Dominions 3: The Awakening PC
User Score
8.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28

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  1. CaradryanRyman
    Jan 20, 2009
    10
    Warning: If you're a college student of some sort who loves strategy games and care about their GPA, please stay away from this game. Luckily, it is only the beginning of semester, or else ...yeah.

    Dominion 3 is an extremely deep and engaging game. With a complex system, old-school sprites, and customization up the wazoo, this is THE ultimate turn-based strategy.

    I would highl    y recommend trying out their downloadable demo to get a feel for the game. This game is definitely not for everyone - but for those of you who are willing to think a little more than our average gamer, this is for you.

    Ignoring the fact that there's still frequent official patchs, a myraid of excellent mods and maps featuring other fantasy works, the pricetag is really pretty fair for a game like this. Overall, a solid 10/10.    … Expand
  2. MartialDoctor
    Nov 18, 2012
    5
    Let me start by saying that I love strategy games. Civ Series, MOO, MoM, GalCiv, Distant Worlds... the list goes on. However, I hate this game. That's right, I hate it. I will focus on what I dislike about it so that other players can get an idea before buying this game. If you want to get a better summary of the good aspects, read one of the other positive reviews :)

    First off, if you     are good at single player strategy games, the single player will be of little challenge to you here. You'll have to play play-by-email multiplayer games (or find skirmish games online). Play-by-email games will last quite some time (months) so be prepared for such things. I'm not a huge fan of this but I got used to it. However, if you don't have the patient for such things, it would be in your best interest to stay away.

    Now, on to what I really dislike.

    This game has so much depth to it that, as others have put, the strategies are endless. However, the mechanics of this game are nowhere near the level they need to be. To put it simply, you lack sufficient control over your units and will find a good part of the game will be to just get your units (especially mages) to simply do what you want them to do... and then get frustrated when they do something stupid.

    You see, the battles are totally out of your control. You give your units orders and then watch the battles unfold in the next turn. You can give your mages, and units, commands but they are very limited. In the early game, this isn't a major issue. But, in the mid to late game, where mages become very important, the fact that you lack good control over mages becomes a huge issue.

    You can only give commanders 5 orders total. After that, the unit is totally under AI control. Not only that but, if the unit can't perform what you want it to, they may do something reckless or otherwise stupid - sometimes even costing you the unit or gems (which you use to cast spells, more or less). When multiple units do such things, they can even cost you the battle. So, a huge part of the game becomes simply getting your units to do what you want them to. Does this sound interesting to you? It definitely was not fun for me - especially when you invest a good amount of time (late game, when your armies become gigantic - even an hour or more) programming your units to only find them not do what you want. There's not even a simple command for a mage to cast one spell and do it continuously. Or to not cast certain spells.

    I could go on about other AI issues that annoy me to know end but I'll end it there.

    My next major gripe is the way that Super Combatants, so called SCs, work in this game. Once you get into the later part of the game, you can start creating powerful items for these large, powerful units. The problem is, they become so powerful that they can take on entire armies! Even an army composed of high level summonable units which, from my point of view, should be able to stand up to them! Swarming will not work even in the least bit! So, you must rely on mages. However, these SCs will have items that are resistant to certain magic types. So, only certain magic spells will really work on them.

    But, wait, didn't I just say that you have little control over your mages and that they are very difficult to program to get to do what you want? Now you see where further frustration comes in.

    Also, in regards to strategies with these SCs, they will absolutely destroy entire armies but, get the right spells in, and you may take them out before they can do anything. One good spell, with some luck, can take out an SC with one hit or even charm it to your side.

    To sum it up, you may get strategies that work like this:

    Strategy A >>>>> Strategy B
    Strategy C >>>>> Strategy A

    This can be to the point that, if you aren't adequately prepared to counter something, you may have little or, even, no way of countering it. It also means that these SCs are very important to get and all players aim to get them later in the game. Without them, you are at a major disadvantage.

    So, to sum this part up, balance is not in this games best interest.

    Finally, I hate the ability that units, and armies, can effortless warp around the map. It destroys the whole idea of fronts, which all strategy games have. What fun is it when a unit, or army, can appear anywhere on the map at any time? There's no way of countering this as you can't predict where they will appear; you can only guess.

    If the above things do not bother you and you do not mind lacking control over your units, you will most likely find this game to be a great one. However, if you are like me, you will find this game to be an incredibly frustrating experience. I played a good five or six multiplayer games (remember they take months to complete) and I will say that my most recent one will definitely be my last.    … Expand
  3. JeremyF.
    Oct 15, 2006
    10
    Easily the best turn-based strategy game in the past decade, Dominions 3 completes the promise of its actual predecessor (Dominions 2) as well as its spiritual predecessor, the classic fantasy TBS, Master of Magic. When you consider that its competitors are legendary franchies like Warlords abd Heroes of Might and Magic, that's high praise indeed. That said, its worth noting that Dominions 3 is ONLY for those fans who are ready to handle a very deep, very complex strategy game.… Expand
  4. RussellB
    Nov 28, 2008
    10
    Without having played Master of Magic, I could only describe the game with the analogy that its essentially Civilization II, Magic the Gathering and Rome: Total War in one pleasing, modern interface (I had no problems with wide screen resolution). The content-over-graphics approach is reminiscent of Space Empires IV; even then, I don't see the sprite graphics as negative given the vast number of units that can appear on the battlefield. With over a thousand well-drawn and animated sprites, large-scale fortress invasions, and amount of units that can be fielded, sprite graphics feel like a feature rather than a limitation.

    The user interface is easy to learn and, in my opinion, better most turn based, 4x strategy games (that includes Space Empires IV, Galactic Civilizations II, Civ. II, Civ. III, Civ. IV). Strategy isn't dumbed down, and the game is probably more repayable than most of those combined. Functions are placed intelligently. The AI appears to be well capable, and even though multiplayer has a pretty big following, I'm still learning which faction to play - factions are pretty interesting and not rehashed versions of each other or simply paper, rock, sissors (i.e. Gal Civ. II combat). My experiences playing most factions - particularly EA Ermor to LA Ermor and EA Ulm to LA Ulm - was as if I tried a completely different game.

    The game appears to have a great development team which, for a game that was surprisingly balanced and whole to begin with, continually release new content for the game (more factions, heros, unit graphics, etc.).    … Expand
  5. Jounk33
    Mar 25, 2013
    8
    Excellent TBS. Many Options and endless ways to win or lose. Ai is very good but the game is made for Multiplayer. But be warned, if you don't like micromanagement do not try this game If you like to manage every turn every province and you are a fan of old school TBS Dominions 3 is a must have.
  6. CalD.
    Jan 2, 2008
    10
    Best fantasy MP game ever, SP isn't that good because AI can't handle all the cool actions.
  7. DemetrisRoussis
    Mar 6, 2008
    10
    This game is truly great and has a deep gameplay, combined with a great scenario.Only if it had better graphics and sound effects and performance, it would have been an absolutely beautiful game.Surely, if it was published by a games publisher, better than Shrapnel Games, like Microsoft or EA, it would have been a huge success, bringing a lot of money to the Developer and Publisher factory and much more entertainment to video gamers!… Expand
  8. DanielS.
    Oct 19, 2006
    10
    Best Multi-player TBS game I have ever played. SP game is only a 7 as the AI is only good. Not a fast paced game or one with killer graphics but I can't stop playing. When I am not playing I am working on new strats to try out next time I play.
  9. TimH.
    Nov 7, 2007
    9
    Excellent Turn Based Strategy Title. With better graphics/interface/Single player AI this would be 10/10.
  10. DaveJ.
    Jan 26, 2007
    7
    This is a good game, with a lot of depth. It has lots of mod options and gives many play options for how the game plays. However, it is small developer game and it shows. They do give good support, but in the end, this is very much a niche game and the forums are dominated by hardcore fanboys who like the rough edges. Excellent manual, best I have seen in 20 years of computer gaming. Try the demo, as you will either love this game or hate it.… Expand
  11. Pin
    Aug 22, 2007
    1
    So frustrating. Poorly documented. Terrible interaction design and no save feature just left me cold.
  12. Dom3Fan
    Oct 14, 2006
    10
    If you love deep turn based stragy games like VGA Planets, Stars!, Space Empires IV you will love this one. The strategic and tactical possibilities are virtually endless. No game has ever been written that is this strategically rich. A game will take months to complete, with you and your friends becoming deeply involved in all the nuances of your epic struggle. Really, can't recommend it highly enough.… Expand
  13. DCorazon
    Nov 3, 2007
    10
    I know this game has a big hurdle - I had been noodling on whether to buy this back when it was Dominions 2 but I could never figure out what was going on. Well, I finally took the plunge, printed out the tutorial, and downloaded the demo. By the time I was through, I couldn't wait to get the full version. Needless to say, my only regret is why I waited so long. This game unlike anything else I have played captures the essence of epic. There is so much to learn, so much to do, so much strategy. I love how it actually makes sense to scout, so you can deploy your squads effectively. If you know you are going to fight archers, position your troops with kite shields up front. You can give your calvary orders to attack the read , trying to flank your enemy. On and on. Meanwhile you have assasins, priests, wizards, mighty warriors, summoned ghost captains. You can forge magic items, cast the world into darkness, etc. It is great fun to play via email. It allows you to really take the time to savor each turn and makes each decision feel crucial. Anyway, nuff said. If you take the time to figure this gem out, it will pay off like no other game.… Expand
  14. ØyvindW.
    Apr 21, 2008
    8
    Dominions is a very special 4X fantasy game in many respects. First of all, it uses a more original fantasy setting than most games in that you won't encounter the cliché Elves, Dwarves, Orcs and other races from the Warcraft/Dungeons&Dragons universe. Rather, and this brings me to the second point, the game features a huge array of nations based on international folklore and myth. And 'huge' is a word I can use on pretty much the entire game. Dom3 boasts over a thousand different units, hundreds of magic items you can give your commanders with an RPG-ish equipment system, and hundreds of different spells you can research. The game is so huge that even experienced players will find themselves exploring it and constantly discovering new strategies. Add to this a Random Map Generator (a welcome addition) and a decent modding system, and you have a game that's not exhausted in a matter of weeks or months.

    Dom3 has downsides, primarily the very basic graphics and sound effects, and how the game tends to become micromanagement-heavy when you've built your empire.

    Important PS: If your menus disappear and you can't access the save function, you're playing a pirated version. Shame on you.    … Expand
  15. NGResonanceFan
    Nov 4, 2012
    8
    This Indie game maybe wasn't quite what I expected, but it was still nonetheless a real treat! It is definitely one of the best fantasy/Tolkien-esque 4X strategy games on the market; up there with Age of Wonders 2. Like most games it's not without its weaknesses though. For one thing the sprite graphics are definitely dated. For another, I was expecting intricate city building, civil and military research on par with the Civilization series, and strong single player diplomacy options. Alas, city building is very lite, diplomacy is basically multiplayer play-by-mail only, and there is no research other than magic. Having said that, the game has the most detailed and well-fleshed out magic research I've ever seen in a game. Further, despite the dated graphics, the 'autopilot' tactical battles (where your armies fight it out according to orders you've given them before the battle) are great fun to watch. I would also add that you have a wide range of choices when it comes to your faction and leader. Be warned though, the 'sandbox' campaigns can be rather long and involved, even on small maps and at easy AI difficulty and aggression settings. In fact my last game was on a small map with five total 'pretenders' and it was a good ten hour game. On the aesthetic side, the Celtic soundtrack with female vocalist is very strong; some of the best game music I've heard in a while. Anyway, I had really wanted to give this game a 9, but I docked it half a point for the dated graphics, lack of single-player diplomatic options, the lite city building, and the lack of non-magic research. Still in all this Indie game is a lot better than more than a few strategy games put out by the big gaming studios with their much greater development resources. If you like fantasy/Tolkien-esque turn-based strategy 'explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate' games, this one is not to be missed.… Expand
  16. Billick
    Mar 26, 2013
    9
    I just discovered this gem of a game, and I have to say it's one of the best turn based strategy games I've ever played. The amount of depth in this game is staggering. There are a huge number of nations, units, spells, items, and tactics at a player's disposal. I actually found the UI to be pretty good once you learn the basics, and I didn't find the basics as hard to learn as some folks have suggested. It will take you a very long time to learn to be competitive in multiplayer though. The only negatives about this game that I have found are the dated graphics, and that the AI quite dumb.… Expand
  17. Necronomicon
    Feb 21, 2013
    8
    This is a serious game. Probably for TBS, the best out there. It is deeply engrossing. Options endless, strategies endless, highly moddable, dedicated community. The game is richly complex and winnable with literally 100's of strategies. A virtual gold mine of a game from a strategy point of view. A caution, the learning curve is steep. It's not angry birds. Some posters have said that the AI is weak. It can be adjusted, but simply it has too many options which are adaptable and good. I suspect that because there is no "right" choice, the AI can't handle it all. Made even more amusing and complicated is the fact that when you give orders, they may not be obeyed or not play out the way you'd like just like real life. The replay value is not exceeded by any game on the market. Now for the bad. The graphics could use a little work, both in appearance and in a manner that enables one to follow the action a bit better. But graphics are not the main selling point. The point is game play and options, endless options. Also, near the end game, micromanagement becomes a serious issue. It is possible to lose track of where units are going and what they are doing. Perhaps there should be a final destination marker and a way to track what the units are doing in a more trackable way. The organization and tracking need a bit of work and some of the interface rough spots need to be cleaned up. Having said that, it is probably the finest game out there if strategy is what you seek.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. GameZone
    90
    For those TBS fans out there this will most likely be one of the best games out there. Though it carries a hefty MSRP of about 50 bucks, It is very unlikely that any game will be exactly the same. There is just too much content for that.
    Read full review
  2. PC Gamer UK
    65
    Too garage for its own good. [Christmas 2006, p.80]
  3. Computer Games Magazine
    90
    But if you're willing to look, there are very few games that show you as much as you'll see here--a nearly infinite variety of rising gods and dying empires and a fat man with a magic belt--and no games that do it with focus, depth, and extraordinary economy of Dominions 3. [Jan. 2007, p.60]
See all critic reviews »