I don't mean to compare and I normally try not to. I noticed AoW 3 a few days back, was thinking about getting, when I noticed I got the first one for free at some point. Now I have only played one mission, don't really have much time tonight to try it out. But from what little I saw, it did really remind me of HoMM. But a bit different. Well the basic map/fighting seems mostly the same.

Does the later one have a bigger difference? Or the first one for that matter? Or is the AI a more of a challenge? One big flaw with the other series, the computer just seems to give up if you play for too long.

I seen most people do give it a good review, so seems worth me playing it anyway. Just don't really want to play something that will remind me of another game the whole time.

It will also remind you of Civilization, Eternal Legend, Disciples, and many other 4X games since they share a genre. :)

That said, yes, the game is very similar to HoMM except that your empire is now based on a Wizard. I played HoMM to death and have enjoyed AoW as much, if not more. The campaign in the first AoW is very good and the multiplayer in AoW:SM rocks.

I have played HoMM to death as well. As much as I still love it, can't seem to play it anymore. Which is why I ask, if there is a big enough difference, it does seem like a fun game. But don't want to buy it notice it reminds me of it too much, if that makes sense.

The game has very different mechanics. Global spells and unit buffing via your Wizard are completely different than in HoMM. Likewise, rather than building an army with 999 vampires you'll only have single units in your stack of eight units. Morale plays a bigger role as well. Heroes work in a similar fashion.

Some of this also depends on which AoW you're playing. The game changed dramatically from 1 to 2/SM to 3, more than HoMM changed from 1 through 6 or whatever number they're up to.

So in a way it could be harder? I know in the earlier HoMM, they computer never did seem to ever get high up in their army numbers. Or if they did they seemed really to stupid to even understand how to win. The amount of times I won on defense cause the enemy couldn't knock down my walls just felt silly.

Only playing AoW 1. Was looking at buying the latest. But wanted to make sure I would like it before forking out $45
It does already sound like I would like it more.

The two have often been compared (mostly because AoW 1 and HoMM 3 both came out at around the same time), but honestly they play very differently.

AoW is more a fusion of two other, older fantasy TBS games: Warlords and Master of Magic. AoW 1 was more Warlords-y while 2, SM, and 3 are more MoM-y.


I guess that calling it a cross between HoMM and Civ might be more relevant for modern audiences, but I don't like doing that as the game really doesn't have a huge amount in common with either.