Reviews and Post-Release Press

[Annette]

Hopefully you've all picked up the November issue of Computer Gaming World and caught the action of "Tom vs. Bruce" (or in this case "Tom vs. The Guy Who Wrote the Game's Manual") Their Dominions 3 coverage begins on p.102. By the way, this is the last issue of this great magazine published under the CGW masthead. The next issue will launch the magazine's new name, Games for Windows.

And for all our Finnish players, the next issue of PCpelaaja-magazine (on sale late October) awards Dominions 3 their Editor's Choice designation with a score of 94 out of 100 points.

According to the magazine's editor, reviewer Mikko Rintasaari writes:

This is what's it all about: multiplayer. Dominions 3 is the undisputed king of fantasy-themed strategy genre...
The game has depth which makes the word 'massive' feel light and over used...
The 300-page manual is superb and easily worth the extra price.

[Nerfix]

Whoa! Good going!!

[PDF]

In Cyberstratege issue #5 (available in France...), Dom3 gets 9/10 and "golden laurels" prize, , at the end of a thorough, 7-pages (!) review by our famous author, Pocus !
The game gets a 7/10 for previous Dom2 players, because Dom3 isn't much different.

Here's the translation (mine, don't be too picky) of the last, conclusive paragraph :

"We expected much more, but maybe too much, from this new Dominions version. Many improvements were made on the contents, that is new races and spells, but not much on the game mechanisms. We can dream of everything that could have been done yet wasn't done... We've already talked of the combat module, which would really have benefited from more attention, but why not have upgraded map orders (ie waypoints to give orders lasting more than one turn), ability to create real, themed scenarios, a more involved diplomatic system (with at least alliances), more buildings to build, etc...
Illwinter may have lacked of ambition ... or of resources (they are still only two guys !). Still the game is significantly cooler and more accessible. Without reinventing itself, Dominions 3 is a beautiful evolution from Dom II, that is, a huge game !"

[PhilD]

PDF said:
In Cyberstratege issue #5 (available in France...)

Is it really available in France? I mean, if I try to buy it tomorrow morning, will I be able to find it?

(Mental picture of students asking for help on their code, while I'm pretending to read some obscure documentation)

[PDF]

PhilD said:

Is it really available in France? I mean, if I try to buy it tomorrow morning, will I be able to find it?

(Mental picture of students asking for help on their code, while I'm pretending to read some obscure documentation)

Sure it is, you should even have bought it *yesterday* !

Edit : oops, in fact only subscribers have it, but it'll be in shops just tomorrow !

[Annette]

Thanks, PDF!

Sci Fi, the official magazine of the Sci FI Channel, gives Dominons 3 a quick nod in it's December issue (p.88) now on newstands. Reviewer Tom Chick writes,

It doesn't get much more epic than this... Dominions isn't going to wow you with graphics. Instead, it's going to immerse you in one of the deepest, widest fantasy worlds ever squeezed onto your computer.

[PhilD]

PDF said:
In Cyberstratege issue #5 (available in France...), Dom3 gets 9/10 and "golden laurels" prize, , at the end of a thorough, 7-pages (!) review by our famous author, Pocus !

Found it, read it (even BEFORE I saw my students). Of course it left me wanting more, since I already knew what the Dom series was about...

[suit]

first? review in german language is online
http://www.rebell.at/?site=r5&cnt=artikel&id=630 (3 pages, german and a few screenshots)
try google translation click for the horrible translated article

btw: the rating (6 out of 10) is no too bad
rebell.at uses a different rating system, we use the score more as it is - 5 is exact mid-range (like the 70/80% ratings at other magazines)

[Annette]

Welcome to our forums, Suit, and thank you for your review.

The editor of ExtremeTech.com, Lloyd Case, gives his impressions of Dominions 3 in their Podcast #57, October 16. You'll find a link to listen HERE.. The Dom 3 segment is about three-quarters into the podcast.

[Annette]

Recently posted at Entertainmentwise.com:

With fifty playable nations to choose from, this is probably the widest arching game in terms of sheer gaming experience that we’ve ever seen. This is not one for the casual gamer; it’s a super geeky title with a lovely interface that anybody can understand once they grasp the tutorial. If you’re a hardcore gamer who loves board, tabletop, fantasy and strategy titles, then you will love this...

What it does, it does better than anything we’ve ever seen ... This is for the gaming elite, and for them, Heaven has arrived.