So I'm looking at this game that is a strategy/RPG and the three games that I have played in that genre are Warcraft III (which I actually prefered over II) as well as Spellforce 1 and 2. I'm not asking which you guys prefer, but rather if you guys could comment on the similarities and differences.

I've also played several turn based strategy/RPG, mostly Battle for Wesnoth and Elven Legacy, though from what I've seen in videos the game play is nothing like those.

Also, a big mtivator for me when buying a game can be the music. If the music is really good, I'll buy a game, even if I don't like it. As I told my brother when he was in town last "I just heard they are coming out with another Guilty Gear Album. I think they might also make a game to go with it."

What's the point of the comparison? Wouldn't it be better to just ask if game is good or about shortcomings of it?

First I have to point out a thing: the game engine is great and the factions are well developed...

...BUT you will NOT USE THEM on the single player campaign !! You will just use Elves, nothing else.

The campaign is mostly RPG (Diablo-style) with like 2 or 3 RTS big levels, but if you want to see the other factions or heroes you will have to play Skirmishes levels...

Actually the story seems like cut down someway... for example there are traces of a modern Tank on a level, and some jet fighters crashed on some mountains... I was thinking about some kind of time/dimensional portal... but I finished the campaign and there is no trace of explanation in the story...

I liked the Spellforce saga, and the first game is what I liked the most, and seems more similar to this game, anyway this is mission based (like every RTS), so you can't go back to a previous area.

Things I liked about the RTS aspect are:
-endless resources
-fast units creation (like 1 every second)
-automatic formation !! this is something I miss in every RTS !! You just select the troops, tell them where to go, and they automatically go in formation with melee in the front and support/range in the back !! I just love this soo much

Things I liked about RPG aspect are:
-cool spells
-a lot of upgrades
-if well developed your avatar alone can destroy an army

There are very few bad games here. It comes down to game that suit a person's taste. Also, I can get the pros and cons of a game from the reviews most of the time. As for the music, a good sound track is itself worth the money.

@Powergod: Thanks that helps.

How's the AI in skirmish?

Skirmish battles start with just the heroes, then, you can choose to play just with it, OR create a base and loose your hero for 30 minutes.
The AI player will always create the base immediately.

Theese are my impression based on NORMAL difficulty

The AI is GOOD for:

- Attack early with A LOT of units of every types
- Upgrade units and buildings (and making A LOT of them)

The AI is BAD (or unable) for:

- using the Hero... it will be used almost as a normal unit, so it will not be equipped or leveled correctly.
- because of the previous reason, the AI is not able to hire the neutral villages on the map (that after been hired are an infinite source of free troops)
- expansion... it will not search for more resources, it will just stick with the near ones


I have to point out that the "BAD" things about the AI are the only way to make me win... I can defend myself for like 3 hours, but I can advance only if I hire villages and make my hero stronger.

I like this kind of long battles, in Starcraft I always lose when I'm short on resources, but here you just can go on forever, it's like some kind of arm wrestling.