While the adventure map section provides a decent setting for the trading card game battles, I still feel that a lot more could have been done for that part of the game. The game lacks a solid storyline and a more detailed character development system. Fortunately, card-based combat keeps the game addictive, and you’ll want to try those new spells you just found, experiment with deck combinations, or try to defeat a particularly nasty opponent. The game is suitable for short gaming sessions, but beware of the “just one more battle” illness that kept me away from the bed until late in the night. The multiplayer component of the game should not be overlooked either. Once you are used to the computer opponent’s weaknesses and believe you have mastered the game, a visit to the master server will make you realize this sequel to Etherlords has a lot of replayability potential. Despite its various flaws, Etherlords II is one of the best computer renditions of a collectible card game to date, even giving the expensive Magic: the Gathering Online a run for its money.