SpellForce
| SpellForce | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Phenomic[1] (2003-2007) Trine Games (2012) Mind Over Matter Studios (2014) Grimlore Games (2017–present)[2] |
| Publisher(s) | JoWooD Productions (2003–2007)[3] THQ Nordic (2012–present) [4][5] |
| Creator(s) | Phenomic |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| First release | SpellForce: The Order of Dawn November 28, 2003 |
| Latest release | SpellForce 3 [6] December 7, 2017 |
SpellForce is a real-time strategy and role-playing series created by Phenomic and currently owned by THQ Nordic.[7] The first release was published by JoWooD Productions and Encore Software in 2003, and by THQ Nordic in 2017.
Setting and plot
| 2003 | SpellForce: The Order of Dawn |
|---|---|
| 2004 | SpellForce: The Breath of Winter |
| SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix | |
| 2005 | |
| 2006 | SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars |
| 2007 | SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm |
| 2008 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2010 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2012 | SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny |
| 2013 | |
| 2014 | SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past |
| 2015 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | SpellForce 3 |
The games take place on a planet called Eo, a high fantasy world ruled by near-immortal mages (collectively known as The Circle) and inhabited by various sapient races, such as humans, dwarves, (dark) elves, orcs and trolls. The mages used servants called rune warriors, summoned from magical monuments, to keep peace.
Several years before the start of the first game in the series, the mages discovered an ancient text describing the Convocation: a dangerous, but supposedly power-granting ritual. They started fighting amongst themselves, rune warriors being their main weapons of war. When the planets and stars aligned, enabling the start of the ritual, each of the 13 of the most powerful mages performed the ritual; however, unable to control the power, the world was shattered. Where once stood great continents of Fiara, Urgath and Xu, now only small pieces of land remain, centered around magical towers created by Aonir, the Star God.
The first game in the series begins with a reappearance of one of the Circle mages: Rohen. He summons a Rune warrior (the protagonist) to save the world.
Gameplay
The role-playing game aspects of SpellForce games parallel games such as Diablo, Diablo II, and Sacred in character development, skill trees, equipment customization, and top-down isometric viewing. However, the capacity to control multiple heroes often makes the gameplay comparable to that in the Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights video games.
The real time strategy aspects of SpellForce games mirror the Warcraft fantasy real time strategy games. These include the ability to control several separate factions such as "The Realm" (humans, elves and dwarves), "The Pact" (dark elves, gargoyles and shadows), and "The Clans" (orcs, trolls and barbarians). Each faction has its own individual troop and building types.
SpellForce games have several game modes, including campaign mode (expositional), skirmish mode (real time strategy based), and free play (similar to campaign mode but without an overarching plot). SpellForce can also be played cooperatively or competitively in multiplayer mode.
Games
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn is the first game of the franchise, developed by Phenomic. It was first published by JoWooD in Europe on November 28, 2003 and by Encore Software in North America on February 11, 2004.[8]
SpellForce: The Breath of Winter
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
On March 1, 2004, JoWooD announced the first SpellForce expansion pack named SpellForce: The Breath of Winter.[9] The expansion pack features over 40 hours of new single player campaign gameplay.
SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
Shadow of the Phoenix was released on November 12, 2004. The expansion pack continues the storyline from The Breath of Winter and enables the player to continue playing with a previous game character by raising the character's level limit to 50.[10] The pack also includes upgrades for the game's Titan units.
SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
SpellForce 3
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2017) |
SpellForce 3, the latest entry in the series, was released in December 2017.[6] The game was developed by Grimlore Games[2][7] and published by THQ Nordic.[11]
The story of SpellForce 3 takes place before the events of The Order of Dawn in the fantasy world of Eo.[11]
The first glimpses of the game were seen during Gamescom 2014 in Germany, where Nordic Games first released gameplay of the game, as reported by German online magazine PCGames.de.[12]
References
- ^ "SpellForce: The Order of Dawn - EA PHENOMIC". Phenomic. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Grimlore Games to develop SpellForce 3". Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "Corporate Information - Encore". Encore, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Forsans, Emmanuel. "Nordic games holding AB Group acquires Jowood". afjv. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "SpellForce Complete Collection". Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ a b "SpellForce 3 on Steam". Steam. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ a b "PROJECTS - Grimlore Games". Grimlore Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "SpellForce: The Order of Dawn Release Information". GameFAQs. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "News archive - SpellForce". JoWooD. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
SpellForce - The Breath of Winter Official Add-On announced
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "New strategic opportunities; New Video presents the spectacular final chapter in the SpellForce trilogy". JoWooD. 15 October 2004. Archived from the original on 29 August 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "SpellForce 3 on Steam". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Spellforce 3 - Gameplay-Video von der Gamescom" [Spellforce 3 - Gameplay video from Gamescom] (in German). PCGames.de. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
