Hidden Gem of the Week: Spellforce Platinum

A brand new week begins with another Hidden Gem from GOG.com's catalogue. Spellforce, with two expansions, is the game we're talking about this time.

Spellforce Platinum is a mix of RPG and real-time strategy placed in once beautiful fantasy world which is now in danger. We've asked David Craddock, our brave adventurer, to create his hero and lead the good guys to save the world of EO. His report from the battlefield can be found here. Of course as with all our "Hidden Gems" we're also giving you a small discount on the featured game. Until Sunday, September 27 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, you can grab Spellforce for only $7.99!

by David Craddock

The combination of real-time strategy and role-playing may seem an unlikely combination. Frenetic pacing, split-second decisions and tactical considerations are ubiquitous with RTS games and would seem to clash with the meticulousness required to build a character and take it in a very specific direction. But as developer Phenomic Game proved in 2004 with their RTS/RPG hybrid, SpellForce, the balance is attainable and, when done just right, enjoyable.

Bundling the original SpellForce: The Order of Dawn and its two expansions, The Breath of Winter and Shadow of the Phoenix, SpellForce Platinum gives players access to archetypical fantasy races and asks them to fix a world torn asunder by magic. While the story is something any fantasy fan has read or played before, it is the gameplay that makes SpellForce a compelling experience. The camera can be zoomed in and out, allowing alternation between the grand scope of an RTS when battles become epic, and the up-close-and-personal view that allows players to focus solely on their characters.

In the midst of RTS-centric actions such as harvesting resources, building an army and conquering bad guys, players will earn experience points to upgrade their core character's stats and abilities. The interface is a seamless blend of actions typical to both of SpellForce's genres, removing the complexity that would ensue from having to swap between interfaces. All that separates one genre from the other is the zoom level of the camera, leaving players free to lovingly craft their character while still waging world-changing battles.

For those who enjoy leveling up just as much as they fancy overseeing a sprawling war complete with all the RTS bells and whistles, SpellForce serves up a fun blend of everything fans of both genres expect.

Spellforce Platinum is just $7.99 this week!

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