Recomend me some good new strategy games

Case · November 24, 2003, 23:21

Due to a shortage of both money and computing power, I haven't been keeping up to date with the release of new strategy games for the last few years. However, both problems are now over, and I have cash to burn and a new computer that can run just about anything.

So, what's both new and good? My preference is for wargames, but I do have a soft spot for excelent RTS games.

BTW, is Simcity 4 any good? I didn't like Simcity 3 all that much...

ravagon · November 25, 2003, 00:56

EU2, Hearts of Iron and (soon anyway) Victoria are pretty good bets IMHO.

If you want an AI that actually has some I then Galactic Civs is very good too. No multiplayer element though.

vovan · November 25, 2003, 01:17

I was looking at this sort-of-new game, Europa Universalis: Crown of the North. Is it the same as EU2? Is it any good?

Case,

As far SC4 goes... I think if you are not such a big fan of SC, don't bother. It might be just me, but I didn't keep my attention for long. I played it a bit when it came out, but gave up pretty quickly. One thing about it is it is quite a resource-guzzler. You don't need the top of the line machine for it, but still it's got to be pretty good. On my 1.7GHz, 512MB RAM machine, SC4 started lagging at medium-sized cities, and I never even tried the biggest region to play. Besides that, SC4 doesn't really introduce that much more new stuff. I mean, when you get down to it, it's still the same old SC. So, if you weren't a big fan of the thing in the first place, I wouldn't recommend getting it... Unless you can get SC4 and SC4: Rush Hour for the price of one game. And only then, I'd buy it more out of greedyness: hey, it's two game for the price of one, no?

Asmodean · November 25, 2003, 04:05

I can definately recommend Galactic Civilizations. It has the best AI I have ever seen. Period.

The Paradox games Europa Universalis II and Victoria are also very good bets.

I you like fantasy, then these games might be something to consider. Warlords IV has just been released this month. I have it, and I like it a lot, It is fantasy wargaming with a very small RPG element.

Another one (also fantasy) is an excellent TBS game called Age of Wonders II - Shadow Magic. It was released just this summer, and it has quite a fanbase.

To vovan: Crown of the North is EUII with an add-on (not expansion). It basically contains the full EU II + another full game called Crown of the North about the wars between Sweden and Denmark in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Asmodean

vmxa1 · November 25, 2003, 04:09

Can't come up with any RTS games.

Asmodean · November 25, 2003, 04:11

That's because there aren't any good ones

Asmodean

bakalov · November 25, 2003, 04:34

Heh, I do not agree - Warcraft and Starcraft are great games - especially the new ones.

DrSpike · November 25, 2003, 07:31

Case for TBS you could check out Civ3 Conquests.

For RTS if you're in to MP the current daddy is Warcraft3 TFT, which is truly excellent. Also popular is Age of Mythology.

For SP I don't really know.......WC3 is playable, but SP RTS aren't really my thing.

Solver · November 25, 2003, 09:34

If you want a MP RTS, it's Age of Mythology all the way

.

General Ludd · November 25, 2003, 10:03

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike

For SP I don't really know.......WC3 is playable, but SP RTS aren't really my thing.

Rise of Nations is pretty decent for single player. I haven't played it multiplayer, though.

lord of the mark · November 25, 2003, 10:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Case
Due to a shortage of both money and computing power, I haven't been keeping up to date with the release of new strategy games for the last few years.

How many years - IE what period games are you asking about?

Raion · November 25, 2003, 14:09

For the last few years, some people have still been playing Civ2 or Alpha Centauri, if you can find that game, it is turned based like Civ2 or the new one Civ3, and do not need a fast computer as Alpha Centauri came out in 1998 or something like that.

Other than that and now playing UFO:Aftermath, and MOO3 which is sitting there, I probably will get Sid Meier's Pirates when it is remade and comes out sometime.

Alpha Centauri can be bought cheaply and is good, if you like games like Civ2 on a Planet from the star Alpha Centauri where human factions landed after the Earth and Civ2.

MarkG · November 25, 2003, 14:26

civ2 still availiable
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...olytonciviliza
same with smac
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...olytonciviliza

Case · November 26, 2003, 06:33

Thanks everyone. I think that I'll shell out for EU2 and Warcraft 3 - I really liked WC2.

A couple more specific questions:

Is Homeworld 2 better then the original? (which I like, but find frustrating due to the blanantly scripted AI in many levels).

A second hand software place near me has Railroad Tycoon 2 for $15 - is this game any good? I vaugely recall that it got mixed reviews when it came out. While the game is dirt cheap, I'd rather not waste my money on rubbish.

Quote:

Originally posted by vovan
As far SC4 goes... I think if you are not such a big fan of SC, don't bother.

I was a huge fan of SC 1 & 2, but SC3 just didn't do it for me - it was too complex, and ran like a pig on my old computer.

Quote:

How many years - IE what period games are you asking about?

The last couple of years. At the moment when I go into a games store I feel a bit like someone who just got out of a time capsule

The number of Rainbow 6 sequels is making my head spin.

DrSpike · November 26, 2003, 07:11

RT2 is playable, if you like that sort of thing you'll enjoy it. But it is quite old now.

Asmodean · November 26, 2003, 09:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Case
I really liked WC2.

Oh the ignorant hordes that come here

Asmodean

Cookie Monster · November 26, 2003, 11:12

You say you like wargames.

Try looking into Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin at www.battlefront.com for tacticle WW2 combat.

Carolus Rex · November 26, 2003, 12:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Case

So, what's both new and good? My preference is for wargames, but I do have a soft spot for excelent RTS games.

Then maybe Shogun Total War might be up your alley... I haven't yet found time to play it, but a collegue, who's an oldtime (both board and PC) war gamer, loved it!

It came out in 2001 IIRC and shouldn't be too expensive now. It looks really great and my collegue (as I said a real war game expert) praises its gaming features...

There are sequels to it now, like Medieval Total War... They all blend RTS and TBS features...

Carolus