Dominions 3: The Awakening

1. CokinandJokin

   Sep 27, 2013

   10

   If you are looking for fancy graphics, a gentle learning curve, or a casual strategy gaming experience look elsewhere. If however you want aIf you are looking for fancy graphics, a gentle learning curve, or a casual strategy gaming experience look elsewhere. If however you want a challenging game with a tremendous amount of depth, content, and attention to detail you have found a real gem. The gameplay experience could be described as unforgiving but success in this game is very rewarding because it requires careful planning and execution. Also, the departure from the "High Fantasy" mythos is refreshing. From Norse and Hindu mythology to Lovecraft's underwater horrors there is so much inspired content it is almost mind-boggling. This is an excellent game!… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
2. JeremyF.

   Oct 15, 2006

   10

   Easily the best turn-based strategy game in the past decade, Dominions 3 completes the promise of its actual predecessor (Dominions 2) as Easily the best turn-based strategy game in the past decade, Dominions 3 completes the promise of its actual predecessor (Dominions 2) as well as its spiritual predecessor, the classic fantasy TBS, Master of Magic. When you consider that its competitors are legendary franchies like Warlords abd Heroes of Might and Magic, that's high praise indeed. That said, its worth noting that Dominions 3 is ONLY for those fans who are ready to handle a very deep, very complex strategy game.… Expand

   • 2 of 3 users found this helpful
4. CaradryanRyman

   Jan 20, 2009

   10

   Warning: If you're a college student of some sort who loves strategy games and care about their GPA, please stay away from this game.Warning: If you're a college student of some sort who loves strategy games and care about their GPA, please stay away from this game. Luckily, it is only the beginning of semester, or else ...yeah.
   Dominion 3 is an extremely deep and engaging game. With a complex system, old-school sprites, and customization up the wazoo, this is THE ultimate turn-based strategy.
   I would highly recommend trying out their downloadable demo to get a feel for the game. This game is definitely not for everyone - but for those of you who are willing to think a little more than our average gamer, this is for you.
   
   Ignoring the fact that there's still frequent official patchs, a myraid of excellent mods and maps featuring other fantasy works, the pricetag is really pretty fair for a game like this. Overall, a solid 10/10.… Expand

   • 3 of 4 users found this helpful
5. TimH.

   Nov 7, 2007

   9

   Excellent Turn Based Strategy Title. With better graphics/interface/Single player AI this would be 10/10.

   • 0 of 2 users found this helpful
6. Necronomicon

   Feb 21, 2013

   8

   This is a serious game. Probably for TBS, the best out there. It is deeply engrossing. Options endless, strategies endless, highlyThis is a serious game. Probably for TBS, the best out there. It is deeply engrossing. Options endless, strategies endless, highly moddable, dedicated community. The game is richly complex and winnable with literally 100's of strategies. A virtual gold mine of a game from a strategy point of view. A caution, the learning curve is steep. It's not angry birds. Some posters have said that the AI is weak. It can be adjusted, but simply it has too many options which are adaptable and good. I suspect that because there is no "right" choice, the AI can't handle it all. Made even more amusing and complicated is the fact that when you give orders, they may not be obeyed or not play out the way you'd like just like real life. The replay value is not exceeded by any game on the market. Now for the bad. The graphics could use a little work, both in appearance and in a manner that enables one to follow the action a bit better. But graphics are not the main selling point. The point is game play and options, endless options. Also, near the end game, micromanagement becomes a serious issue. It is possible to lose track of where units are going and what they are doing. Perhaps there should be a final destination marker and a way to track what the units are doing in a more trackable way. The organization and tracking need a bit of work and some of the interface rough spots need to be cleaned up. Having said that, it is probably the finest game out there if strategy is what you seek.… Expand

   • 0 of 2 users found this helpful
7. ØyvindW.

   Apr 21, 2008

   8

   Dominions is a very special 4X fantasy game in many respects. First of all, it uses a more original fantasy setting than most games in thatDominions is a very special 4X fantasy game in many respects. First of all, it uses a more original fantasy setting than most games in that you won't encounter the cliché Elves, Dwarves, Orcs and other races from the Warcraft/Dungeons&Dragons universe. Rather, and this brings me to the second point, the game features a huge array of nations based on international folklore and myth. And 'huge' is a word I can use on pretty much the entire game. Dom3 boasts over a thousand different units, hundreds of magic items you can give your commanders with an RPG-ish equipment system, and hundreds of different spells you can research. The game is so huge that even experienced players will find themselves exploring it and constantly discovering new strategies. Add to this a Random Map Generator (a welcome addition) and a decent modding system, and you have a game that's not exhausted in a matter of weeks or months.
   
   Dom3 has downsides, primarily the very basic graphics and sound effects, and how the game tends to become micromanagement-heavy when you've built your empire.
   Important PS: If your menus disappear and you can't access the save function, you're playing a pirated version. Shame on you.… Expand

   • 0 of 2 users found this helpful
8. Damascus

   Sep 12, 2013

   0

   This 0/10 is for putting this game up for sale on stem for 19 euro 8 years after its original release.
   Price aside this game deserves to be aThis 0/10 is for putting this game up for sale on stem for 19 euro 8 years after its original release.
   Price aside this game deserves to be a 4/10 in 2013. Graphics and sound would have been good 20 years ago. Strategic gameplay is maybe the deepest of any computer game ever made, but/and also entirely unbalanced, unforgiving and uncompromisingly hard. This is to say, you need to know exactly what you're doing at every point in the game or you'll just suddenly die (no matter how well you seem to be doing) and have to start over (or find another game if doing multiplayer). There is no save. While this caters to the target audience perfectly (this game is 10/10 if spending about a year full-time, studying its every little nuance, appeals to you), but makes it a less than good game objectively.
   The fantasy themes are very well presented, and the best part of the game is how it lets to create The Lion or The Witch of Narnia, or Gandalf or Sauron, or a DnD Lich-King, or a Titan of the Greek Mythologies or just about any classic powerful being as a pretender to godhood. No other game on any media have been able to mix a fraction of the themes or come as close to portraying them as well as Illwinter. They also deserve kudos for being Indie before the concept was concieved. I wish Illwinter good luck with the upcoming Dominions 4, but if you're curios about this game you should find another way of procuring it other than buying it. Illwinter does not deserve your money, demanding what is full-price for a brand new top-notch indie game for an 8-year old indie w 20y-old graphics w an extremely narrow target audience.… Expand

   • 7 of 10 users found this helpful

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