''Heroes of Annihilated Empires'' is a real-time strategy

role-playing video game A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...

developed by GSC Game World and released in October 2006.

Overview

''Heroes of Annihilated Empires'' is the first installment of a planned trilogy. The developers cite the '' Heroes of Might and Magic'' series and their own ''

Cossacks The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...

'' series as inspirations. The developers describe the game's genre as "RTS vs. RPG" – the game can be played as an

action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre. Definition The games emphasize real-time combat where the player h ...

with a solo hero unit or as a traditional base-building real-time strategy game. The

game engine A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games and generally includes relevant libraries and support programs. The "engine" terminology is similar to the term "software engine" used in the software i ...

uses a 3-D world map with 2-D unit sprites, although larger units and the heroes are fully 3-D models. The small units are sprites to save processing power as there can be upwards of several hundred present in large battles. ''Heroes of Annihilated Empires'' features four playable races and twelve neutral races. The game supports up to 7 players via

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or Internet.

Setting

The game's setting and storyline were created by Ukrainian novelist Ilya Novak, who received an Encouragement Award at Eurocon 2005. Novak describes the game's genre as "epic dark fantasy". A series of five novels are planned to support the game; as of November 2006, three have been published in Russia.

Plot

Gameplay

''Heroes of Annihilated Empires'' has four playable races: the Elves (Sylvan Folk), the Undead (Legions of Ashes), the Mechanicians ( Dwarves who use machines), and the Cryo Race (barbarians with a specialty in cold magic) also a fifth race is available through a

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from the GSC forum called Sols (Egyptian Fire Magicians). The player can select one of three hero types: Warrior, Ranger, and Mage. When a game begins, the player can cast a spell called "Rally Troops" to turn the hero into a statue for 30 minutes, and in return gain a few builder units, or sell the spell for 2100 gold coins. If the player sells the spell, the game plays as a role-playing game; otherwise the game plays as a real-time strategy game. On the real-time strategy mode the main focus of involves around base building, resource collection and defeating the opponent. There are also ''scored'' games where both players focus on increasing the overall score to achieve victory. The real-time strategy mode allows for battles in ground, water and air levels though naval warfare remains effective only in multiplayer as the AI is unable to build ports and ships. The real-time strategy battles are huge with thousands of units. Many units like Were-Wolves,

Vampires A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths ...

etc. are capable of transforming into entirely different units. Were-wolves, for instance, can transform into Archers and Vampires can change themselves into Bats.

References

External links

* {{GSC Game World 2006 video games Fantasy video games GSC Game World games Role-playing video games Real-time strategy video games Video games developed in Ukraine Windows-only games Windows games Multiplayer and single-player video games