Fortunately, ground battles can be auto-resolved.Īnd there are those space battles that kept me for days in front of my monitor screen. Petroglyph thought to keep the land battle system I almost hate thanks to Spellforce or Warhammer 40000, games that successfully managed to mock the little that remained of the classical RTS by implementing some of the worst concepts conceivable for this genre: 'unit detachments' (Warhammer) and eternal re-spawning if the recruitment buildings are not treated with utmost prejudice (Spellforce). On the other hand, the tactical aspect of the game both preserves and improves the plain stupid skirmishing of the traditional RTS. However, unlike the risk gaming system, which is turn-based, EAW's blood is pure real time with pause and fast forward options over the top. After recruitment, units can be stacked and dragged over the area were they are supposed to go. Furthermore, unit movement and the way battles commence are similar to the risk gaming system from Total War. The unit, tech, economic and structure management takes place on a strategic map made up of ten to forty sectors/planets (named after their movie counterparts). To some point, EAW resembles the mechanic of the Total War genre, although it is much closer to Imperium Galactica.

The game is made up of three major components, already familiar to any gamer but - as a change - they are given something of a new functionality and they are interconnected in a very ingenious way - at least, this is the way I see it. Without straying too far from the traditional strategy game genre, Empire at War provokes the gamer to an entirely new game approach. Aside from the implicit value of the world it depicts, it is also showing that the traditional RTS genre may be improved through some simple but well implemented game concepts and mechanics. Most of the games built on the Star Wars universe showed a great innovative potential and Empire at War is no exception. Titles like Knights of The Old Republic, Jedi Outcast, Jedi Academy, Battlefront, Rogue Squadron prove this and not only.

George Lucas' universe is rife with themes just waiting to be uncovered by game developers.

Star wars empire at war pc