Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria - PC

A long running series, Warlords has made its presence felt on PC for a quite a few years now. It’s a tactical combat game that pits players against thousands of enemies and that also boasts a number of RPG elements. The latest in the series, Warlords IV, has been on the cards for quite sometime at Ubi Soft, but has suffered numerous delays. However, in the run up to Christmas 2003, the most anticipated game in the series is finally ready.

Warlords IV is set in the troubled land of Etheria, in which old foes such as Dwarves, Elves and Orcs have resumed their ancient hostilities and the Undead legions of Lord Bane have returned. The Sirians continue their quest for dominance, and the unquiet whispers speak of the Volturnans, a race even more evil than the Undead.

The story and theme of Warlords IV is indeed very “RPG-ish”, but as a game, it’s a solid adventure with a great deal of gameplay and longevity. New to the fourth instalment is an innovative Speed Tactical System. This play mechanic has been implemented to speed up the pace of gameplay and give players greater control over their armies.

Computer AI has also been enhanced for a tougher challenge and makes for some truly cunning opponents. Early stages of the game will merely teach the player how the game works, offering easy victories, whereas later stages in the game are fiendishly difficult and may take several attempts.

Other additions include lush 3D rendered terrain, a brand new campaign, ten different opponents, magic spells, new units and creatures, victory conditions, a great fantasy soundtrack and several new multi-player features for up to eight players.

It’s certainly the most extensive release in the series so far. Don’t be surprised to see more of Warlords in the coming years. more