SpellForce: Platinum Edition

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 720 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
SpellForce: Platinum Edition Game Cover
Starting at $1.94Buy now
Get on Steam

SpellForce: Platinum Edition is a fantasy role-playing and real-time strategy game consisting of three titles. After the catastrophic events caused by the thirteen most powerful mages, the world is left in chaos and despair. Now, evil forces have returned stronger than ever, and only a prophesied human, bound by the power of blood runes, can restore hope. Explore, build, and battle in a vast world beyond imagination.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 720 reviews
story103 positive mentions
stability27 negative mentions
  • SpellForce: The Order of Dawn is a unique blend of RPG and RTS, offering a rich character customization system and engaging gameplay.
  • The game features a lengthy campaign with a captivating story and a variety of quests that keep players invested.
  • Despite its age, the graphics and atmosphere still hold up well, and the soundtrack is praised for enhancing the overall experience.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, including issues with saving, crashes, and unresponsive controls after cutscenes.
  • Voice acting is often criticized for being poor and inconsistent, detracting from the immersion of the story.
  • The pacing can be slow, with long travel times between objectives and a lack of meaningful choices in quests, leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • story317 mentions

    The story of the game is described as ambitious and solid, featuring a mix of engaging quests and a rich fantasy world, though it often falls into cliché territory with a somewhat unmemorable main plot. While some players appreciate the depth and character development in side quests, others find the overall narrative lacking in originality and plagued by bugs that disrupt the experience. Despite its flaws, many reviewers express nostalgia and enjoyment for the game's storytelling, highlighting its immersive qualities and the unique blend of RPG and RTS elements.

    • “The story is both immersive and deep, at least as far as RTS games go.”
    • “The actual story is a relatively common save-the-world-against-the-bad-guys type thing, but what I really like about the game is how much thought has been put into the side quests that really add depth to the game and help immerse you into its environment.”
    • “The story is very immersive, and I've never gotten bored of it over all of my 30+ playthroughs of this game.”
    • “The story is ambitious and solid, but the fantasy plot is rather unmemorable.”
    • “Unfortunately, I do not think it aged well and the story is pretty bland if I'm being honest.”
    • “The storyline is forgettable with boring, uninteresting characters.”
  • gameplay132 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a unique blend of RTS and RPG mechanics, offering a rich and immersive experience with a lengthy campaign that can exceed 100 hours. However, players have noted issues such as slow pacing, clumsy controls, and repetitive mechanics, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its age, the game remains engaging for fans of the genre, though it may not appeal to newcomers due to its outdated design and occasional bugs.

    • “The gameplay, story, and graphics are awesome, even though it's a game first released in 2003!”
    • “The ultimate blend between RTS and RPG with hours and hours of gameplay with just the Order of Dawn.”
    • “I could play it over and over for the rest of my life... the combination of RPG and RTS makes it so much more than either of the two genres alone, a spectacular blend that adds an undefinable dimension to the gameplay and really immerses a person in the story.”
    • “But the gameplay by itself is, for some part, boring and intransparent in many ways and just too slow overall.”
    • “Gameplay is painfully slow at times, though... makes me wish there was a speed up button.”
    • “This isn't a hybrid RPG/RTS game; it's a mediocre RPG duct-taped to a mediocre RTS, resulting in very boring and repetitive gameplay.”
  • graphics119 mentions

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 2003, are widely regarded as dated, with many reviewers noting that they do not hold up to modern standards. However, some players appreciate the vibrant colors and attention to detail, finding the visuals charming despite their age. Overall, while the graphics may not impress by today's benchmarks, they still evoke nostalgia and contribute to the game's enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The graphics and animation are amazing for the time period (2003).”
    • “The graphics are actually quite impressive; the game has dynamic shadows based on the time of day and dynamic colorful lights from some of your units.”
    • “This game visually looks stunning for its time; the idea of mixing an RPG with AOE strategy and making it look this good is incredible.”
    • “The game is simply too old: I would say that the graphics are for 2000 and not for 2023.”
    • “Graphics aged poorly.”
    • “The graphics quality varies between okay and terrible, but it's mostly because of age.”
  • music42 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature. While the ambient non-combat tracks are particularly noted for their beauty, some users reported technical issues, such as looping errors and unintended sounds, which detracted from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive world and memorable moments.

    • “The music, the atmosphere is something that cannot be duplicated, it's truly one thing someone won't forget in a lifetime.”
    • “An absolutely marvelous soundtrack by Tilman Sillescu, who I would easily name in a breath with Jeremy Soule or Howard Shore, makes this one of my favorite games of all time.”
    • “The music is beautiful, the story is really interesting, and the gameplay is fun.”
    • “One music piece in particular is bugged in that there is a Windows error sound included within; something I can't remember my retail version having.”
    • “- The 'Breath of Winter' DLC was done incredibly sloppily - some dialogues are not translated from German, difficulty goes into ridiculous levels, and the soundtrack loops are botched. The OST itself even has Windows error sounds in it because someone forgot to listen to their own work.”
    • “I used to own this game back when it first came out and loved to play it. I decided to buy it again, and now every time I go to the options, my game crashes. I want to turn the deafening volume of the music down but can't, making it so I don't even want to play it.”
  • stability28 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay. While some players note that recent patches have improved the situation, issues like enemy spawning errors and control problems persist, making the experience frustrating at times. Despite these stability concerns, many still find the game enjoyable, especially given its low price and engaging content.

    • “It's ridiculously cheap for the amount of time you'll spend in pure ecstasy, runs great on Windows 7 despite system requirements, and the Steam version is the only version that does!”
    • “Even if you do patch it back, there is a variety of issues ranging from faulty sound effects, scuffed subtitles, black screen on start-up, crashes, and freezes.”
    • “This game is very buggy and tends to crash.”
    • “However, the latest patch has spawning bugs on some maps (Farlorn's Hope) where the upper limit of 80 is exceeded by the enemy (300+ in one camp, 400+ in second camp) and the game freezes as a result.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing it as a slow and repetitive experience. Many reviews highlight the monotony of enemy waves, the need for extensive farming to maintain levels, and the cumbersome mechanics that detract from enjoyment. While some players suggest that those willing to endure the grind may find redeeming qualities, the consensus leans towards a negative view of the grinding experience.

    • “The game is grindy; to keep up the right level, you need to grind quite a bit.”
    • “One annoying thing is the fact that the game autosaves for some absurd reason after you die - and you lose experience when you die - which, if you die a lot, will force you into tedious and annoying grind or screw you in the late game.”
    • “This game started out good but became far too tedious and focuses on the RPG element of the hero rather than the RTS element.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by its funny and interesting characters, alongside hilariously bad voice acting that often adds to the comedic experience. Players appreciate the amusing cutscenes and translation errors, which contribute to the overall lighthearted tone, despite the game's technical shortcomings. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, making even the less polished aspects entertaining.

    • “The voice acting is so bad it's funny.”
    • “Or the skeleton animations in a certain cutscene had me on the floor, laughing.”
    • “It is the first game I was more affected and fascinated about doing side quests instead of the main plot (that was absolutely hilarious).”
  • optimization9 mentions

    Overall, optimization feedback is mixed; while some players appreciate the smooth performance and graphical improvements in newer versions, others report significant issues, particularly on older machines and with Windows 10 compatibility. Adjustments to settings can alleviate some performance problems, but the game lacks the optimization standards expected in contemporary titles.

    • “This was the first game I ever played, and the one I liked the most. The CD version was great, but the Steam version makes it even better by solving all performance issues.”
    • “Nice graphics engine, smooth scrolling, no performance issues.”
    • “You can choose and blend from different classes, then use points to improve your character's performance across 6 stats, making customization very flexible.”
    • “Not optimized for Windows 10, which is very clear.”
    • “It's buggy, it's not very optimized for old machines (I got a 2008 machine, and the game is from 2004).”
    • “It's missing a lot of today's games optimization; you can screw up your character build badly.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unforgettable music and immersive lore, drawing comparisons to iconic franchises like Warcraft and Lord of the Rings, with a distinct D&D influence. Reviewers highlight the combination of beautiful graphics, engaging sound design, and a lengthy campaign filled with diverse quests as key elements that enhance the overall experience. Despite its age, many consider it one of the most atmospheric games ever created.

    • “The music, the atmosphere is something that cannot be duplicated; it's truly one thing someone won't forget in a lifetime.”
    • “Despite its age, SpellForce still is to me one of the most atmospheric games of all time.”
    • “The music, however, was great, filled with atmosphere, and background sounds really added to the atmosphere as well.”
    • “A catchy mix of RTS and RPG, whose atmosphere is hard to describe.”
    • “Personally, my plea to the authors (or the owners of the brand) - please, recreate this part of the game with beautiful graphics, on a new engine, in all languages (because I, as a Russian fan of the game, am a little upset), but with the same atmosphere and same music.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse character customization options, allowing players to experiment with various builds and playstyles. While the leveling and character-building mechanics are engaging, the overall replay value may vary depending on individual interest in exploring different quest paths and strategies. Overall, the combination of freedom in gameplay and the ability to revisit different approaches contributes to a satisfying replay experience.

    • “Coupled with the game, while at times certainly challenging, being altogether pretty forgiving and leaning into more freedom in terms of how to build your characters and tackle maps, much of those balance issues can be overlooked and instead play decently into its replayability as by the end of the game, you will end up exceedingly powerful whatever you play.”
    • “The leveling and character building aspects are fun; the RTS elements, while simplistic, are satisfying. It is enjoyable to build up a force and take down an enemy stronghold. This, mixed with the maps that are more character-focused, provides a nice variety of pace. The option to either build a right-click-and-forget character or a more micro-heavy one offers a lot of potential variety and replayability.”
    • “Replay value is ok.”
    • “The leveling/character building aspects are fun, the RTS sides, while simplistic, are satisfying. It is enjoyable to build up a force and take down an enemy stronghold. This, mixed with the maps where it is more character-focused, gives a nice variety of pace and with the option to either build as a right-click-and-forget character or a more micro-heavy one, provides a lot of potential variety and replayability.”
    • “There is quite a bit of replay value, since you can see what other paths of certain quests would have led to, and all the talents to check out.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The game features a robust character development system that is well-integrated with its fantasy setting and strategic gameplay. Players appreciate the diverse leveling options and the engaging narrative that unfolds through campaigns, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Would recommend for anyone that loves fantasy and character development and can appreciate strategy.”
    • “Great leveling system and character development.”
    • “On top of that, you get to see the story, setting, and quite a bit of character development as you go about on the campaigns.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character development is disappointingly one-dimensional.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players finding the story forgettable and the RPG mechanics, such as the loot and leveling systems, to be uninspiring and restrictive, ultimately detracting from any potential emotional engagement.

    • “The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
    • “I found the game's attempts at emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing, leaving me feeling detached.”
    • “The narrative fails to evoke any real feelings, resulting in a hollow experience that doesn't resonate with players.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy SpellForce: Platinum Edition

Play time

95hMedian play time
79hAverage play time
50-110hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games