![]() Not to mention the faction design and the excellent art direction makes Deserts of Kharak a game worth checking out for any fan of classic RTSs.ħ. However, it isn’t defenceless as players can shunt power to different systems and end up taking their centerpiece unit straight into battle.Īrguably the most important area of strategic and tactical interest for combat tactics-oriented players is the prevalence of terrain, such as dunes, ruins, and hills that can heavily affect line-of-sight and are great for ambushes and maneuver warfare. Unlike Age of Empires, which focuses quite heavily on base building systems, Homeworld consolidates this feature into an innovative mothership or carrier command system, where players utilize a massive mobile base that acts as both an airfield, a production center, and central depot for resource gatherers. The action of Deserts of Kharak takes place across the dunes of the eponymous planet where players must battle various factions in order to unlock the mysteries of an ancient spaceship wreck that could lead to salvation and a way off-world. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak Homeworld: Deserts of Kharakĭeveloper: Blackbird Interactive Publisher: Gearbox Software Platform(s): PC, macOSįor a more serious take on sci-fi strategy, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is a prequel to an equally important game – the original Homeworld, which got a significant facelift in a remaster that’s also worth checking out. The absolutely bonkers cheesy live-action cutscenes of the campaign alone make playing through the game worth it.Ĩ. If anything, the sheer creativity in faction design and a rock solid gameplay loop foundation makes Red Alert 2 fun to return to over and over again, even despite its age. In Red Alert 2 players will play as either the Soviets or the US in an over-the-top alternative history version of a Cold War gone hot with all the crazy Tesla and chronomancy technology to boot. If Age of Empires goes for a more serious tone of historical wonder and discovery in its presentation, then Command and Conquer is precisely the opposite, leaning fully into the wacky fun of pulpy and silly science-fiction. Though there are a huge number of titles in this series, it’s Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2 that best encapsulates the core spirit of the franchise, with Red Alert 3 following close behind. Though the sun may have currently set on this once crucial pillar of classic RTS strategy gaming, the legacy of the Command and Conquer series has made an everlasting mark on the strategy genre as a whole. Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2 Red Alert 2ĭeveloper: Westwood Studios, EA Pacific Publisher: Electronic Arts Platform(s): PC Nevertheless, Northgard is a solid example of developers building upon and modifying the classic RTS formula, while also making it a great introduction to this subset of games as a whole.ĩ. Shiro Games also simplified some of the controls and base building dynamics, which does make Northgard more accessible, but it also results in the game maintaining a lower skill-ceiling, meaning players will likely get their fill of the game quickly. The game attempts to invite new players into the strategy genre, especially those who may be intimidated by the micro-intensive and highly competitive dynamics of Age of Empires, where it’s almost a complete certainty that combat and conflict are necessary tools to achieve victory. Northgard’s main point of innovation is a greater emphasis on gameplay and win condition variety in that there’s a wider selection of ways for players to win scenarios and triumph over their opponents. The reasonably successful release of Age of Empires 4 proves that there’s still a deep interest and titles like the relatively recent Viking game Northgard shows that many classic RTS-like games are evolving this subset and approaching the formula in new ways. ![]() There’s a general anxiety in strategy gaming circles that classic RTS games are seeing a significant downturn due to a lack of interest and new titles. Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2ĭeveloper: Shiro Games Publisher: Shiro Games, Playdigious Platform(s): PC, macOS, LInux, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Android
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