SpellForce: Universe

When You're Trying to think of something original, the easiest thing is just to mix two things that haven't been combined before, and call it something like Crasberry. SpellForce is the combination of role-playing and real-time strategy games, and it's a real shame that "role-time strategy" never kicked off as a genre.

The hero development allows you to distribute your points into magic, combat, or take a balanced approach, while exploring wide worlds and sizable cities. The online skirmish modes let you test the symmetry of the three factions against a mate. SpellForce games do suffer from that European fantasy scourge - humourless pomp - but if everything was witty and knowing, we'd have no-one to look down on.

Spellforce Universe features the shaky first game and the superior sequel, Spellforce 2: Shadow Wars. Although the second game can be repetitive, the basic formula survives because it's a hugely enjoyable loop to be stuck in. With all the usual caveats about script and acting in place, the earnest storytelling is frequently enjoyable. Although the second game can slip into repetition, the elegant and well-executed genre combo can happily be replayed. After all, it's a hugely enjoyable loop to be stuck in.