SpellForce 3 inclines more towards the RPG side of gameplay, which can easily exist on its own, while the RTS feels more like a complementary gameplay feature. Heroes and units There is an important difference between the units the player leads to battle made by the genres that compose this game.
SpellForce | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Phenomic[1] (2003-2007) Trine Games (2012) Mind Over Matter Studios (2014) Grimlore Games (2017–present)[2] |
Publisher(s) | JoWooD Productions (2003–2007)[3] THQ Nordic (2012–present) [4][5] |
Creator(s) | Phenomic |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
First release | SpellForce: The Order of Dawn November 28, 2003 |
Latest release | SpellForce 3[6] December 7, 2017 |
SpellForce is a real-time strategy and role-playing series created by Phenomic and currently owned by THQ Nordic.[7] The first release was published by JoWooD Productions and Encore Software in 2003, and by THQ Nordic in 2017.
- 3Games
- 3.1SpellForce: The Order of Dawn
- 3.2SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
Setting and plot[edit]
2003 | SpellForce: The Order of Dawn |
---|---|
2004 | SpellForce: The Breath of Winter |
SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix | |
2005 | |
2006 | SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars |
2007 | SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm |
2008 | |
2009 | |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny |
2013 | |
2014 | SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past |
2015 | |
2016 | |
2017 | SpellForce 3 |
2018 | |
2019 | SpellForce 3: Soul Harvest |
The games take place on a planet called Eo, a high fantasy world ruled by near-immortal mages (collectively known as The Circle) and inhabited by various sapient races, such as humans, dwarves, (dark) elves, orcs and trolls. The mages used servants called rune warriors, summoned from magical monuments, to keep peace.
Several years before the start of the first game in the series, the mages discovered an ancient text describing the Convocation: a dangerous, but supposedly power-granting ritual. They started fighting amongst themselves, rune warriors being their main weapons of war. When the planets and stars aligned, enabling the start of the ritual, each of the 13 of the most powerful mages performed the ritual; however, unable to control the power, the world was shattered.Where once stood great continents of Fiara, Urgath and Xu, now only small pieces of land remain, centered around magical towers created by Aonir, the Star God.
The first game in the series begins with a reappearance of one of the Circle mages: Rohen. He summons a Rune warrior (the protagonist) to save the world.
Gameplay[edit]
The role-playing game aspects of SpellForce games parallel games such as Diablo, Diablo II, and Sacred in character development, skill trees, equipment customization, and top-down isometric viewing. However, the capacity to control multiple heroes often makes the gameplay comparable to that in the Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights video games.
The real time strategy aspects of SpellForce games mirror the Warcraft fantasy real time strategy games. These include the ability to control several separate factions such as 'The Realm' (humans, elves and dwarves), 'The Pact' (dark elves, gargoyles and shadows), and 'The Clans' (orcs, trolls and barbarians). Each faction has its own individual troop and building types.
SpellForce games have several game modes, including campaign mode (expositional), skirmish mode (real time strategy based), and free play (similar to campaign mode but without an overarching plot). SpellForce can also be played cooperatively or competitively in multiplayer mode.
Games[edit]
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn[edit]
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn is the first game of the franchise, developed by Phenomic. It was first published by JoWooD in Europe on November 28, 2003 and by Encore Software in North America on February 11, 2004.[8]
Spellforce 3 Gameplay Review
SpellForce: The Breath of Winter[edit]
On March 1, 2004, JoWooD announced the first SpellForce expansion pack named SpellForce: The Breath of Winter.[9] The expansion pack features over 40 hours of new single player campaign gameplay.
SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix[edit]
Shadow of the Phoenix was released on November 12, 2004. The expansion pack continues the storyline from The Breath of Winter and enables the player to continue playing with a previous game character by raising the character's level limit to 50.[10] The pack also includes upgrades for the game's Titan units.
SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars[edit]
SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm[edit]
SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny[edit]
SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past[edit]
SpellForce 3[edit]
SpellForce 3, the latest entry in the series, was released in December 2017.[6] The game was developed by Grimlore Games[2][7] and published by THQ Nordic.[11]
The story of SpellForce 3 takes place before the events of The Order of Dawn in the fantasy world of Eo.[11]
The first glimpses of the game were seen during Gamescom 2014 in Germany, where Nordic Games first released gameplay of the game, as reported by German online magazine PCGames.de.[12]
References[edit]
- ^'SpellForce: The Order of Dawn - EA PHENOMIC'. Phenomic. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ ab'Grimlore Games to develop SpellForce 3'. Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^'Corporate Information - Encore'. Encore, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^Forsans, Emmanuel. 'Nordic games holding AB Group acquires Jowood'. afjv. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^'SpellForce Complete Collection'. Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ ab'SpellForce 3 on Steam'. Steam. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ ab'PROJECTS - Grimlore Games'. Grimlore Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^'SpellForce: The Order of Dawn Release Information'. GameFAQs. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^'News archive - SpellForce'. JoWooD. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
SpellForce - The Breath of Winter Official Add-On announced
- ^'New strategic opportunities; New Video presents the spectacular final chapter in the SpellForce trilogy'. JoWooD. 15 October 2004. Archived from the original on 29 August 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ ab'SpellForce 3 on Steam'. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^'Spellforce 3 - Gameplay-Video von der Gamescom' [Spellforce 3 - Gameplay video from Gamescom] (in German). PCGames.de. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
External links[edit]
- Official website
The third installment in a fantasy game series launched in 2003, which combines elements of RTS and RPG. The title was produced by Grimlore Games, a studio founded by the series’ publisher, which employs some of creators of the first two SpellForce games.
Strategy|fantasy|RTS|RPG elements|multiplayer
publisher: THQ Nordic / Nordic Games
Game mode: single / multiplayer
Multiplayer mode: Internet, players: 1-24
SpellForce 3 for PC is the third installment of the series of RTS and RPG crossover games from the Grimlore studio, the creators of the previous two editions of SpellForce, who work under the wings of the Nordic Games company.
Plot
The storyline of SpellForce 3 takes place before the events of the first installment of the cycle, before the fantasy world has been torn into relatively small islands. The new time setting causes a complete change in the structure of locations – instead of dedicated regions connected via portals, the production features a consistent, large continent.
Gameplay
The player controls his character and directs its progression similarly to a standard RPG title; the creators have prepared a variety of abilities, classes and specializations, which can be freely drafted to suit your playstyle. The main protagonist is accompanied by other heroes, during the exploration of dungeons and catacombs we can control a group of up to five characters; when running a larger team SpellForce 3 resembles some of the hack-and-slash type productions. The gameplay is focused around fighting small groups of enemies, solving puzzles and avoiding traps.
On the planet’s surface the players can establish a camp and recruit troops to aid them in battle. The scale of skirmishes in the newest installment of SpellForce has been increased, which is also why the men we hire could easily be considered regular soldiers, who understand the meaning of strategy and can work together in fighting formations.
Apart from the main story-focused missions the developers have prepared plenty of side quests and also a well-developed multiplayer mode. For the purposes of their new title, the Grimlore studio has created a Battle.net type service – SpellForce.net, which offers various options for interaction between players.
Technology
SpellForce 3 uses a brand new game engine, capable of generating a detailed open world with entire virtual civilizations living within it.
Game score 8.245 / 10 calculated out of 280 players' votes.
Expectations before the premiere: 9.3 / 10 calculated out of 696 players' votes.
Similar games:
Spellforce 3 Gameplay 2018
System requirements
Spellforce 3 Gameplay Battle
PC / Windows
Spellforce 3 Gameplay Pt Br
Recommended: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6 GHz/AMD FX-8350 4.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970/Radeon R9 290 or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Minimum: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4 GHz/AMD FX-6350 3.9 GHz, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 660 Ti/Radeon 7850 or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit