Age of Fear 2: The Chaos Lord GOLD

Age of Fear 2: The Chaos Lord GOLD is a turn-based tactical RPG that expands on its predecessor with two distinct campaigns featuring demons and orcs. Players command evolving units and heroes, engaging in strategic battles across a variety of maps. The game offers around 25-30 hours of gameplay, combining classic tabletop-inspired combat with RPG elements such as unit progression, equipment, and skill customization. The developer is notably active, frequently updating the game and engaging with the community to improve gameplay and fix bugs.

While the core gameplay and AI receive praise for depth and challenge, the game’s presentation is divisive. Graphics are simple and dated, with some players appreciating the retro style and others finding it lacking. The story is described as humorous and engaging by some, though others find it clichéd or amateurish. Technical issues like lag and occasional crashes have been reported but are often addressed by the developer. Overall, it appeals strongly to fans of old-school tactical RPGs willing to overlook visual and polish shortcomings.

Highlights

The game’s turn-based tactical combat is widely praised for its depth, strategic variety, and challenging AI. Players enjoy the unit progression system, where both heroes and regular units gain experience and can be customized with skills and equipment. The two campaigns provide distinct playstyles, with demons favoring summons and ranged tactics, while orcs rely on melee strength. The storytelling is noted for its humor and engaging narrative moments, adding flavor to the battles. Additionally, the developer’s active support and frequent updates enhance the game’s longevity and polish over time.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the outdated and simplistic graphics, which some players find a detriment to immersion. The voice acting is frequently described as poor or distracting, leading many to disable it. Some reviews mention UI clunkiness and awkward controls, such as imprecise unit movement and camera issues. Technical problems like lag, crashes, and freezes have been reported, though patches have mitigated many of these. The storyline and writing receive mixed feedback, with some finding it clichéd or cringeworthy. Additionally, the game’s length and content are seen as limited by a few, with calls for more missions and replayability features.