It’s war. No, really, that’s all it is. Warlock builds on the success of its spiritual predecessor Majesty and capitalizes on what it does best. War. Story mode? Pfft. Let’s just make war, and maybe settle a few new cities, but let’s always get back to the good stuff. War. Edwin Starr would have certainly had something to say about this.
On first look, Warlock is nothing more than a mod for Civilization 5. The gameplay is painfully similar in layout and design. This is a 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) strategy game purely focused on combat. You select your avatar, who carries a number of civilization-level benefits alongside a spell skill set that develops throughout the game. The spell mechanic is unfortunately about the only genuinely new thing Warlock brings to the 4X table. Spells can be cast at any time as long as you meet the research and resource requirements, and they provide a range of combat enhancements or civilization buffs.
The interesting mechanics that made Civilization great have been stripped away in favor of pure combat. It’s a fantasy world with skeletons, witches, monsters, and of course warlocks. Fans of the genre may be able to suspend disbelief for a while, but ultimately this plays like nothing more than a glorified standalone mod for Civilization 5.
I really moaned and groaned through this one. I found it incredibly difficult for Warlock to hold my interest. I love the Civilization series and everything its 4X framework delivers, but when you strip out the culture, diplomacy, and overarching progression, the combat focus becomes painfully mind-numbing. A campaign mode is nonexistent and gameplay amounts to a skirmish mode with no multiplayer in sight.
Then there’s the complete lack of documentation. If you had never played a Civilization game or a 4X title before, you would be genuinely lost. There is no tutorial, and finding support through forums is a challenge in itself. If you dig hard enough and can look past the borrowed mechanics, there is some enjoyment here, particularly if you already enjoy the genre. If that’s you, add 1.5 to the final score. Otherwise, save your money.
Graphically, Warlock holds up well and adds some nice touches to the Civilization visual style. Some of the sound design is entertaining too, particularly unit responses and combat sounds. Beyond that, there is not much here that delivers a unique or memorable experience. Just make sure you know what you are getting into before you pick it up on Steam.
