Spellforce is a RTS-RPG hybrid, quite an old game already, but a unique game that sucessfully blends genres into one remarkable experience. The RTS side may be a little oversimplified, but its in the RPG options and the felling of the world where it excells.

The Campaign mode is noteworthy for being one of the few in Strategy games that let you revisit previously finished scenarios. You can freely travel between portals, even if backwards, and the game often forces you to do that, thanks to the multitude of quests that end in the first mission map. In this mode you create a character, naming it and selecting a sex and class. You can play the tutorial if you want, but it's hardly necessary as the first mission is easy enough. It is a long story, with each scenario taking more than a hour to complete, with the going back and forth between scenarios further extending the time to complete it. It's a fairly good story though, and it keeps you engaged throughout it.

Sadly, the RTS aspect is not very deep, and usually involves making a large number of -preferably ranged- units and throwing them at enemie's hordes. The player character is then what can make a difference in battles between similar sized armies. The RPG aspect is slightly more fleshed out, with a countless number of spells to learn and many different types of equipment.

It's not always that combining genres work. But Spellforce proves that it can be done well. Alone, each aspect of the game (the RPG and RTS parts) fall a little short of what is usually required of these genres. But together they form a comprehensive package.

I'm not much a fan of the RTS genre, but SpellForce's unique blend of RPG and RTS appealed to me in a way no other RTS game can. The RPG element gives you a more immersive feel for the action, making you think of your army as "your own" rather than mindless cannon fodder you throw at your opponents. The game isn't perfect, its weak points being the story and voice acting. While the game's graphics were pretty good when it first came out in 2004, it looks quite dated by now. However, it is still an absolute bargain at a price of only $5.97! If this game was selling at $20, I would have given it 3/5 stars. If at $10, maybe 4/5 stars. But a quality game like this at a mere $5.97? That's a 5/5 in my book!