Generation of Chaos review

Mind-crushingly meticulous fantasy warfare takes a really long time

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Commanding fantasy armies rocks

  • +

    Lush character and character designs

  • +

    Will last a long time

Cons

  • -

    Manual doesn't explain complexity well

  • -

    Takes a long time to play

  • -

    Commanders' specials are too powerful

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Frogmen are no match for Knights. Dragon Warriors obliterate Magic Hunters. Demon Knights are decimated by Magicians, but those same mages are absolutely shredded by musket-wielding Buccaneers. Oh, and watch out. Wild armies of Wyverns, Skeletons or Forest Elementals could ambush you at any time.

These are the kind of lessons one learns when playing Generation of Chaos. Fancy-pants armchair generals would describe it as a fantasy-based, tactical warfare simulation. Normal folks would say it’s basically the board game Risk, but with armies made up of dragons, wizards, knights and so on. You’re a general/ruler sort of person and your whole world is just entering into a massive, Lord of the Rings -scale global war. Your objective is to basically win it.

On a board game-style world map, you shuffle your armies of beasts, men and in-betweens around, buy new killing gear, fortify castles, recruit new forces and so on. Whatever you do, it costs you activity points. When you’ve used all your points, other generals on the map take a turn.

Amid this tactical maneuvering is the warfare itself. Each battalion has 29 units, all of the same type, and one leader. The strategy comes from the rock-paper-scissors relationship that the unit types have with one another, the formations and tactics you choose, and each leaders’ super-human special powers. These abilities actually often break the balance of the game - the power to trigger an avalanche or rain hellfire down upon enemy forces tends to overshadow any decisions about formation, unit type match-ups or aggressiveness.

More info

GenreStrategy
DescriptionA sprawling fantasy war game that can reward you if you're very, very, very, very patient.
Platform"PSP"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
Less
Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.