Game: King’s Bounty

From: http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/kings-bounty-the-legend/preview/kings-bounty-the-legend/a-20080701153811858000/g-200704231558495840

Animations are first-rate, and I was constantly impressed by creative touches like Bela Lugosi–style vampires transforming into bats. The distinctive traits of critters, like the griffins’ ability to glide over prepared defenses, and your choice of hero skills give King’s Bounty considerable tactical depth. Each area is patrolled by a few units of titanic strength that only a fool would confront before the late game - I had to scramble to avoid them. This adds real tension to exploration, as you might be going about the rote business of looting and exterminating groups consisting of a dozen berserkers and suddenly notice a horde barreling towards you with 2,000 of their kin, accompanied by hundreds of Archmages. If you haven’t opted to improve the requisite scouting skills, you may not even realize the danger the group poses until hundreds of angry, kilted men are playing hacky sack with your Dwarves’ heads. Risking those fatal confrontations does pay off, though, since any map nook could hold a new quest-giver, upgrade, or opportunity to recruit unique troops.

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