As of this date, I haven't yet switched to Warhammer III. "Why?" You may ask, given its better siege mechanics, diplomacy, and so on and so forth... One, my laptop would likely burst into flames after prolonged gameplay, but two - and more importantly - I can't simply leave this one behind, not yet. I have played it for 500+ hours and have not yet managed to play all of the factions I wanted to explore. Their individual “quests”, to be exact - the Vortex campaigns.

Discounting the basic ones - fighting for the Vortex itself - which you can enjoy only once or twice, the campaigns tied with the stories of individual lords have so much to offer. I cannot recommend them enough - Huntsmarshal's expedition into the jungle, Snikch's quest for the power source, Bretonnia's crusade, amber hunt of the Twilight sisters, Tombkings' hunt for the Pyramid, Elvish Batman seeking revenge… - all engaging you from the very start and so, so rewarding due to the included cut-scenes.

If you are new to TW series, like fantasy, can appreciate some absurd flavours here and there and are willing to tolerate some mechanical imbalance, TW Warhammer 2 is for you. It is simpler than other titles (less intense than W3), easier to master, and therefore makes for a good entry into the series. Not to mention, the campaigns to which I sing praises here, serve as perfect introductions to each of the included factions, teaching you the ins and outs of their respective gameplay styles. Plus, once you get down to it, it may feel like many different games merged in one.

I am just in awe of the plethora of unique gameplay styles associated with each faction, including the more subtle differences connected with individual lords. The uniqueness of each faction that was achieved in TW Warhammer series is unsurpassed. It does not make for an exactly well-balanced game, but the different gameplay styles are so interesting you'll be willing to let it slide. Adding to the havoc, but very appreciated still, is the presence of magic. If you've ever wanted to throw a fireball (or something larger) into a deftly assembled blob of enemy units, you can definitely do so here (and be duly annoyed when your own army gets hit by a warp lightning for a 5th time in a single battle).

As hinted above, I also love Warhammer titles for their special combination of grim-dark and parodic vibes - it is completely unhinged. I still keep discovering new things to be amused by – yes, yesss.

All in all, W2 may not offer much compared to W3 with regard to general gameplay (except perhaps more peace without the incessant demon invasions), but its value lies in its Vortex campaigns, which, in my humble opinion, make it worth of your attention even today.

love the game, hate the staggering cost of the DLC

Pretty darn cool. ^-^