusual thing, when a hungry Sea Serpent spat my land unit to death from several tiles away, just because there wasn’t any limitation for killing land regiments with sea ones.

There are several victory conditions you can use to win the party, and some will offer a long road to come their way. You can try to capture all the Holy Places or try to defeat a God’s Avatar arriving to the mortals’ world to deal with any sinner, who forgot to worship enough. The easiest way would be to eliminate all the opponets, but if you like rushing, you can try a technological victory by being the first to cast an expensive Unity spell. Think of it as of a Space Ship Race in Civilization series. Probably, it is the worst case scenario, when you are nearly winning, and some wise guy from another corner of the map does that Unity thing, and all your conquests get useless.

Military tactics in the strategy Warlock: Master of the Arcane makes you learn some fresh approaches ensuring the freedom of choice. Units can not be grouped in the same tile, so you will have to choose, who attacks first and takes the responding blow. Losing valuable veterans will not do any good to your extensive war campaigns. Fortified cities are supplied with a free built-in garrison of archers being able to hold off for a few turns depending on the strength of the attacking waves.

If invading party is relatively small, the time of the siege will increase, and you can try to save the day by bringing reinforcements. When you work with the magical creatures, it’d be nice to consider their shooting range. Here some defensive structures and units can hit you from as far as 3 tiles space. A suitable army composition is very important. There should be some Heavy Infantry and Light Scouts to interact with the Fog of War. Any fast Cavalry will help you to harass the retreating enemies, while the Flyers are best in distracting the enemy fire (though not for too long). Also they can shoot from a safe distance.

Neutral monsters in Warlock: Master of the Arcane are guarding all the goodies on the map. Each game unit has its own characteristics, so carefully review them before sending your Archers at the Greater Fire Elementals. The secret of successful wars in studying the weaknesses of your foes. For example, if you have problems bringing down enemy defense Towers, then use the armored Heavy Infantry like Royal Halberdiers. When battling strong living force, employ the Vampires sucking out their life energy to use as a Healing power. In the latter parts of the game you will be involved in the religious affairs much more often.

A lot was already written about the Ardanian gods and their interests in the Fantasy world. There are 8 Gods in total, so choose wisely, because improving your relationship with one of them can upset the other. From time to time you will get quests for construction, expansion, protection of borders and serving the Gods. They will order you to hunt down the Infidels or to build a new temple. Just do not forget that there is nothing you can just erect on the global map.

First, in the Warlock: Master of the Arcane game you need to build a city around the tile of interest, then wait for the required population growth several turns, and only after this you will be able to start making your new shining temple. However, the divine leaders don’t like waiting, so most of the quests are timed in turns, and some even enforce negative sanctions for failure, besides various rewards for your success.


Read on further to learn about the diplomacy, AI, music in Warlock: Master of the Arcane.


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25.05.2012 | Reviews | Alexey "Jade" Simonov

Warlock: Master of the Arcane

Review

Warlock: Master of the Arcane:

A new turned-based strategy game is once again set in the fantastical world of Ardania, popularized in the Majesty (2000-2012) franchise. The title invites players to take on the role of the Great Mage and build a powerful magical empire, giving mightly mages the ability to control armies and wield magic to wage war against another, as they compete with other wizards for the title of Warlock. Only the one can rule them all, and it might be you, if you defeat all the competition.

In the Warlock: Master of the Arcane game you have to develop the cities presenting the core of your realm. Construct new buildings, collect three kinds of resources, conduct the research of new spells, handle diplomacy and wage war to extend the borders of your Empire. Your actions will be challenged by Rival powerful mages, who will be ready to unleash everything they have against you, and the Gods of Ardania will also play a major part in this massive struggle for Domination.

Key Game Features:

  • Use the forces of three races, along with summons and wild creatures including greater variety;
  • Research and master dozens of spells, conjure strong enchantments and find out powerful spell combinations.
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Previews » 1

Warlock: Master of the Arcane
In May of 2012 a lot of fans of the TBS-strategy titles will be able to embark on big advantures set in the Fantasy world of Ardania. In this our Preview of the upcoming Warlock: Master of the Arcane game we will provide you with our Hands-On impressions about its notable features. More »
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Review » 1

Warlock: Master of the Arcane
May has become a notable month for those, who like Fantasy video games, since the new Turn-based Strategy titled Warlock: Master of the Arcane, Review of which is already here, came to its official release. In this Review we will explore all the good and still not so good game points. More »
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