The character, enemies, and effects are well done, and the cinematic cutscenes are splendid. Nice landscapes will take you from desert, to swamp, to arctic land.

Game graphics are excellent for the era (although many people will have trouble running the game on new 3D cards). Simply putting up fences around your village isn't going to cut it, as the horde monsters are not as dumb as they look. You don't get much time to prepare for the next horde invasion, so quick thinking is also necessary. You must help your village grow (which requires money), while balancing the costs of defending it and paying taxes. Success in the game requires that you plan ahead, as the number of houses, farms, and other structures in your fiefdom continue and grow from mission to mission. What makes The Horde different from - and superior to- most other action games is the excellent blend of strategy and action. The second phase is when you get to whack the Horde monsters and snicker as they fall into your traps. In the strategic phase at the start of each mission, you must develop your fiefdom by building houses, farms, etc, within time limit. One of few action games that offer an excellent mix of action and strategic elements, The Horde casts you in the role of Chauncey, a lowly serving boy who became a knight after saving the king's life from asphyxiation.

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