holoz0r's A-Z of Steam: Elven Legacy - one part Civ, one part HoMM, all parts challenging

Elven Legacy is a simple game. Take the combat of Civilization IV, couple it with bloodthirsty, aggressive elves (that you control) - and add magic, voice acting and a story.

If I could only write a thirty word review, I would - but there's so much more to this title than just that - yet, it really is just that simple.

We find ourselves on a strategic, turn based combat-tile filled world. Within it, there's various units - melee, magic, ranged, and various objectives - some plot related, others a financial motivation.

Collect gold from towns and outposts, and you can buy more units for the next battle. Collect a lot more gold, and you can equip your units with artefacts that give them better skills as they level up.

Terrain bonuses (and penalties) also apply, in much the same way as Civilization IV's combat engine. There;s also a slight feel of Heroes of Might and Magic here in the general world building and design, but it is slightly less accomplished, and significantly less polished than either Civ or HoMM.

That's the original game for you. The three expansions are very reasonably priced, as is the whole package. However, the mileage you get out of this will depend on your tolerance for mediocrity. The game and its expansions try to take the best of Civ and HoMM, and combine them - but you get an odd taste in your mouth - it is neither of these delicious things, but yet, it lacks the individual flavours of each.

The expansions are much the same, adding more campaigns, more units, and different tactical options as a result.

The thing that it has in common is a difficulty slider that is incredibly unforgiving, that betrays the visual style of the game. If you do not use terrain, and other advantages (such as formations) to your advantage - you will get destroyed early, and you will get destroyed often.

It took me a very long time to realise that you aren't meant to win the battle the second mission the game presents you with, that you should instead bypass the enemy forces, picking off only those that stand in your way.

This leaves me in literally two worlds about this game - it teaches valuable strategic lessons, but it doesn't hold your hand at all - it tries to cut it off at every single opportunity it can. Sometimes that's good, but with a game that has such an inviting, bright, and colourful aesthetic - it is simply unexpected, and takes you by surprise.

I can always re download this game to give it another go in future, but at the same time, I'm hesitant to press "download" again. This one might be an acquired taste.