SpellForce (series)

SpellForce series
Developers Phenomic[1] (2003-2007)
Trine Games (2012-2014)
Grimlore Games[2] (2014-present)
Publishers

JoWooD Entertainment (2003-2011)

Nordic Games GmbH (2011-present) [4][5]

Creators Phenomic
Platforms Microsoft Windows
First release SpellForce: The Order of Dawn
November 28, 2003
Latest release SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past [6]
January 16, 2014

SpellForce is a real-time strategy and role-playing series created by Phenomic.[7] The first release was published by JoWooD Productions and Encore Software in 2003 and the latest by Nordic Games, the current owner of the JoWooD publishing label, in 2014. The latest release was developed by Trine Games. The upcoming sequel, SpellForce 3 is being developed by Grimlore Games.[2][7]

Setting and plot

The games takes place in a broken world called Eo that was torn apart by a ritual called the Convocation. The ritual was performed by the 13 most powerful mages of Eo (collectively known as The Circle and adhering to both the light and the dark) that in their greed for power caused the continents of the world to shatter. After the ritual only small pieces of land remain around magical towers created by the god that created the world. The remnants of the continents of Fiara, Urgath and Xu are connected by magical portals that make travel between them possible. Eo is inhabited by humans, dwarves, elves, orcs, trolls and dark elves among others.

Before its destruction Eo was ruled by The Circle that had prolonged their lifespan to a point close to immortality. They used servants called called rune warriors to enforce law. These warrior were bound to a stone that allowed them to be resurrected after death by their masters. Across Eo the Circle erected monuments to quickly call forth armies of these warrior. First to bring peace to Eo but this changed after time in to a war between the various mages after the discovery of a text speaking of a ritual known as the Convocation supposedly granting immense power. Possible only under a certain constellation of planets. On the day of the Convocation they each performed the ritual. But non could control the power of the elements and the world was torn apart. The first game takes place a few years after Convocation after the reappearance of one of the Circle mages.

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

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

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

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

SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm

SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny

SpellForce Ultimate Edition

On October 15, 2007, the Ultimate Edition was released[11] by JoWooD's subsidiary DreamCatcher Interactive. The edition contains earlier released SpellForce games,[12] including:

SpellForce Complete Collection

Nordic Games, the current owner of the JoWooD label, released the SpellForce Complete Collection on October 2, 2012.[5] The collection includes all previously released SpellForce games.

SpellForce 3

SpellForce 3 is the working title of an upcoming SpellForce prequel. The game is being developed by Grimlore Games[2][7] and is due to release in 2017.[13] During Gamescom 2014 in Germany, Nordic Games first released gameplay of the game, as reported by German online magazine PCGames.de.[14]

The story of SpellForce 3 takes place before the events of The Order of Dawn in the fantasy world of Eo.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SpellForce: The Order of Dawn - EA PHENOMIC". Phenomic. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Grimlore Games to develop SpellForce 3". Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Corporate Information - Encore". Encore, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Forsans, Emmanuel. "Nordic games holding AB Group acquires Jowood". afjv. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 "SpellForce Complete Collection". Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past on Steam". Steam. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "PROJECTS - Grimlore Games". Grimlore Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "SpellForce: The Order of Dawn Release Information". GameFAQs. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "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
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Spellforce Universe Release Information for PC". GameFAQs. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Game Highlights - SpellForce Universe Edition". IGN. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. 1 2 "SpellForce 3 on Steam". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Spellforce 3 - Gameplay-Video von der Gamescom" [Spellforce 3 - Gameplay video from Gamescom] (in German). PCGames.de. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
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