In Cyberstratege issue #5 (available in France...),
Dom3 gets 9/10 and "golden laurels" prize, , at the end of a thorough, 7-pages (!) review by our famous author, Pocus !
The game gets a 7/10 for previous Dom2 players, because Dom3 isn't much different.
Here's the translation (mine, don't be too picky) of the last, conclusive paragraph :
"We expected much more, but maybe too much, from this new Dominions version. Many improvements were made on the contents, that is new races and spells, but not much on the game mechanisms. We can dream of everything that could have been done yet wasn't done... We've already talked of the combat module, which would really have benefited from more attention, but why not have upgraded map orders (ie waypoints to give orders lasting more than one turn), ability to create real, themed scenarios, a more involved diplomatic system (with at least alliances), more buildings to build, etc...
Illwinter may have lacked of ambition ... or of resources (they are still only two guys !). Still the game is significantly cooler and more accessible. Without reinventing itself, Dominions 3 is a beautiful evolution from Dom II, that is, a huge game !"