The world is destroyed, the gods are bickering, and the only way to solve anything is to wage strategic wars over galactic wastelands. Welcome to Wrath Unleashed, a unique spin on a classic concept popularized by such favorites as Archon and Battle Chess. As an elemental god, you maneuver your armies across hexagonal tiles to control territory, and when an enemy moves into your domain, you defend it in one-on-one, fists blazing (literally) combat.
The strategy is what makes this game. Each tile on the grid is infused with the power of one of the traditional four elements that can give your units an advantage in combat. Victory depends on being aware of your surroundings and using the environment to your advantage. Or at least it would, if it weren't for poorly conceived one-on-one battles in need of some serious divine intervention.
Your godly minions are slow to respond to your commands, and their moves have about as much variety as a caulk sandwich. Maybe I'm asking too much here, but when I think of celestial wars, I think of scarred landscapes and widespread decimation on a cosmic scale! You'd think they could have come up with a combat system based on more than biting and fireballs.
The strategy is intricate, the creatures are totally awesome, but some sketchy execution on the combat side of things keeps Wrath Unleashed from attaining immortality.

Concept:
Take one chessboard and mix thoroughly. Apply punching liberally

Graphics:
The artists put a unique spin on many traditional monsters. They look simultaneously awe-inspiring and terrifying

Sound:
The orchestral and choral soundtrack lends a solid epic feel to the ethereal wars

Playability:
The turn-based elements play well, but beware of sore thumbs from button mashing in the battle arena

Entertainment:
The resurrection of a fun idea carries it a long way, but the limited multiplayer modes and no online capabilities make it lose steam quickly

Replay:
Moderate

Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
Issue: February 2004

2nd Opinion:
If unicorns always looked as cool as they do here, then it wouldn't be considered "girly" to like them. If only everything else about this game was as cool. I felt like I spent more time staring at loading screens than actually playing. But then again, the gameplay is only mediocre, so maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Rated: 6.25 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss

-- Game Informer Review