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SpellForce 3... reviewed!
SpellForce 3 reminds me of why I'm a fan of RTS games, but it also reminds me of why they're frustrating as hell... sometimes.
Variety is what we generally try to present to you, which means we don't always get to play some of our favorite genre's... so getting back around to an RTS like SpellForce 3 was like "YES!" (for me). This is actually the first time I've ever played a game from the SpellForce franchise, but doing reviews has gotten me to put my stubbornness aside that required me to play previous installments first. That said... SpellForce 3 actually takes place before the first installment (about 500 years or so before the convocation) so that's cool and if I decide to backtrack... it would basically be moving ahead in the story. SpellForce: The Order of Dawn (the first game) took place after the convocation, followed by the second installment that took place a few centuries after the convocation... which is the central apocalyptic event in the SpellForce universe.
It was a ritual done by the Circle Mages that devastated the world. Yikes!
(Anyway) I do recommend playing "Scenario: Old-Haalayash" before jumping into the main SpellForce 3 campaign. This particular scenario plays out before the events of the main campaign, which definitely played on my stubborn side. The option to at least get up to speed with this mission... (versus reading or watching what happened prior) could not be ignored. Not only that, if you're a noob, you need to shake the rust off or you need to learn the user interface of this game... this mission is perfect. The initial missions of the main game get you up to speed as far as learning how to play, but you get backstory and experience in this scenario. So I recommend starting here... even if you can't transfer that experience or the items over to the main game.
Here is gameplay of the full mission (broken up due to size), which leaves the main campaign unseen for those of you looking to get the game.
SpellForce 3 places you in the shoes of the Betrayer's Child... which its probably safe to assume that no one would want to be known as... in real life. You can choose the name, sex and appearance of this character (to a degree) before starting his or her journey. This is a nice touch, though I would've preferred something a bit more custom... its better than nothing. Your father/the betrayer is known as... Isamo Tahar, a mage rebel. He convinced several Royal Houses of Northander to turn against the Queen to join forces with him... in hopes to put an end to the persecution and discrimination of mages in Northander. You happened to be saved from execution by the commander of a Royal Army elite unit, General Sentenza Noria... which lands you on the side of the Royal Army where you begin your playable journey just after the end of the wars.
The playable adventure itself involves you setting out to find who or what is behind something known as Bloodburn (that looks like a plague) decimating parts of Nortander. During your journey, you will meet new characters and factions to join forces as you dive deeper into the story. I won't be going into detail about that, but I will say that (for me) the story is pretty good... and it flows well.
SpellForce 3 places you in the shoes of the Betrayer's Child... which its probably safe to assume that no one would want to be known as... in real life. You can choose the name, sex and appearance of this character (to a degree) before starting his or her journey. This is a nice touch, though I would've preferred something a bit more custom... its better than nothing. Your father/the betrayer is known as... Isamo Tahar, a mage rebel. He convinced several Royal Houses of Northander to turn against the Queen to join forces with him... in hopes to put an end to the persecution and discrimination of mages in Northander. You happened to be saved from execution by the commander of a Royal Army elite unit, General Sentenza Noria... which lands you on the side of the Royal Army where you begin your playable journey just after the end of the wars.
The playable adventure itself involves you setting out to find who or what is behind something known as Bloodburn (that looks like a plague) decimating parts of Nortander. During your journey, you will meet new characters and factions to join forces as you dive deeper into the story. I won't be going into detail about that, but I will say that (for me) the story is pretty good... and it flows well.
SpellForce 3 is a real-time strategy/role-playing game, but... it also has something for fans of base building. I like when hybrids hit it out of the park, and this game is almost the perfect blend.
The base building comes into play when you're taking on the opposition, so it's not something you'll be stuck doing all the time. It's a nice touch though... just be prepared to race against the clock in order to get your base prepared for on-coming attacks when battling some enemies; you also have to build your offense to take care of that threat at its source via a tried and true Click 'n Fight system.
You have a variety of characters at your disposal once they join your squad, just make sure that you take advantage of the fact that you have variety. Equip them with the right weapons to make sure you can bring the hand to hand combat + ranged attack options. Not only that... make sure you take advantage of the skill tree to have a full circle of ability during your adventure... so that you can bring the pain and the healing. Trust me, you'll need it.
These battles can really feel like overwhelming tasks at times (to the degree of "WTF?! Is this even beatable?!" as you increase the difficulty) but stick to it... even if you have to save your progress in the middle of the battle based on you reaching strong momentum in battle just in case it goes left. My frustration came from not being able to zoom out and collectively see the areas all my soldiers were located. That's something I appreciated about the RTS game... RUSE. Don't get me wrong, you can zoom out to a nice extent, but not as much as I'd prefer because I'd like to see what's going on and act accordingly. You can click on the map to see that location or scroll to that location, but a zoom similar to RUSE would've been a plus. Also the ability to lock the camera onto selected characters.
I think zooming may have been limited due to the level of detail this game has... I mean the environments are beautiful in SpellForce 3. I found myself just zooming in and out to appreciate the work the developers put in at times, and I still do, to be honest. So visually they knock this game out of the park and the audio quality is awesome (minus hearing "We're being... attacked!" one too many times). Go up to the video above and really listen to the background music, the sounds in the environment, the voiceovers and of course the sounds of battle and other sound effects. Use quality speakers or headphones... and just listen, they really deliver in this game.
Outside of the single-player, you also have PvP multi-player action... as well as a co-op mode that I really look forward to trying out (aka I haven't played it yet). So replay value is here, which also comes by way of 39 Steam Achievements and the SpellForce 3 Editor allows you to create levels and so forth. Modders should be able to appreciate the mod tools... and I'm actually looking forward to seeing what is created.
Price wise... I don't have any complaints about the full retail price because you get a fully satisfying experience with depth by way of an RTS/RPG masterpiece that's actually worth it. Nuff said. I don't see anything fit to really be a con... but I will say that I'm not the biggest fan of rotating the camera in search of items in the environment. They're almost swallowed up by the detail in some locations, but just consider that as an added challenge since it doesn't make or break the game.
Overall, I think that SpellForce 3 is a force to be reckoned with in the RTS/RPG genre... and the man hours have been well spent because this is one beautiful looking adventure with a story packed with depth and audio I can appreciate.
Fun factor: 4
Visually: 5
Replay value: 5
Price: 5
"4.75 / 5 Cool Points"
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THQNordic provided SDGT Entertainment with a copy of SpellForce 3 to review.
SpellForce 3: The Mission Before the Adventure!
The rest of the videos from this mission have to be uploaded.
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FTS: AVICII HAS RELAUNCHED HIS GLOBAL HIT MUSIC GAME “GRAVITY” + RockStar Games Bundle!
IT’S “GRAVITY”, REIMAGINED
PACKED WITH NEW AND BOOSTED ORIGINAL CONTENT
AVAILABLE NOW!
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LOS ANGELES, Calif., (February 1, 2017) – Internationally acclaimed DJ / producer Aviciihas relaunched his global hit music game GRAVITY in a massive HD-expansion, packed with brand new and boosted original content; boasting 16 hit Avicii tracks (including EP1, “Wake Me Up”, “Levels”, “Waiting For Love”, “Hey Brother”) boosted graphics, amplified game design and new worlds to explore. GRAVITY HD was created in collaboration with Hello There Games, the multi-award-winning Swedish game studio and Avicii (Tim Bergling). They have partnered on various projects since 2013, including the original Gravity and the revolutionary rhythm game INVECTOR for PS4. AVICII GRAVITY HD is free and available in the App Store and Google Play.
“The new GRAVITY stems from my love of gaming and my wanting to continue to create better and better music driven gaming experiences for my fans. GRAVITY HD lets you enter a sort of flow-like state while riding through perpetual, visually stunning environments inspired by my music, and allows you to have a blast no matter your skill level”, says Avicii.
This new expansion allows players to experience Avicii’s music in a captivating new way, with the player’s performance affecting how the superstar’s songs are played out. With the introduction of the new world, Meteor, and an expanded set of ships including Invector, the environment changes dynamically to reflect the player’s progress. Players can upgrade their ships and use a wide range of powers to further enhance their performance.
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FTS: Shantae: Half Genie Hero Ultimate Edition! - Goes Digital!
Valencia, Calif. – 1/31/2018— WayForward is pleased to announce
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Ultimate Edition (Digital Version)!
Name: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Ultimate Edition
Publisher/Developer: WayForward Release Date: Available Spring - alongside retail versions Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Steam for Windows PC. Players: Single Player Price: $29.99 USD
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero – Ultimate Edition includes all of the previously released DLC (all heroes, modes, and costumes) in one incredible package! Also includes a new exclusive Blue Bathing Suit costume, for use in Beach Mode!
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About:
A massive collection that’s packed to the gills! Shantae Fans and newcomers alike will treasure this all-inclusive “Ultimate Edition” of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero!
In addition to the bevy of vivid, detailed high-definition graphics that made this newest entry in the Shantae series a fan-favorite, the Ultimate Edition includes even more modes, monsters, and platforming action! ‘Pirate Queen’s Quest’ allows players to take on the role of Shantae’s arch-nemesis, Risky Boots, in a whole new storyline! ‘Friends to the End’ features ethereal new levels and a special boss encounter as Shantae’s pals Sky, Bolo, and Rottytops enter her nightmare to try to save her from certain doom, while ‘Costume Pack’ provides three new arcade-style adventures – harness the power of the Ninja, Beach, and Officer costumes in these brand new side-stories!
Also included are previously unreleased bonuses - the Tinkerbat Transformation, Blue Shantae Costume, and Classic Risky Boots costume!
EXCLUSIVE BONUS COSTUME: Digital and retail copies of Ultimate Edition come with an exclusive extra Beach Mode costume you won’t find anywhere else - Shantae’s signature Blue Bathing Suit!
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FTS: Dragon's Crown Pro New Co-Op Trailer
Form your party of four and venture together through the Kingdom of Hydeland in Dragon's Crown Pro Co-Op Trailer!
Have any combination of local couch co-op and online multiplayer
IRVINE, Calif. -- Jan. 31, 2018 -- The adventure of Dragon's Crown Pro is not one that should be conquered alone. Demons, dragons, and wizards all stand in your way to victory, but you don't have to face these perils by yourself thanks to Dragon's Crown Pro's four-player co-op!
The best part: the co-op can be any combination of local couch co-op and online multiplayer. Whether it's three people on the old, crumb-dusted sofa teamed up with one player online or vice versa, you can all work together to defeat the minions and bosses littering the Kingdom of Hydeland. Protect your teammates while escaping from danger, and cook lavish meals to help increase your stats! Get a sneak preview of the multiplayer co-op in action in our latest trailer.
FTS: DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY OPERA OMNIA UNITES THE HEROES OF FINAL FANTASY ON MOBILE DEVICES TODAY
Numerous Launch Bonuses Now Available to All Players... yippie!
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 31, 2018) – DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY® OPERA OMNIA™ is now available as a free download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices.
Players can experience the world of DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY on mobile devices by forming parties from dozens of legendary FINAL FANTASY heroes and villains, and battle across an extensive original storyline. The game features strategic turn-based combat and a variety of weapons to be used in battle.
As players progress through the story, FINAL FANTASY characters will join their party. Throughout February, special bonuses are available to all players who download and log in to the game:
- Pre-Registration Reward - Following the large number of fans who took part in the pre-registration campaign, all players who log into the game before February 28 will receive 5,000 in-game gems, a valuable in-game currency.
- Login Bonus - Throughout the month of February, players can collect 300 gems each day for up to 20 days (6,000 gems total) just by logging in.
- All-Stars Draw - The “All-Stars Draw” features gear for the 25 playable characters available at launch. The first summon is half-priced through February 28, and players are guaranteed one five-star rarity weapon.
- Gem Specials – Special bundles are available for purchase that will provide players additional bonus gems.
DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY OPERA OMNIA is now available in the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices.
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