The alpha code for the game that I received allows one to play the first mission as Lambert, an agent of the Empire. The other playable races, the Legions of the Damned and the Elven Alliance are not playable but that’s fine. This is still enough code for me to get a good idea of what the game is about.

And what is the game about you ask? It’s about thinking strategically and trying to stay one step ahead of the enemy. Sometimes you don’t plan well and the results are catastrophic ending your game and forcing you to reload your last save. That’s all part of life in the big leagues of gaming and it’s something we have come to expect from time-to-time. The first time I sat down and played through the whole scenario I didn’t plan well and lost. The second time I was very well prepared and succeeded. It’s that type of game.

Along the way you will battle bad guys (or good guys if you want to be a bad guy). You will find items that will help or heal or revive. You will put time into upgrading your character and you will probably enjoy every moment of it. The turn-based nature of the whole game means you have time to explore the environment and find the hidden treasures yet there’s still a sense of urgency to complete the mission. There are also side quests that you can pick up and complete while still on the road to completing the main mission.

Even in alpha state this game is cool. The graphics are hot and the 3D environments are rich. So rich in fact that I had to turn it all down to medium level so that my poor 4-year-old Athlon 64 could handle it without getting all jerky. But even at medium level everything is very well done. This is the biggest change from Disciples II: Dark Prophecy which was more of an isometric RPG style. Now you can pan, zoom and spin the camera to get a real idea of the full 3D environment. I couldn’t find a way to change the downward angle of view and it was a little disorienting and I would have liked to have been able to change that.