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If you're a fan of the old classics...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: July 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you aren't daunted by a little detail in a turn-based strategy game, and you don't mind graphics that fall short of the "latest eye candy test", and you're willing to spend some time bringing yourself up the learning curve, you'll LOVE this game.

If you find any of the above 3 make you doubt, you probably shouldn't get it. But for me, a turn-based strategy junky to the core, this game is an absolute gem. Probably the best I've bought in the last 5 years. For a specific niche of gamer out there, this one is extraordinary.

The most addictive game since Civilization

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: January 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is truly an amazing game, especially considering it's made by a small independent developer. There's a virtually infinite number of different unit types, spells and magic items so the game never gets repetitive (and this is possible *because* it doesn't rely on massive amounts of graphics). The different nations each have their own style of play. The AI is challenging even when set to "easy". You can download new maps and other modifications from the internet.

I only reduced the rating to 4 because of problems with the interface. It has a sort of unfinished feel to it. For example when the game ends, it always exits to windows rather than the main menu. Also, running a multiplayer game is very difficult and requires executing two instances of the game simultaneously.

Try for yourself.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: July 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Dominions 2 is a fantastic leap into TBS on an Epic scale. Huge Gods battling for supremacy by any means possible. Genocide, reckless magic, and disregard for humanity to be the last god of the panthenon.

A steep learning curve, especially for perfectionists it provides you with a simulation of fantasty combat as opposed to actual historical combat.

Low end graphics are balanced with the fact there are so many of them along with additional abilities.

A must for those who love 4X and TBS games. Not for everyone and documentation that does not do the game justice, it is hard to get into, but if you can get past the "I'm LOSING and I don't know why!" feeling, you will be well worth it.

A turn based strategy game in a fantasy setting with no limits

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you have always wanted a turn based strategy game in a fantasy setting with no limits then Dominions II is really the only option out there. Its not perferct but its darn good.

The story, if you can really call it that, is that the world of Dominions once had one god. One day he just wasn't there all of a sudden and everybody and their brother decided to try and apply for his job. All of these "pretender gods" have to kill off all the other gods and put their religions out of commision in order to take over the world and become a true god. To start up a new game of Dominions II you need to choose from one of the 17 different empires and then pick your pretender god from dozens of different avatars. You can play as darn near anything you can imagine from the ordinary, like the arch-mage, to the outrageously exotic, like the fountain of blood. Every pretender god has strengths and weaknesses and some may be adept at only one or two paths of magic while others may learn many with ease. You also pick a castle and set up your own "dominion" which is the effect your god has on his followers as his religion spreads across the world.

But that isn't all, you still haven't actually started a game yet. Next you have to create the game by picking from one of nearly a dozen huge maps and setting all of the game settings such as victory conditions and the difficulty of neutral provinces. And lets not forget, you also choose which of the 17 empires will be playing and if they will be human or AI players.

The game itself is huge and has very few limits. Your empires unique units may be built in any province in which you have built a castle but every proince in the game also has its own units that may be built there to inculde many that none of the empires usually have access to. Plus units may be equiped with different armor and weapons and as such there may well be hundreds of unique units in the game with maybe even thousands of different equipment varaitions. Like the pretender gods, units come in a huge array from simple, like the light infantry, to the wild, like werewoles and vampires. Combine that with the fact that there are hundreds of spells in the game to research, hundreds of magic items to forge and find, and random events almost every turn, no two games will ever end the same way and the game has nearly unlimited replyability.

Combat is a bit unsual. All units, in order to move around the map or attack, have to be assigned to a commander. Commanders are built in the same way you recruit normal units but they can only lead so many men. However, you can assign units under a commander to as many squads as you like and each squad as well as the commander himself can be issued a specific order such as casting spells, using ranged weapons or attacking certain foes on the battle field. The downside of all this is that you have to set up all of this before hand during your turn. Combat occours in between turns and you have no control over the battle. Its entirely up to your units to follow the plan you laid out for them.For better or worse this system is certainly original.

But some things about the game really bother me. My biggest complaint with the game has to be the computer AI. Its not thats its too stupid or too smart. Its actually a bit like the terminator, it allways seems to know where you are and sends wave after wave of seemingly endless foes after you. It can't be reasoned with, it can't be bargined with and it won't stop until one of you is dead. With no diplomacy options and units like spys, assassins and scouts being extremely rare and expensive most games aginst the AI just deteroiate into massive rushing attacks with huge armies killing each other over and over with gods throwing spells at each other turn after turn.

Another problem with the game is the manual which is huge but contains no information that isn't easily available in the game. Its the same problem Evil Genius had, the manual is awful and all the hints that should hae been in the manual are hidden in the games loading screens. I hope you can read fast. The grapics obviously aren't exactly on par with Half Life 2 or Doom 3 but they work, however I've got to take issue with the music and sound which is downright AWFUL. You better get used to hearing the same three music tracks over and over.

Over all, Dominions II is by far the best turn based fantasy game I've ever played. Room for improvement is obviously here but this game should keep you occupied for a long time.

An playable multiplayer turn based strategy game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: July 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Difficult to learn and an awkward user interface - besides that, this is the best turn-based strategy game I ever played!

It is ideal for Offline-Multiplayer (Serverbased or via PBEM), since all players take their turns simultaneously, which allows PBEM games to be finished within reasonable time. Highly customizable. OS independent.

Disappointed by WalordsIV, I am now very happy to finally have found a cute, playable, turn-based fantasy strategy game.

this is a STRATEGY game!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: July 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I emphasize strategy. What you will not find are fancy graphics, studio sound, arcade action, cheats, or a killer strategy that will win every time. This game is wonderfully balanced with 17 nations (another in the works), 1100 units, 400 spells, 400 magic sites, 250 magic items, and much more. But the neat thing is that they give you what you need to play in YOUR style. Berserker, defensive, researcher, swarmer, sneak, diplomatic, whatever. Instead of feeling like you are learning the strategies that the developer had in mind for you to learn, you can actually develop your OWN tactics and surprises. There are people who have played it over a year and still come up with new things to try. (and yes, its one of those games which will ACTUALLY survive on your machine for a year)

Finally, Depth over Glitz.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: July 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Dominions 2 is a very special game that possesses enourmous appeal to a certain type of person but might not be made for everybody. The game has a difficult learning curve and it can be hard to find documentation on the game if your just starting. But under its 1980's graphics and daunting complexity lies a complete diamond. If there's anyone out there hoping for a faithful successor to Master of Magic, this game comes far closer than any other game i have played. There is a dizzying complexity of spells, units, economic effects, and playing styles. In response to the person who said the tech support is nonexistent i would have to disagree. He was most likely referred to the message board because the Developers regularly post on it and monitor it for posts on glitches and bugs, also this game has an extremely knowledeable and helpful community who are more than willing to help you get through the initial learning pains. If your looking for a game with depth and originality as opposed to graphical glitz, this is your game. If you decide to join the community, you'll find me there for a long time to come, and you'll find dominions on my computer for a very long time indeed.

Best in Genre

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I believe this is the best game in the genre. It's gotten more play out of me than Master of Magic, Heroes of Might and Magic, Age of Wonders, Warlords, Disciples, Civilization, Alpha Centauri, Master of Orion, Space Empires, or Stars. Once of the other posters says they have bad support, but that's not been my experience. I've found their continued support and patches to be as good or better than any of the afore mentioned titles -- not bad for a 2 man team.

There is an amazing amount of variety in factions and would-be-gods you can play, and best of all it is for the most part solidly based upon Mythology -- far superior to the typically D&D derivative fantasy. Multiplayer is fantastic.

It is a complex game however, and not to everyone's tastes. Definitely check out the demo first. Beware though, it's addictive stuff!

Also check out the fan made maps on their website as well, some of which are quite pretty. If you're stuck getting started, try the excellent Walkthrough by Bruce Geryk, also linked from their site.

Excellent strategy game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

There aren't many games now-a-days that can get me interested enough to play regularly, but Dominions 2 is one that definitely does.

It's a multiplayer, multi-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux), turn-based strategy game. There is a tun of different strategies to go with, many nations, magic items, spells, different units. Excellent game for a hardcore strategy person.

The only drawback is the interface. It's certainly not perfect and takes a bit to get used to. But there is lots of documentation online to help with that kind of stuff.

I'd highly recommend this game to anyone who likes a good multiplayer turn-based strategy. It's the best I've ever played (and I've played quite a few)

Ok game, terrible support

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 14
Date: April 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Dominions II, while lovingly designed and balanced, due to its amateurish graphics, plays like a spreadsheet. The game itself is good enough to rise above this, however the tech support is abysmal. When the most recent patch was released, I was unable to apply it. When I contacted the developers for assistance, they were obtuse and unhelpful, eventually simply referring me to the message boards to get help from other players, refusing to even tell me if my problem was common, or unique. I love the idea of supporting small development houses, however, this one is small because they seem to think small.

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