You also will play as one of three unique races: the magic-savvy Alin sorcerers (inspired by the stories from 'The Arabian Nights'), the technical Vinci civilization (who rely on wild inventions based on Leonardo da Vinci's sketches, such as gyrocopters) and shipwrecked aliens known as the Cuotl.ДЄt the start of the solo campaign, which could take 20 hours to complete, you play as Giacomo, a young Vinci inventor who witnesses his older brother's murder during an ambush plotted by the Alin ruler. Locales range from steep mountainsides and frozen wastelands to futuristic cityscapes and sprawling deserts. Between skirmishes, you see a 3-D map and can choose where your armies should travel, conquering provinces along the way. In 'Rise of Legends,' the main campaign mode takes place throughout the perilous world of Aio. Titles such as 'Rise of Legends' are referred to as 'real-time' strategy games because there isn't a break in the action for you to make tactical decisions (as with 'turn-based' strategy games, including the 'Civilization' series). Once new structures, fighter units and vehicles are created, it's time to explore the map, battle enemy factions and research new technologies to aid in your fight.

In case you haven't played a point-and-click strategy game, you first choose a side to the conflict before collecting natural resources to fuel base building (in 'Legends,' it's a glowing blue rock known as timonium). Microsoft Game Studios' strategy epic doesn't stray far from what made its 2003 predecessor, 'Rise of Nations,' a critical success, but the fantasy sci-fi theme introduces fun and inventive units, weapons and vehicles. Toss your 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Terminator' DVDs into a blender and you'll end up with something like 'Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends,' a cinematic war game that pits magic-wielding creatures against fierce machines.

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