Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

SpellForce: The Breath of Winter builds on the hybrid RTS/RPG foundation of its predecessor, The Order of Dawn, by offering new strategic layers and greater customization. Players still control a party of heroes, manage base-building with resource nodes, and command armies in real-time battles. What sets this expansion apart are the added hero runes for all races, allowing you to tailor your champion’s abilities more precisely to your playstyle.

One of the standout features is the inclusion of over 150 new items for your avatar. From frost-infused weapons to enchanted armor that boosts spell resistance, each piece feels meaningful—and discovering rare loot off challenging foes adds a rewarding loot-hunt element. The addition of fresh enemy types, such as ice-wraiths and frost giants, keeps core skirmishes feeling dynamic. These new foes often force you to rethink positioning and crowd-control tactics, especially when battling them in their own frozen lairs.

Breath of Winter also introduces a robust skirmish mode and cooperative play, extending replay value well beyond the single-player campaign. In skirmish mode, you can face AI opponents on custom maps, adjusting difficulty and starting resources to push your base-building skills to the limit. Meanwhile, co-op mode allows two friends to tackle the campaign together—sharing resources and coordinating hero abilities to overcome tougher enemies. These additions elevate the game from a solo experience into a more social, endlessly replayable adventure.

Graphics

The game’s visuals strike a balance between atmospheric detail and functional clarity. Frost-laden landscapes, towering ice spires, and frozen caverns evoke a chill that is both beautiful and foreboding. Light glimmers off snowdrifts, and swirling blizzards occasionally impair visibility, forcing you to adapt tactics when the world around you turns white.

Character and creature models display impressive variety, with the great ice dragon Aryn looming as a fearsome centerpiece. His scales catch light realistically, and his breath attack is accompanied by a chilling particle effect that can freeze units in place. While the underlying engine shows its age in certain animations—troops may “slide” when turning—the overall aesthetic remains cohesive and well-polished.

User interface elements are clean and intuitive, with resource counters and minimap clearly visible even during intense battles. Equipment and spell icons in your hero’s inventory are easily distinguishable, thanks to vibrant color-coding. Though not the most cutting-edge engine of its time, Breath of Winter uses its assets effectively to immerse players in a world gripped by an everlasting frost.

Story

The expansion’s narrative centers on the awakening of Aryn, the ancient Frostweaver, whose terrible breath once threatened to freeze the world. When a servant of the dark god Zarach revives the dragon, the kingdom plunges into chaos. The Fial Darg kidnaps Elven Queen Cenwen—who had once calmed Aryn in ancient times—to harvest her blood in a ritual aimed at resurrecting the dark gods in the world of Eo.

This tight premise drives each mission, as you race across frozen tundras, delve into ice-choked ruins, and confront corrupted acolytes of Zarach. Along the way, you encounter tortured refugees, embittered frost-worshippers, and loyal allies determined to save the queen. The dialogue scripts, while occasionally clichéd, successfully convey the desperation of kingdoms teetering on the brink of a second ice age.

Boss encounters are woven into the storyline, culminating in dramatic showdowns against giant frost elementals and, finally, Aryn himself. These battles are more than mere stat-checks; they feature environmental hazards—cracking ice platforms, avalanches, and darkness spells—that underscore the narrative stakes. The result is a campaign that feels urgent, rewarding players who press forward to restore balance once more.

Overall Experience

SpellForce: The Breath of Winter expands its base game with purposeful additions that refresh both strategy and role-playing elements. The new items, enemy types, and hero runes deepen character progression, while skirmish and co-op modes significantly boost longevity. Fans of hybrid RTS/RPG gameplay will find themselves returning time and again to experiment with different builds and tactics.

Despite a few graphical quirks and occasional pacing bumps in the story, the expansion maintains a consistent tone of icy peril. The narrative delivers enough twists—most notably the fate of Queen Cenwen and the final confrontation with Aryn—to keep players invested from start to finish. Co-op mode further elevates the package, as coordinating frost and fire spells with a friend can turn daunting encounters into thrilling teamwork challenges.

Overall, Breath of Winter feels like a substantial, lovingly crafted add-on that addresses many community requests. Whether you’re a veteran general of The Order of Dawn or a newcomer curious about a blend of real-time tactics and deep character customization, this expansion offers a compelling journey through a world on the brink of eternal ice.

Retro Replay Score

8/10