SpellForce: The Breath of Winter - PC

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SpellForce: The Breath of Winter (PC)
Viewed: 2D Top-down, Multi-way scrolling Genre:
Adventure: Role Playing
Media: CD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Phenomic Soft. Co.: Phenomic
Publishers: JoWooD (GB)
Released: 2 Jul 2004 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 12+
No Accessories: No Accessories

Summary

In the Christmas 2003 run-up, JoWood released Spellforce, a game that successfully managed to combine fundamental elements of both the RTS and RPG genres. Employing tactical gameplay, resource management and a stereotypical "messed-up world with twisted villains" plot, Spellforce intrigued hardcore PC gamers the world over into partaking in an epic struggle to put right a conflicted world and its inhabitants. And as so many games to this type do, the success of Spellforce then warranted a highly demanded expansion pack, which in this case, happens to be The Breath of Winter.

Breath of Winter comes complete with the obligatory set of additions, fresh maps and slightly improved gameplay, but more importantly plays host to two new modes - Free and Co-op.

The first simply offers players the chance to participate with their own Avatars, playing against the computer on a succession of single-player maps, with some leaning towards role-playing and others being more involved with the RTS element of the game. Players are generally challenged to tackle one map at a time, but it is possible to skip levels. Doing so, however, can make your adventure much more of a challenge and you may also find yourself missing key spells or items.

Co-op mode, which breaks away from the single player experience, charges up to four players with the objective of conquering vast maps. Players will naturally fight co-operatively, and as a consequence, will face stronger foes. Experience points and items are shared equally, and individuals are free to sell their spoils to various merchants littered throughout the virtual world.

Breath of Winter should fulfil the demands of existing Spellforce players with ease. There's plenty to do, the game looks great and it's every bit as compelling as the original.