We were excited by Heroes of Annihilated Empires’ E3 trailer - which teased us with a brief shot of screaming fighter jets after showing waves of elves and undead crashing against each other - suggesting a refreshing mix of science fiction and high fantasy where modern planes and rifle toting marines might do battle with dragons and elven archers.

Unfortunately, it looks like you’ll have to wait for the sequels to see these sorts of scenarios as HoAE (the first entry in developer, GSC Game World’s real-time strategy trilogy) contains none of the exciting sci-fi elements hinted at in the trailer.

Above: You’ll occasionally come across the wreckage of a conspicuous jet or tank in the fantasy based backgrounds

Instead, HoAE shoots itself in the foot by holding its most interesting card too close to its chest. Neither the characters nor plot mentions - or even acknowledges - the presence of the out-of-place jets or tanks you’ll occasionally see in the game’s background.

What you’re left with is a disappointingly generic and poorly executed fantasy based game that plays out like a Cliffs Notes version of Warcraft III with a touch of Lord of the Rings. Part dungeon crawler and part RTS, Heroes of Annihilated Empires doesn’t succeed in delivering a satisfying experience from either of the genres it tries to combine in this hybrid adventure.