$14.99SpellForce 2 - Anniversary Edition Heroes Down, Armies Up
Guide a band of heroes through a fantasy campaign, then build bases and command armies in large-scale battles.
Is SpellForce 2 - Anniversary Edition worth it?
SpellForce 2 - Anniversary Edition is worth it if…
- you want one game that does both roleplaying and realtime strategy properly
- you enjoy long fantasy campaigns with a plot worth following
- you like building a hero's skills and gear, then commanding armies beside them
- you have fond memories of the genre hybrids of the mid-2000s and want them running on a modern system
Screenshots
A story that carries two campaigns
The world of Eo is broken by wars and intrigue, and shadow powers are rising again. You play a Shaikan, a hero bound by blood to an ancient dragon, and that bond shapes a plot about loyalty, destiny and saving a world that has heard better days. Shadow Wars tells the first arc, Dragon Storm continues it. The story runs past 90 hours across both, with plenty of dialogue and quests along the way, and it is the part people remember most. Fair warning: the game can be buggy at times, so save often.
Heroes on foot, armies on the map
The genre mix is the whole point. Most of the time you steer a small party of heroes, levelling them through a skill tree, picking gear and building their abilities. Then the camera pulls back and it becomes a strategy game: found a base, choose one of three factions (each built from three races), recruit infantry, mounted and flying units, and march them across the map. Battles get big, and you can even field enormous titans. Neither half is a token gesture; you genuinely play both an RPG and an RTS, switching between them as the campaign asks.
Playing together, then and now
The original multiplayer was rebuilt for this edition, with NAT traversal added so joining online matches is smoother than it used to be. As you level up and collect gear, earlier maps get easier, which gives the mode a steady sense of progression. It is a relaxed way to play a round with others or on your own terms.
What else should you know?
How does it run on modern computers?
This edition was given a full technical rework: widescreen support, compatibility with current operating systems, and a reworked engine with improved lighting, soft shadows, better trees and grass, and a longer view distance. It looks noticeably sharper than its age suggests, though it keeps its mid-2000s character.
How hard is it to get into?
The combat takes a little getting used to, since you juggle hero abilities, party control and army commands at once. Once the systems click, most people find it flows well. The campaigns are long, so expect a game that rewards settling in rather than a quick weekend play.
