The Horde is a single player video game developed by Toys for Bob and published by Crystal Dynamics in 1993. It is a complex blend of action and strategy and displays many unique features that allowed it to stand out from other fantasy adventures of its time. One of its most innovative features was the use of humorous full-motion video sequences that featured contemporary actors.
In the Horde, the main hero is Chauncey, the servant boy. Chauncey was raised by a herd of wild cows and manages to slightly elevate his station in live by fortuitously rescuing the King of Franzpowanki from choking to death.
As a reward for this service, the king grants young Chauncey a small plot of land and the great sword Grimthwacker, which initially seems like a great boon. Unfortunately, the land is being overrun by the title characters, the Horde, and Chauncey does not know what to do.
The game’s blend of action and adventure comes in alternating plan and attack sequences. The first phase of every turn allows Chauncey to prepare and make changes to his town. He can construct buildings, gather resources, set traps for the Hordling onslaught, and landscape his little town to make it more appealing. The second phase of each turn is the battle phase. Here, Chauncey must defend his town from the inevitable attack. His gold is
converted to manna and is used to fight off the host of monsters that continually attack. Gold can be found in loot from killed Hordlings, and can also be gleaned from the town’s economy in the form of cattle and crops, both of which the Horde is trying to eat. The end of the turn corresponds with the end of the season and various reports will tell Chauncey where he stands after the latest attack. With any luck, he has defended the majority of his holdings and has not depleted all his resources, thus turning a profit. As Chauncey progresses through the game, the king allows him to expand his territory in order to continue the eradication of the evil Horde.
The Horde features roughly eight types of enemy Hordlings, depending on the terrain where the battles occur. There are five types of territories that Chauncey will discover and defend. There are many items to find, purchase and use and the overall game play is smooth and interesting. Without a doubt, the Horde is worth a download and several good hours of playing time.
