Etherlords Hands-On

After a great effort and some good honest sweat we've managed to get our mitts on a beta copy of the fantasy turn-based strategy, Etherlords. As soon as we installed the game, our senses were kindled by the beautifully animated introduction that, sadly, doesn't reveal too much of the basic story, since there's no narration or similar information. However, this animation sequence will take your breath away and you'll immediately become hooked before you've even selected a race to play with.

Roaming around the countryside, in search of resources.

The "Iron Butcher of the Ether World is ready for action.

After the intro, we noticed that the beta doesn't offer access to regular options. Therefore, we couldn't test the game in all resolutions with all details up to the maximum. Although, it seems that the default settings were optimized to prompt visual effects that were more than satisfying. Which is, I guess, sometime more plausible than having to bother with the configurations yourself.

At the beginning of the game, you'll distinguish that there are four chief races. All of these species have engaged into mortal struggle and allied on their way to the Mysterious Temple of Time. The existing forces in the Ether World are dispersed thus: the Vitals and Kinets have formed an alliance against the Synthets and Chaots - it is up to you to choose on which side you wish to fight. The Vitals are serene. Their leader, the Lord of life and diversity, who detests war and death, urged the Lord of the Kinets (lord of harmony and order) to join him in his cause. In the meantime, the Synthets and Chaots have created a union of their own and gathered their strong forces. The Synthets' very existence is based on a mixture of live flesh and immortal mechanics, while the Chaots have one purpose in life, and that is to fight. After playing for a while, and after I've tested all of the races, I came to the conclusion that the Synthets are my favorite race. They possess the most practical spells, they look cool, and, at the same time, they have kind of a threatening appearance induced into them that makes you wanna conquer the entire Ether World (but hey, that's just me, maybe you'll find your own favorite).

The most alluring thing about Ehterlords is its visual charm. When hero-characters move around the map, one instantly detects the precise and life-like animation. Although the camera doesn't have a rotation option, it is possible to zoom up to the point where you can notice the highly-detailed tops of the colorful trees and the dynamic water surface. This is merely the beginning of the visual delicacies. Once you commence your battles, castle assaults, and skirmishes you'll observe endless units, spells, and characters which are all visually striking and are furnished with an impressive quantity of unique details.

Casting spells also looks good, especially if your character gathers enough experience and mana points for hurling enchantments that spread out in multiple directions across the battlefield. The battle scene can be observed through various camera angles. Four of them, to be exact. Unfortunately, there is no zooming ability incorporated into the camera movement during the battle sequences, but the camera will act automatically harmonized with the clashes on screen. Hence, you won't be bored from viewing the fighting areas from only one perspective. The surroundings during your duels with enemies will change often enough, depending on where your hero-character happens to find himself (sea shore, rocky mountain, dense forest, uninhabited desert region, or snowy hilltops - these locations especially appealing; little snowflakes silently falling while sporadic sunbeams try desperately to penetrate the gloomy cloud-covered sky).