I really wanted to rate this game a 4/5 - it has all the elements needed to make a masterpiece. But I couldn't. Because this entire game feels like it was written by two completely different people endlessly fighting each other. First, mechanics. The character management system is simple but effective, nothing much to write home about. The RTS mechanics are well done and have a couple of innovations that are the masterpiece elements I mentioned. A game where you actually need to manage and protect supply lines between bases? Fantastic. Combat is smooth flowing and seamless, and the UI is easily managed in both Spellforce and Classic forms. Placement is a bit odd, but everything you need is quickly and easily accessble. Now for the bad part. The first writer is someone I call the "Homage Maker", which I didn't have a problem with. This is a person who likely grew up on classic epics like Lord of the Rings and Conan the Barbarian. This person is responsible for writing the overall story, the side quests, and the NPCs. The world is well defined and explained in a variety of ways. The factions are reasonably complicated and have their own features worth remembering. The plot is pretty standard with some interesting twists that keep it entertaining throughout. The other person is the "Idiot College Student" responsible for writing most characters with a major speaking role. Apparently, this author felt that monologuing stupidly left-wing politics and never including any meaningful counter constitutes character growth. Your PC - the Corporal - exists as nothing more than a foil for the ICS. Any options where you disagree with the writer's politics are magician's choices where you never say anything worthwhile. The characters themselves are terribly bland, because the ICS has taken what few pieces of actual development are present and pounded them endlessly until they are just flat self-inserts for the ICS to use as a ranting and raving soap-box.
