By Zach Meston
The Horde, for 3DO, puts you in the role of Chauncey – a servant boy raised by wild cows (heh) – who saves the life of a choking king and is rewarded with a plot of land to turn into a thriving village. Unfortunately, Chauncey is also "rewarded" with the task of protecting the kingdom from the Horde, a swarm of red-skinned monsters that devour everything in their path.
The plot alternates between two activities: village construction and Horde fighting. The construction sequence unfolds like the bastard child of Populous and SimCity, as the player plants trees, buys cows, and terraforms the landscape to lure in residents.
At the end of the construction phase, the Horde comes marching in. You can rent soldiers to help you fight the red menace or buy additional weapons, such as a dragon, to kill the monsters before they chow down the village. Fun, fun, fun!
With its nifty action/strategy mix, The Horde is the best game yet for 3DO and a solid game for the PC.
The Horde for DOS and 3DO: US$59.99. Crystal Dynamics: +1 (415) 473 3400.
STREET CRED
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