Lords of Magic

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Urak, once peaceful, is now a land of darkness, chaos and death. The people yearn for a champion to drive away the forces of evil. That champion is you.

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Play Modes

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 387 reviews

graphics19 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Lords of Magic is a nostalgic classic that combines turn-based strategy with real-time combat, offering a unique gameplay experience.
The game features a variety of factions, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses, allowing for diverse strategies and replayability.
The soundtrack and atmosphere of the game are highly praised, contributing to an immersive experience that many players cherish.

The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and bugs, particularly with the AI and unit spawning, which can disrupt gameplay.
Graphics and user interface are dated, which may deter new players who are accustomed to modern standards.
The learning curve is steep, and the lack of tutorials can make it challenging for newcomers to grasp the mechanics and strategies effectively.

graphics
66 mentions
29 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of this game are widely regarded as dated and pixelated, reflecting its origins in the late 90s. While many players acknowledge the charm and atmosphere of the visuals, they also note that the graphics have not aged well compared to modern standards. Despite this, the gameplay and music are often praised, making it a worthwhile experience for those who can overlook the outdated graphics.
- “The graphics are very nice, quite colorful and well done for the time the game was made in.”
- “Heavily inspired by Lord of the Rings, this is one of the most unique games with beautiful old school graphics.”
- “The graphics are well done and the combat system is easily learnable.”
- “The only real downside is that the graphics aren't great.”
- “This game is old and its graphics are archaic.”
- “The graphics are extremely dated.”
music
40 mentions
48 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and thematic depth, with each faction featuring unique soundtracks that enhance the overall atmosphere and lore. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to remain engaging and non-repetitive, even during extended play sessions, and many consider it a standout aspect of the game, often reminiscing about its nostalgic charm. Overall, the music is described as atmospheric, beautiful, and integral to the game's immersive experience.
- “The absolute best part of this game has to be the amazing soundtrack - each faction has its own unique, thematic music, and the theme changes as you explore the lands of the other factions on the campaign map.”
- “The music is another deep aspect of this game, because it fits well the different factions.”
- “The soundtrack is worth purchasing this game by itself.”
- “The music is so atmospheric - both melancholic for a lost, dying world and epic for a fantasy adventure at the same time!”
gameplay
36 mentions
31 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its complex mechanics, strategic depth, and unique features such as the eight faiths and a blend of turn-based and real-time combat. While it offers a nostalgic experience with fun tactics and an interesting spell system, many players note that it has aged poorly, with clunky controls and broken mechanics that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game remains engaging for those willing to navigate its steep learning curve and appreciate its rich lore and varied gameplay options.
- “Amazing gameplay, fun tactics, interesting spell system and economics.”
- “The gameplay itself is fun, sensible, and keeps getting deeper the more one plays.”
- “The gameplay actually has a ton of depth to it, with each of the 8 faiths (the game's factions) having their own unique advantages and playstyle.”
- “This game is unpolished and certain mechanics like the real-time battles were not implemented well.”
- “The clumsy combat, obnoxious mechanics, and quite repetitive gameplay may kill it for you.”
- “Its gameplay and mechanics have just aged like milk.”
story
26 mentions
23 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story of "Lords of Magic" is set in the fantasy world of Urak, where players navigate a rich narrative involving various factions tied to elemental and religious themes, all while seeking to defeat the sorcerer Balkoth. The game features multiple storylines and quests, allowing for extensive replayability and personal storytelling, although some players feel the narrative has not aged well. Overall, the combination of lore, character motivations, and the epic quest structure creates a compelling backdrop for the gameplay experience.
- “Lords of Magic has a great fantasy story with different factions whose powers are based on religions rooted in themes of the four elements, nature, chaos, order, life, and death.”
- “The story, the music, the atmosphere, the strategy, all are crafted together masterfully to create a cohesive and fulfilling fantasy experience.”
- “Each and every one of the 160+ spells has its own story text, revealing the culture, legends, and life of the people of each faith.”
- “It's unfortunate there wasn't a true second game to this game; it would have been fantastical to explore the world of Urak with a new story.”
- “Don't remember the story much, and unfortunately, it didn't age well.”
- “Lords of Magic is a classic game from the 90s, overshadowed by bigger titles such as Heroes of Might and Magic, King's Quest, Quest for Glory, and Baldur's Gate.”
replayability
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse factions, strategic depth, and community-driven content enhancements. Players appreciate the unique experiences offered by different faiths and champion classes, as well as the engaging political and artifact systems that contribute to varied gameplay. While some note limitations after exploring all factions, many agree that the game provides hours of enjoyable replay value.
- “I find the replay value very high, especially as you explore how each of the different faiths in the game feel and work.”
- “Politics, artifacts and hero development make this little gem replayable for years to come.”
- “It's endlessly replayable, every new game plays out differently.”
- “But thankfully this game is held together by its awesome community with unofficial patches that can add more replayability to this game.”
- “It replayability is limited though once you have run through all of the races but worth the special price I got it at.”
- “To do this you must build your army, liberate your great temple from enemy clutches, and forge various alliances with the other elemental factions in the game (air, water, order, chaos, fire, light, earth, and death.) each faction has its own strengths and weaknesses so there's a ton of replayability depending on which you choose.”
stability
11 mentions
18 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is generally criticized, with users reporting persistent bugs, frequent crashes, and freezing issues, particularly in the map editor. While some players find it runs well on certain systems, the overall experience remains marred by glitches and a lack of effective troubleshooting options. Despite its nostalgic appeal, many feel it retains the same buggy nature as its original release in 1997.
- “Runs great on Steam.”
- “It runs great on Windows 8.1, and now I'll never lose my disk again.”
- “A few old bugs are still around, mostly involving the map editor - it freezes up, and moving your mouse just can't load up the maps you're working on.”
- “Had some good memories from back in the early 00s, but the Steam version is more buggy than I remember.”
- “It crashes a lot and freezes.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
63 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, combining evocative static artwork, ambient sounds, and a beautifully crafted soundtrack that enhances the sense of magic, adventure, and mystery. Reviewers highlight the effective sound design and music, which complement the narrative and gameplay, creating a cohesive and engaging experience that resonates with players despite the game's age. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both melancholic and epic, contributing significantly to the game's depth and enjoyment.
- “Dripping with atmosphere and excellent sound design, if you can look beyond its age and dig into the depth this game has to offer, you will not be disappointed.”
- “The music is so atmospheric - both melancholic for a lost, dying world and epic for a fantasy adventure at the same time!”
- “This was during a time when computers were very slow, so it relies on atmosphere and static artwork to get the point across.”
- “From the small phrases that each unit would say, to every ambient sound, the game created an atmosphere of magic, adventure, and mystery.”
- “The story, the music, the atmosphere, the strategy, all are crafted together masterfully to create a cohesive and fulfilling fantasy.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in stronghold management and combat, which can feel clunky and repetitive. While the game offers strategic elements, the experience is often marred by bugs and performance issues that detract from overall enjoyment.
- “Although the game is fun, unless you have the nostalgic draw to play the game, it can be very tedious at times. It has many bugs, such as the art pictures of characters becoming very pixelated and messed up. That's stage one; after a while, the loading screens will take on that effect as well. Stage three can affect the whole world.”
- “Stronghold management can get tedious.”
- “The combat system is clunky and somewhat tedious, but basically strategic, with missile units and mages usually doing most of the damage.”
optimization
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some users note that it lacks support for modern display resolutions and hasn't been updated for contemporary PCs, others appreciate a recent patch that significantly improved its performance. Overall, the optimization experience varies, with some players enjoying a smoother gameplay after updates.
- “This version, however, is a nicely optimized version.”
- “Then the patch came out that made the game actually run smoothly.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be nostalgic and amusing, with one user highlighting the irony of spending 600 hours on it in 2023 while noting that it remains just as funny as they remembered.
- “600 hours in 2023, that's funny.”
- “The funny thing was, the game was exactly as I remembered.”