Product Reviews

Three years ago, the original Kohan strategy game, Immortal Sovereigns, was released to acclaim. Set in the mythical land of Khaldun, the game had a typically fantastical plot that saw the forces of good and evil battling for supremacy. However, the latest incarnation has a difficult job if it's to match the masterful Rome: Total War (page 98).

The tale begins with a new evil power on the rise and you will encounter six different races -ranging from the versatile Humans to the lumbering Drauga and the chilling Undead - as you strive to keep the villains at bay.

In keeping with the times, the graphics have progressed from 2D to 3D and are very reminiscent of Age of Mythology, with the ability to zoom in reasonably close to individual units.

A recent innovation is that

'Heroes', legendary warriors that can inspire your troops, have also been introduced and they likewise can be attached or unattached to companies to make them more powerful. A hero and a mage in your group is a sight to behold, as special attacks including stunning meteor storms can be opened over the heads of your hapless foes!

The nitty-gritty of the game offers an unusual mix of precise restrictions. For instance, mines and settlements can only be built on specific sites, but if your companies are whittled down to one unit, they can be healed and regenerated by moving into the orbit of a settlement or outpost. The best way to win is to keep expanding your territory to claim more settlements before the enemy arrives there.

Resource building and management are kept to a minimum - once you have ordered a building, it's built immediately within the settlement walls and starts stocking up. This leaves you more time to plan attack and defence strategies against the improved artificial intelligence of your enemies, which learns and exploits your weak points!

With 25 levels of tense, unforgiving warmaking, this isn't a game you'll finish in an evening - but we'd recommend it for die-hard fantasy fans only.