Spellforce

List Price: $29.99 Discount Price: $14.99

Features:

• Fantasy realtime strategy role-playing game
• Click ¿n¿ Fight control system guarantees instant action
• Use 6 races of creatures to fight evil
• 30 different enemy races
• For 1 player

Accessories:
PC Gamer (1-year)	Games for Windows: The Official Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Fun for awhile [Posted on 2005-08-08]
I bought this game awhile, about a year ago. Great graphics, although if you're planning on running it on a less than ideal computer, beware. Even with the graphics and settings turned way downnnnnn, the game tended to 'lag' freezing up for a second or two regularly. Trying to use a touchpad with it was beyond frustrating, and the load times tended to be horrendous. Average time to load the game up from the desktop to my character was probably about 5 mins, with most of that time being spent watching the splash screen while the saved game loaded.

Superb graphics if the settings were turned up high, though. The game could have also benefited from some creativity in the plot department. It's pretty standard save the world stuff.

In the game you are a 'rune warrior' essentially a slave, summoned up by a power sorcerer to fight another powerful sorcerer who is intent on dominating the world. Ho hum, nothing new there. Your summoner sets you free, and you're on your way to go fight the other guy, and you make your way around the world building your character, doing quests, and so forth to eventually go fight this guy. I got about halfway through the game, before I completely burned out on it. Eventually, after reloading my harddrive, I lost the original saved games, and having no real desire to play through half the game again, so I can burn out at the middle on it, I haven't really touched it since then.

Fantasy Game of the Century!! [Posted on 2005-08-19]
Spellforce has been my most lasting computer game favorite for two long years. I am constantly playing it to learn better tactics, create stronger avatars, and just pure enjoyment! I have found this game to be a rare and lucky find! The graphics are beautiful, even when the graphics setting is set to medium! The music is fantastic, and is well composed to each island. The magic is deep, powerful, and the most fun to work with. I have yet to use every spell the game has, and I believe that I have not even discovered all of the magic possiblities. The warriors are beyond powerful and they just look awesome! I have found the gamplay to be many notches above my other games, creating a problem free atmosphere! Although the game lacks an editor, the possibilities are way beyond limitless! I can't wait to purchase the next two additions! [...] It will take you straight to the mainpage! This game is a MUST MUST MUST MUST HAVE for any game collection!

one of the best rts/rpg combos ever [Posted on 2005-10-09]
wow, what can I say. I got spellforce a year ago, played it for a short while, and it took a back seat to the newer games. after a year or so, i am again playing this with renewed vigour.

this is the first rts/rpg which goes into 3d view. wow! the coolest thing ever! i usually build bases in 2d view and fight the enemies in 3d view ( you can use tab to switch enemies). it feels like battles in lord of the rings.

the graphics is excellent, wonderful and 3d view is simply too cool. sure the voice acting and a few commands could have been a bit better, but this is forgiven.

this game was totally ahead of its time and it will run beautifully on current machines. i have finished 4 levels and still not experienced a single crash.

Highly recommended for rpg/rts/tolkein fans.

Refreshingly different [Posted on 2005-10-16]
I won't be repeating everything other reviewers have stated and stick to the main points:
- This isn't a game for everybody; it's not a "true" RTS nor a very deep CRPG. If you can't deal with that, don't buy it.
- It's a mix of both but on the light side of things. I like that because I'm bad at "real" RTS games.
- It's a very entertaining game which is nicely paced. It starts off slow but you'll get some rather difficult scenarios after that.
- In order to develop your avatar into a powerful force you need to do all side quests and stick with the skills you have chosen from the beginning (like Elemental Magic) and watch what attributes you need to be able to increase the skills to the next level. I recently replayed both this campaign and the follow-up (Breath of Winter) and it makes a big difference. I reached Level 29-30 without a problem. Check the Spellforce forum or the FAQ for some tips on developing your avatar.
- The different ways of building your avatar adds a lot of replayability to the game.

All-in-all it's something refreshingly different and well worth buying if you like the mix of character development and strategy.

Pretty decent RTS/RPG but the camera controll has alot to be desired.... [Posted on 2006-12-10]
Iv'e just started playing this one and i have to admit,it's a fun title. I'm a (NEWBEE) when it come to the RTS genre, so bare with me on this one. The game is advertised as having a blend of both (RPG and RTS) which is what attracted my attention so i decided to give it a try (even though I've never tried an RTS before). Iv'e played ( and own) quite a few games that deal with strategy elements but not as deep into the micro-management side, so when i started this one i knew there it would take a little reading and patience to get started. Well i have to say, the "Prolouge" level was very self-explanitory and it walks you through everything from (mouse commands to keyboard stokes), it's done very well. Anyone new to these type of games will have no problem getting through the prolouge because the narrarator waits for you to perform the commands and if you make a mistake,you cannot progress to the next step until you get it right, plus the orders(or the steps you are to perform)are written out in a little pop-up box in the lower right-hand side of the screen...how cool is that? But even with it's easy to follow narrative, i immediately noticed a HUGE flaw in this title....THE CAMERA CONTROL. Although you do have the option to switch the camera from Isometric to a 3rd-person perspective,it still seem a little clunky in it's reaction-time and you'll find yourself getting a little *DIZZY* when doing so. If you suffer from VERTIGO,you may want to play this in the top-down (isometric view) only. Human generated NPC's i.e (workers'clerics,bowmen ect.)are fun to create and watch. Combat is strategic without being OVERLY COMPLICATED and the voice acting is done well. Not perfect, but well. Overall, for my first RTS,this ones not half bad. I also ordered other RTS titles the same day i got this one ( Heroes 4 and Art of Magic) just to get my feet wet in the world of RTS games. Im usually strictly an RPG player, but it's fun to try these type of games. So far to me, they are just RPG's w/ more in-dept strategy and that's a good thing. F.Y.I For those of you who are familar with this series...Iv'e read the reviews all across the web about the "PLATINUM" edtition and I'm not even considering it. I'm a 'NEWBEE' to RTS's.NOT AN IDIOT. -Darvius9

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