SpellForce: The Order of Dawn

"A Force to be Reckoned With"

This is a very good game. Ignore the others, WC3 haters that actually have competition now. This game IS like WC3, but then so is all other RTS games. This game though, has a few new things that are definitely worth the price. First is character creation. This is the most in depth character creation for an RTS game available right now. With alot of options, alot of spells, alot of weapons and armor and alot of other options, this is what it means to be a HBRTS (Hero-Based Real Time Strategy) Game. Look at it like WC3 was an introduction to a new bread of games. Why just because a game shares common elements, its all of a sudden a clone? All games have similarities. Get over it. Now with the scores...

Graphics: 8/10
The graphics are very nice. With an option to view the world in normal RTS over head mode, or zoom in to a totally immersive 3rd person rpg type camera, you will get to see alot of the beautiful designs, buildings, and characters throughout the game. The only nit pick is the camera controls, which can be alittle jumpy at the beginning dew to new users not knowing how to control it best.

Story: 7/10
The story is decent. You are a Rune Warrior summoned by a circle mage, thought to be the only one left from the Great War that happened long ago. You find out there is another circle mage loose, and it turns into a power struggle between the two, and you become an eager but soon unwilling pawn.

Controls: 9/10
This game shines in controls. And new Click-and-Fight system allows for easy commands and other things to be done on the fly, this is one of those additions worth the money.

Music 8/10
I myself enjoy the music of this game. Some may not, some may, but I do. It has plenty of range from sweet to fearsome so you will be able to find at least some things that you like.

Overall 8/10
Its a game worth your money, and beautiful step in the right direction. It is not a WC3 clone, like WC3 fanboys try to say, but rather an heir. An heir that opens the doors of the Kingdom of RTS and allows others to come in, for with WC3 paving the way, and Spell Force walking among that road, others will follow, or be left in the dust.......

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/15/04