While recognizable as the successor to Rise of Nations, Rise of Legends maintains a lot of appeal ... and it's fun.
The story revolves around Giacomo, the leader of a human faction known as the Vinci (as in Leonardo da Vinci). He begins seeking revenge against "The Doge" for his brother's murder, but the span of three campaigns leads him to uncover increasingly sinister goings-on. While the plot keeps you interested, it is revealed in cutscenes before and after missions and doesn't really explain a whole lot. You're just thrown into these situations, and your only option is to tackle them as though you know what you're doing, even though you sometimes won't understand the point until later.
Basically, the idea is similar to the old campaign model in Rise of Nations. You have an overview map, from which you move Giacomo's army into territories you wish to attack. From there, the real-time battle launches, or a cutscene followed by a battle.
While playing, the graphics stand out first. The artwork is just outstanding, which only enhances the enjoyment of dealing with the bizarre units and buildings you will encounter. Smoke, dust, explosions, other effects -- everything looks better than Rise of Nations. Terrain is detailed and sharp. All of the units look good from the standard playing distance and retain most of their clarity even when the camera zooms in.
The sound is good, though it certainly could have been better. Giacomo and the other heroes are voiced very well. Some chatter during the course of battle would have been a nice touch, but the audio in general is suitable even if not stellar like the visuals.
By far, the sweetest thing in the game is the sheer off-beat nature of the three factions. The aforementioned Vinci utilize absurd mechanical contraptions based largely on the work of Leonardo da Vinci (primitive flying machines and such). The Alin are a magical desert-dwelling people, using sand, fire and glass to construct a variety of creepy units. The Cuotl are aliens, based loosely upon Mayan civilization but with a highly-advanced level of technology. They are easily the most quirky faction, which is really saying something.
It's quite unfortunate that some mind-boggling bad press hurt sales of this terrific game. Rise of Legends is an excellent example of how to follow up a ground-breaking release like Rise of Nations. It keeps the formula intact, but it avoids coming across as a clone. I hope to see an expansion in the near future, hopefully one with better sales numbers. At any rate, every RTS fan should give this game a try.