New Age wizards
Triumph talk about the role of wizards in their turn-based strategy sequel
Elf-lovers and tree-huggers across the land were morris dancing in celebration when the Gathering of Developers announced that they would be publishing a sequel to their surprise hit Age of Wonders, a turn-based fantasy strategy game with more than a passing resemblance to the Heroes of Might & Magic series. Developed once again by Triumph Studios, the sequel will feature improvements to both gameplay and graphics. Amongst the most drastic changes to the formula is the way in which leaders will work in the new game.
"In Age of Wonders II the players will be powerful immortal wizards, who don't take as much of an active role in combat as the leaders [in the first game]", according to Triumph's Josh Farley. "Instead, the Wizard acts by directing his minions from the relative safety of his Tower, conducting the forces of magic to aid their cause. When wizards are killed, they can simply restore their physical form at their Tower. So as long as the Wizard has towers to respawn to, the player will not lose because of their 'death'."
Quite how this will work out remains to be seen, but judging from the excellent job Triumph did on the fiendishly addictive first game, we're quietly confident that this could turn out to be another sleeper hit with critics and gamers alike.