SpellForce updated demo

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

This ambitious strategy game attempts to break away from the standard real-time gameplay of collecting resources, building infrastructure, and creating armies to crush your opponents. Instead, SpellForce offers extensive role-playing elements that result in a promising hybrid fantasy game with tremendous graphics.

The plot is similar to other real-time fantasy games: 13 mages have split the known world into many parts, and six races must battle for control of these new lands. However, unlike other real-time games, SpellForce depends heavily on character and skill development. Central characters are created by distributing skill points among nine combat abilities, and several subclasses of magic ensure that these characters will have numerous avenues for growth. Also, a persistent world allows for realistic day/night cycles and continuing developments even after your central character leaves an area.

Graphics are spectacularly detailed, and the orchestral score contributes to the mythical atmosphere. The interface is necessarily filled with a multitude of options and menus; although the chaos is handled well, the learning curve is still high. A tutorial offers a basic introduction to the game, and the demo features one challenging single-player map and one level for online multiplayer action. We did experience significant loading delays on start-up and some frame-rate slowdown during large battles or movement over complex terrain.

Publisher's description

From Encore Software :

In their immeasurable greed and constant thirst for power, the 13 most powerful mages of all time doomed the land, hurling it into an endless spiral of chaos and despair. Entire countries were wiped out in the blink of an eye when, summoned by dark rituals, the devastating power of the Elements was unleashed. Continents shattered like glass, with pieces strewn about like leaves in the wind. Huge armies, bound by the power of ancient runes, brought war and destruction to the lands that survived the initial onslaught. All that was left were a few islands, connected by magic portals.

Now, only a few years after the end of the Convocation, evil is back--stronger and more powerful than ever before--to finish what was started. Yet there is still hope. The prophecies tell of a human, damned to immortality, bound forever by the power of the blood runes. Soon, the time will come when the power of one may change the destiny of many.

This updated demo includes a game tutorial, a single-player mission (Farlorn's Hope) and two multiplayer maps (the new Whisperling Swamp, plus Ashvale) that support up to four players.

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