The turn-based fighting takes place in pre-set arenas, which is common to many turn-based games but the problem is that it distracts from the RPG elements and has a somewhat stagnating effect on the gameplay. Turn-based fans won’t have a problem with it but gamers expecting in-play environments for their battles might find it disappointing. Once you get past this, it becomes rather apparent that the strength of Etherlords II is the wide variety of spells and strategies involved with the game’s combat.