Disciples II: Rise of the Elves

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Disciples II: Rise of the Elves is a multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Strategy First and was released on July 6, 2006. It received positive reviews from players.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves is an expansion pack to Disciples II: Dark prophecy. It features a new playable race (Elves), a new campaign, new skirmish maps, various new artifacts, terrain types, music and some gameplay enhancements.

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Role Playing

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Disciples II: Rise of the Elves screenshot

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 479 reviews

story33 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves offers a rich, atmospheric experience with haunting artwork and a compelling dark fantasy narrative.
The introduction of the Elven faction adds new gameplay mechanics and strategic depth, allowing for diverse playstyles and unit progression.
The game maintains its addictive quality, appealing to both nostalgic players and newcomers with its engaging turn-based strategy and RPG elements.

The game suffers from significant compatibility issues on modern systems, often requiring extensive troubleshooting to run properly.
Combat can feel repetitive and lacks the depth found in more complex strategy games, leading to a less dynamic experience.
The game does not include all previous campaigns, which may disappoint players looking for a complete experience.

story
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The story in "Rise of the Elves" is praised for its rich lore, dark fantasy themes, and engaging narrative that intertwines the struggles of various factions, particularly the elves' fight to protect their forests. Players appreciate the depth of storytelling, unique perspectives, and the integration of side quests that enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and graphical limitations. Overall, the campaign is seen as a compelling journey that encourages exploration and offers a memorable narrative experience.
- “The campaign itself enriches the lore of Nevendaar with a story steeped in ancient grudges, betrayal, the burden of tradition, and the elves’ struggle to protect their forests from encroaching enemies.”
- “The strategic depth, diverse factions, and engaging storyline create a tapestry of memories for those who spent countless hours building armies, exploring mystical lands, and engaging in epic battles.”
- “The story in the campaigns is indeed good and incentivizes you to play all campaigns to fully experience it.”
- “I love the gameplay of this Disciples II expansion, but the direction they took the story in here always felt a bit... cheap to me.”
- “What I truly want from Disciples II is more story and sagas (campaigns), but here lies another problem.”
- “A dark, atmospheric and diverse fantasy world, a confusing and sometimes even depressing plot that leaves no crystal clear sides of the conflict.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The graphics of Disciples II are characterized by haunting hand-drawn artwork and a gothic aesthetic that many players find timeless and immersive, despite being technically dated by modern standards. While some reviews highlight the game's beautiful visuals and atmospheric design, others note that the graphics do not hold up well against contemporary titles, leading to mixed feelings about their overall impact on gameplay. Overall, the game's artistic style is appreciated, but there is a strong desire among players for a remaster that could enhance the visuals while preserving the original charm.
- “Disciples II has always been renowned for its haunting hand-drawn artwork, somber color palettes, and richly atmospheric world design.”
- “The hand-drawn artwork, reminiscent of a bygone era, remains a testament to the game's visual charm.”
- “The graphics, while technically dated, are still beautiful thanks to detailed hand-drawn art and atmospheric design.”
- “Story 10/10; units 10/10; campaign 10/10; graphics 4/10.”
- “If you can get past the vomit-inducing graphics, that did not age well at all, you will find yourself with a challenging but rewarding strategy game.”
- “The graphics are dated and the balance of the game is sometimes off - mainly some units are all around better than others.”
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The gameplay of "Rise of the Elves" retains the core mechanics of "Disciples II," featuring strategic, turn-based combat with small squad-based armies and resource-driven territory control. While the mechanics may feel dated and can lead to repetitive grinding, the addition of a new faction and updated graphics enhances the experience, providing fresh tactical options and hours of engaging gameplay for veterans. Overall, the game balances nostalgia with solid mechanics, though it may not appeal to those seeking faster-paced or more dynamic gameplay.
- “The new faction adds longevity to the gameplay loop, offering fresh tactical possibilities and a campaign that stands apart from the base game’s arcs.”
- “Gameplay remains as tight and engaging as ever, with turn-based strategy that rewards careful planning and unit preservation.”
- “Overall gameplay might get a bit repetitive due to grinding battles to level up your hero, but with many different races, units, and tactics, it stays fun and you are always involved.”
- “Interface and gameplay are ancient.”
- “The battle system is built on a simple and arguably aged mechanic; could bore folk who prefer movable units, grids, etc.”
- “I wish I could give a review based on actual gameplay, but just navigating through menus feels like trying to wade through hardening cement.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
25%
9%
The atmosphere of Disciples II is widely praised for its haunting hand-drawn artwork, somber color palettes, and immersive world design, creating a rich gothic experience that captivates players. The game's dark fantasy elements, combined with a compelling soundtrack and intricate lore, contribute to an engaging and atmospheric journey through the shadowed realms of Nevendaar. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of melancholy and depth, making it a standout title in the turn-based strategy genre.
- “Disciples II has always been renowned for its haunting hand-drawn artwork, somber color palettes, and richly atmospheric world design.”
- “The character design, dark music, and carefully crafted lore immerse you in a unique gothic atmosphere, rarely found in other games.”
- “The atmosphere in the game is unbeatable; after a long time looking at the screen (especially the menu when you enter race castles), you will actually think that you are in a Stephen King novel.”
- “These ones contain a tiny bit of hope, but that is overshadowed by the mournfulness and atmosphere; in other words, it is thematically coherent with the rest of the OST.”
- “Make no mistake, the atmosphere is dark and gloomy, but also glorious and uplifting.”
- “Atmosphere in the game is unbeatable; after a long time looking at the screen (especially the menu when you enter race castles), you will actually think that you are in a Stephen King novel.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting, immersive quality, perfectly complementing the gothic atmosphere and enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the timeless soundtracks and diverse tracks associated with different factions, noting that the music significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and aesthetic appeal. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, with many calling it superb and memorable.
- “The haunting soundtrack, composed with an enchanting medieval flair, resonates with the echoes of a time when gaming was a journey into uncharted territories.”
- “A dark, atmospheric and diverse fantasy world, a confusing and sometimes even depressing plot that leaves no crystal clear sides of the conflict, memorable heroes and villains, an epic and one of a kind soundtrack.”
- “The gothic fantasy aesthetic is immersive, and the music continues to reinforce the eerie, melancholic tone that defines the series.”
- “It's a shame because it has some of my all-time favorite soundtracks.”
- “Decent music as well.”
- “Tick: play sounds and play music.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is severely lacking, with frequent freezes, glitches, and a low frame rate making it nearly unplayable. Users report that it often fails to launch without extensive troubleshooting, and even with workarounds, the experience remains frustratingly unstable.
- “Game freezes and doesn't launch.”
- “Does not run without troubleshooting.”
- “Game has a poor play time, lots of glitches with no patches, and doesn't run all the time.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, particularly for its performance on Windows 11, where users report freezing, stuttering, and slow cursor movement. While some have found partial solutions through mods and specific settings adjustments, many still struggle with compatibility issues, especially at higher resolutions, leading to a frustrating experience overall.
- “The OpenGL wrapper mod significantly enhances performance and resolves most graphical issues.”
- “With the optimization updates, the game runs smoother than ever, providing a seamless experience.”
- “The performance improvements have made a noticeable difference, allowing for higher frame rates and better graphics.”
- “I cannot get this game to run in Windows 11 without terrible performance, even using the proposed workarounds.”
- “Badly optimized for higher resolutions, therefore can be iffy to start and get it working on regular 1080p monitors. You have to check specific boxes in the advanced boot program to get it to work, but it does work.”
- “I bought this game and just installed it, but I have to uninstall it due to some sort of incompatibility issues (game keeps stuttering, etc.) and I sort of just gave up.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, often leading to repetitive gameplay as they engage in battles to level up heroes. While the variety of races, units, and tactics helps maintain interest, some reviewers note that the lack of strategic depth and reliance on steamrolling can make the early game feel particularly grindy. Overall, it serves as a time-consuming element in an otherwise enjoyable RPG experience.
- “It's just very slow and tedious work to do anything.”
- “They are tedious, hardly a challenge and just involve neutral units spawning every couple of turns to rush your cities.”
- “The game does lack a bit of overall strategy though and relies a bit on steamrolling the map with one or two parties, and can be a bit 'grindy' in the first 20 turns.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without the interference of ads or account registrations, which are often prevalent in modern gaming. This focus on a clutter-free experience enhances overall enjoyment.
- “There are no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions.”
- “It's great to see a game that offers a complete experience without any microtransactions.”
- “No, this is not because the game is 'old'; it's because our 'new and improved' operating systems and hardware are too busy cluttering with registering accounts, gathering information, and personalized ads, bloatware, spamware, and adware than to actually make anything compatible with the games that we play.”
- “The music is totally appropriate here and adds to the experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in character development through its unique gothic atmosphere, compelling lore, and beautiful character design, which together create an immersive experience. Players appreciate the rich storyline and the ability to customize characters, enhancing their connection to the game.
- “The character design, dark music, and carefully crafted lore immerse you in a unique gothic atmosphere, rarely found in other games.”
- “Great story, beautiful character design.”
- “This game offers three elements of gaming experience that I value the most: great style, rich storyline, and character development/customization.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers high replayability due to its five distinct factions—empire, legions of the damned, mountain clans, undead hordes, and elves—each providing unique playstyles. Players appreciate the classic turn-based strategy mechanics and overall presentation, enhancing the game's longevity and enjoyment.
- “Good replayability.”
- “All five factions — empire, legions of the damned, mountain clans, undead hordes, and now elves — feel distinct, and the variety in playstyles adds enormous replay value.”
- “This is an excellent, classic turn-based strategy with great concept art, overall presentation, and replayability.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves is a role playing game.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves is available on PC and Windows.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves was released on July 6, 2006.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves was developed by Strategy First.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Disciples II: Gallean's Return, Age of Wonders, Age of Wonders Shadow Magic, Sacred Gold, Heroes of Might & Magic V and others.

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