DESCRIPTION

BattleForge combines the collection and deck building of a trading card game with the action and immediacy of a real-time strategy game. Battles are fought across 3D landscapes, viewed from a medium-zoom isometric perspective by default. The graphical style is simple, colorful, and expressive, with a variety of landscape types and plenty of distinct special effects for the spells and powers in each of four magic types. There is no base-building or unit development in the game. The only resources required to control units and spells in battle are energy generators and orb-producing monuments. With enough energy and the right type of orbs in their control, players can instantly summon units, build defensive towers, or cast powerful spells.

The particular units, towers, and spells available to the player are represented by virtual trading cards. Each player brings a 20-card deck into battle. Weaker units have low energy costs and only require a single orb in the player's control, and more powerful units become available when the player has collected more energy and captured additional monuments to control multiple orbs. The four types of magic in the game are fire, frost, nature, and shadow, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Fire forces tend to do heavy damage but have light defenses, for example, while frost forces are especially tough but damage their opponents more slowly.

Along with a full-color illustration, each virtual card lists the statistics for the unit, tower, or spell it summons, including damage, hit points, and the energy and orb requirements. Although they can only bring a single deck into battle, players are free to organize and as many decks as they like from their collection. BattleForge requires an Internet connection, and can be played against other connected human opponents or in an online campaign of solo missions that gradually reveal the game's backstory and plot. Online players can also team up and trade cards with one another. The retail game ships with 16 virtual cards plus enough points to obtain 96 more. No subscription fees are required to play, but additional cards are available for purchase. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide