Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition

This game is awesome. It's an RTS that plays a lot like Age of Empires and Command and Conquer (generals ) combined. Despite playing a lot like AOE it reminds me slightly more of the gameplay from C&C (despite the ancient setting. It doesn't play much different from the earlier titles, some of which I played as abandonware, but the visual update/QOL updates for modern systems means it's a slightly better looking game then it could be. There are some mechanics reworks and campaigns/content being added, but with a game like this I think that is acceptable. Especially because the developer is also working on an HD version of the OG game(s) that will give the OG experience that will actually work on modern systems. So those who want no change still have that option :) This is actually 2 games in one. Ancient Wars: Sparta and its spiritual successor "Fate of Hellas." The original creator of this game made several versions of this, and I sincerely hope the current developer brings us HD/Definitive versions of those titles as well. I managed to find a version of "Age of alexander" (whose name in english speaking countries is "Sparta II: Alexander the Great") and it is interesting, buit clearly not made to function on newer systems. The pathfinding is a little janky, and boat combat is pretty janky too. But after completing the Fate of Hellas campaign I can certainly say the boat combat/controls aren't actually so bad when you get used to them and if you utilize stances to keep your ships from blowing each other up. The game is old and was not designed with the same expertise as AOE or C&C so there are a lot of bugs, some old, some new. It's Early access, so TBE. Sometimes side missions are poorly designed, don't complete, etc. You are really not given much direction and so you have to experiment to win missions. I was playing on easy, and most missions in the campaign defeated me at least once. The second time around I was able to change my strategy and win. If you like games fomr the golden age of strategy, this is a pretty good entry. I'd say I enjoy it a little more than AOE as its graphics are better. To rotate camera hold ctrl and use the mouse wheel. I really wish I knew this sooner, mouse wheel should be default rotate! Only figured that 20 hrs into the campaign I'd love to see the dev add an india campaign to this game, as I know others would, I also see him expanding into other eras like medieval - I think an ancient china campaign would be great, maybe added to the golden horde. Warring states + Three Kingdoms + war against the Mongols. He has all the parts to reskin for different time periods. Hopefully this dev can build a team of likeminded individuals to work with and make games faster and with more help :) great work devs. Get it on sale if you want to be safe, but I got it full price and am very happy with the game. One of the six campaigns just took me 20 mostly enjoyable hours to complete. $1/hr for great fun is pretty good