BattleForge

Concerning gameplay, this game won’t be on top, but the fusion of collecting, trading and gaming makes Battleforge unique. Even if you have never played a trading card game in real life, this title won’t disappoint you!

Aside from some minor flaws in the community system, Battleforge is a highly addictive and very innovative RTS that promises lots of fun.

Playing cards is just something for the elderly? Not Battleforge. The game combines card collecting with fast real-time strategy. After the good tutorial you have to digest a lot of information. Just imagine starting a strategy game with the last mission. But it's worth hanging on, there are a lot of possibilities. The game even looks good.

EA Phenomic has successfully pulled off a surprisingly natural convergence of two very different types of gameplay. The combination is wickedly addictive. BattleForge isn't entirely a flawless victory, but it looks good, plays great, and gives card hoarders something new to obsess over.

Phenomic Studios and Electronic Arts have done a fantastic job in presenting a game that is both original and fun to play.

The gameplay provides easy accessibility and still manages to be tactically challenging. Too bad that the MMO-RTS-concept of BattleForge is countered by the lack of a story.

BattleForge is a unique spin on the RTS genre, with a fairly strong appeal and a rather active community of players. Break out the mana globes and obliterate your enemies!

Though the idea of micro-transactions in a full-priced game might turn some people off, BattleForge provides plenty of content for the retail price, and doesn't require additional funds to stay competitive.

While BattleForge is quite costly to play and has some shortcomings, it is one of the most thought-out and engaging multiplayer RTS of the last few years. And it is definitely the most original one.

As with most games of this nature, you can do well-enough at first using the default decks and some of your free booster cards and good strategy, but to compete at the highest levels it's going to take some of your cash to get the cards you need to build a strong and competitive deck.

A flawed but irresistible MMORTSCCG. [Apr 2009, p.74]

This novel RTS in a slightly overdone but nevertheless interesting fantasy setting appeals with its fresh approach, especially to those among us who have a bit of a collecting bug. And who doesn't? [Apr 2009]

Take the graphics and easy controls of WarCraft III throw in the addictive and working system from any trading card game and you will get an excellent piece of playability and fun – you’ll get BattleForge. [Mar 2009]

Battleforge is an interesting hybrid that arrives to the PC market with options to became a game played by lots of people. Mixing elements of RTS and MMO, it packs an impressive number or game cards that the player will treat as creatures, spells and structures. Featuring a cooperative-competitive gameplay, and lots of elements directly taken from the massive online games, it quickly becomes a fun entertainment. Either collecting the cards with the micropayment system or getting them as reward for the gameplay, Battleforge is a fun experience, whose only downsides come from the nonexistent balance of forces at the game.

This fascinating hybrid of real-time strategy and collectible card battling offers a unique and enjoyable take on both genres.

Battleforge is a fascinating hybrid of real-time strategy and collectible card battling. The idea of micro-transactions in a full-priced game might turn some people off, but BattleForge provides plenty of content for the retail price.

Because of the variety in the card decks, BattleForge is tactically demanding. But the paid content makes us worry about fairness.

The genre mixture that gels well together. Good RTS elements and responsiveness compliment the CCG aspects. Just be prepared to potentially get your wallet out for those microtransactions.

BattleForge is a very original game that covers different genres and factors. It can't be compared to any other game.

Ultimately, BattleForge isn't the embodiment of the next-gen RTS but it's a beautiful, flawed step in that direction.

BattleForge largely succeeds in trying to blend together RTS and card games. It's a fast-paced RTS that really rewards players for being able to adapt quickly in the middle of battle.

BattleForge spices the RTS genre with aspects from collectible card games, but the whole is less than the sum of its parts: the strategy elements are too repetitive and the CCG side feels pointless. [May 2009]