Conclusion:

I wish I could say more about this game, but the truth is that nothing is all that changed from the original, and the new additions aren`t enough for this to be labeled as a good expansion. The multiplayer mode is interesting enough, if you can get past the interface problems, and play it with all the details off, so you can actually control your army. I was very disappointed by this game, as I was expecting all the flaws of the original to be corrected, and the game to truly shine, as it should have. Players (and fans) of the original will enjoy it, though, as the campaign is long enough to keep you occupied for a while. It still needs a lot more polishing and I hope the good ideas present here (such as the RPG part of the game and the army management) will be improved in a future game. It would be a shame to let this go to waste.

Gameplay: 68

Good ideas and intentions thrown out the window. The responsiveness of the interface is as slow as it gets, and sometimes you have to repeat a command several times for your troops to actually acknowledge it. The RPG part is fun though, and leveling your hero is easy and fun, and there`s nothing like watching your big brute of a hero rip an enemy hero to shreds in a duel. The chaotic combat will make winning the missions a matter of numbers more than a matter of skill, and I think this is exactly the opposite of what the intention was.

Graphics: 63

Brown grass, brown troops, brown background, brown shields and brown weapons... need I go on? You can zoom in at grass level, useful for entering combat and watching the fight, but that`s about it. You can rotate and pan your view as well, but, like most 3D games, this is a disaster and could have been removed. Remember, always keep functionality above looks.

Sound: 68

The orcish sounds will start irritating you after a while, if you`re like me and don`t appreciate snoring, shouting and growling in your headphones. The music is pleasant enough, when you listen to it, but there`s nothing about it to make it stand out.

Multiplayer: 80

Everything is better in multiplayer for the simple fact that your opponent has the same problems as you. The customization screen before a multiplayer or skirmish match has remained, and is fun to play with. Winning or losing a multiplayer game revolves around luck more than troop placement or logistics.

Hardware: 50

I truly can`t understand how the frame rate can drop like this, even when no fighting is taking place. Single digit frame rates are a common occurrence, even on modern computers, and one Alt-tab means the end of the game. Expect to grow a beard in front of your computer when waiting for one mission to load.