Genre: Strategy RPG
Developer: Snowbird Game Studios
Publisher: Snowbird Game Studios

At first blush Eador looks thoroughly generic, like that silver Toyota Camry your neighbors drive. The more one plays however the easier it becomes to appreciate the artistry that did go into the aesthetic; the UI is very sharp, character weapons give off a Souls-like glow, and the shards look lush and alive. All said, Eador is probably more Golf than Camry or Ferrari.

If the superficially generic high fantasy visuals weren't quite enough to put one to sleep, the generic high fantasy music would finish the job. But wait! Eador has fooled once again; the music also becomes more endearing as one plays, and perhaps even ventures tepidly into "memorable" status after a time. Sound effects are pretty minimal but get the job done.

It's difficult to nail down exactly what genre Eador even is; it has the "compete for sections of the map" aspect from Dragon Force, the turn-based combat from Tactics Ogre, the army building from King's Bounty, the building tree from Civilization, and straight-up RPG hero creation on top of everything else. The game's pacing is monstrously good, and between that fact and the amazing turn-based combat engine, it's very easy to lose an entire afternoon to this title.

Eador is like snowboarding; it dishes out nothing but broken ribs for dozens of hours, after which it can and will essentially become its victim's entire life, consuming entire marriages and careers with its insatiable appetite for human souls. It's a shame then that the learning curve is as steep as it is, because most people who approach it will undoubtedly give up before they realize that Eador is the best strategy-oriented RPG of the past ten or more years.