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Company of Origin:
Gathering
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP; Pentium II 300MHZ or equivalent; 64MB RAM; 560MB Free
HD Space; 8X CD-ROM Drive; DirectX 8.0 compatible 4MB Graphics card; DirectX
8.0 compatible Sound Card
Test System:
Windows XP, Athlon 1.4 GHz Processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 Gig Hard Drive, 128 MB
GeForce FX 5200 Video Card, DirectX 9
Graphics and Sound:
The Age of Wonders series has been steadily going strong with its
sprite based 2D graphics, despite most other games making the rough
transition to 3D. Thankfully, Triumph Studios knows its stuff, as it yet
again delivers high quality graphics with its latest iteration of fantasy
strategy games. Shadow Magic delivers the same detailed and colorful
graphics of its predecessors, this time with more detail and colorful
effects.
The music is still the same as what fans have been used to, as are the audio
effects. The score does well to capture the fictitious realm you are playing
in, as do the solid sound effects that accompany it.
Gameplay: 
Triumph not only keeps it real with the graphics, but also with the
gameplay. Turn-based strategy is the name of the game here, and this game
lands its style in the top of its class. This time around, Merlin the Wizard
is trapped in an alternate dimension, and he is calling on all of the
outcast wizards to aid him in bringing peace to the land.
Each Campaign map gives you control of a specific wizard, opposing the
minions of the Emperor Phobius as they wreak havoc across the land. Fans of
the previous games will be glad to know that the same enthralling gameplay
is offered here, gameplay that not only includes deep city building, but
also the researching of arcane spells, commanding armies to do your bidding,
diving into diplomacy and at the end of it all, crushing your enemies.
Though it may be turn based, Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic gives you
two different options to play with. Sequential turns as well as simultaneous
turns are offered, each giving a different feel to the game. The choice is
yours, and both do well to satisfy different play types.
Most of the time, you will be moving your forces around a vast map,
collecting resources, fighting rival armies, and meeting independent armies
that you can hire to your cause. Heroes will join your cause, and they, as
well as your main wizard, can be upgraded and outfitted with various weapons
and artifacts.
However, there are also dungeons to explore, as well as a whole new
dimension, the Shadow Realm, a place where your wizard can send your troops
to fight the forces of darkness. This adds a whole new experience to the
game, one that can be used to your advantage if you have the skills.
An incredibly deep single player game is not the only thing offered in
Shadow Magic. The Multi-player experience is also an option well
worth any fan's time. Here, you can play over the internet or opt to partake
in a game by e-mail. Since Campaigns can take a considerable amount of time
to complete, fighting against one of your friends over a period of weeks is
not only a good decision, but also a hell of a lot of fun.
Difficulty:
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic is not a quick and dirty game. Every map
you play will require a lot of thorough planning. Even though there are many
difficulty settings to choose from, no fight will be quickly won. The game
is not overly hard (though the higher settings will definitely test your
mettle), just don't expect a speedy outcome.
Game Mechanics:
As the gameplay is kept simple, so are the controls. Moving units around on
the field is as simple as pointing and clicking, and administering different
commands to them is as easy as picking them from a list. City building is
done in much the same way, as building commands can be queued up to five
times in advance.
Your two main sources of income are gold and mana, and each can be improved
upon with upgrades from either your city advancements or resources you
gather from the map. Defending these resources is almost as important as
keeping your wizard out of harm's way.
With more races to play, a better random map generator, and the same
intricate story line as the previous titles, Age of Wonders: Shadow
Magic is yet another wonder to play. Not only does this title continue
the epic saga of the previous ones, but it is also the best place for
newcomers to start. Fans of both real-time and turn-based strategy games
should definitely get a hold of this game, not to mention die-hards of the
previous titles.
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