Rise of Nations (2003)
Genres:Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS), Quiz/Trivia
Themes:Fantasy, Historical, Warfare
Game modes:Single player, Multiplayer
Story:Combining the deep tactical elements of turn-based strategy games with the rapid gameplay of real-time strategy, Rise of Nations puts you in command of one of 18 civilizations over the course of thousands of years of history.
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.12 555
When I was a kid I was really into RTS games (like AoE or C&C series). And trying this game out had me immediately go and introduce it to my brother. The sheer enjoyment of seeing your nation (which one can choose from a plethora of options) grow from a small Bronze Age settlement to a modern superpower, and being able to use units from all these different eras really stuck with me.
This one is a true gem in history that deserves to be preserved on GOG.
Rise of Nations feels like a true successor to Age of Empires II. It's simple to get into, it's complex to master, and it features some cool ideas and mechanics for the genre: there's a diplomacy component, the attrition mechanic is pretty clever, there's espionage, and even the Scout component of the game makes it easy and fun to get into.
That said, the reason I look so fondly to this game, is because of the hours I spent playing with this really good friend of mine. Those were very fun times, and newer generations deserve to play a really solid, really fun, really well designed RTS.
I agree that this game is extremely good, but guess what? It's already available on Steam!
Having said that, it has many unique features that set it apart from its fellow RTS games, like Age of Empires. As well as the usual technologies and upgrades that you can use to upgrade your civilization through the ages, you can also vote what kind of civilization it should be: a monarchy or a republic? A tyranny or a democracy? Etc. Each of your choices gives you bonuses.
You can obviously build wonders of the world (which take a long time but give you dramatic bonuses), and you can take your civilization into the future and win the game.
This game is available on Steam, as I said, but it would be awesome to see it on GOG too.
The best, most fun and addictive hybrid real time strategy game that nobody talks about. With AI smarter than Age of Empires II and deeper strategy and progression than StarCraft. This game is the RTS GOAT.
I remember watching my dad playing it and playing with friends when they came over.
The fact that it was an RTS that began with slingshots and ended with stralh bombers made it very unique when compared to other games where the tech tree was limited to a narrower time frame.
Bahamut LagoonBahamut Lagoon combines RPG mechanics with squad-based combat. Characters have HP, MP (SP for fighter characters), EXP, equipment, stats and class-specific, SP-draining special elemental abilities very much like traditional console RPGs. The player can explore his surroundings, talk to people and visit shops when not in battle, though to a limited degree as there is no world map and no way to leave the current area.
The game's core is its turn-based battles fought on a 2d grid. Characters are assembled into parties of four and the player allowed a maximum of six parties, which are usually well outnumbered. The two opposing sides act in alternating turns so that each party can move once and/or attack once a turn. Attacks are divided into distant and close-up combat. In the former, a party uses a special ability (e.g. casting fireballs, throwing lightning, healing allies) of one of its members at a distance. The range and possible area of effect damage vary per ability. If the attacking party has two or more characters with the same ability, they join in the action to multiply its effectiveness. Distant combat results in less money and generally less damage, but the target cannot retaliate. Distant attacks can also affect the field; fire and ice ignite or extinguish forests and melt or freeze ice, etc. Close-up, each unit in two adjacent opposing parties can act once. Very much like Final Fantasy SNES combat, they can attack an enemy, use an item or a special ability (though these can't be combined and most only affect one target instead of all) or defend.
Dragons are the player's ace in the hole. They have their own stats and gain experience like normal characters do. In battle, each party has a dragon attached to it and draws a large portion of its strength from that of its dragon: if a party's dragon is slain, the party will lose the ability to use special attacks and class-specific abilities for the remainder of the map. The beast acts as a very powerful autonomous unit that moves after its party does and it cannot be controlled beyond very simple commands, e.g. "Come!" Out of battle, dragons will eat anything and raising them by feeding them items is an important part of the game. Feeding can improve their stats as well as affect their behavior on the field, and the dragons develop into new forms as they grow.
The player can change the characters in each of the parties, their formation as well as what dragon represents them at will.Action Fantasy
Black & White 2In the game, the player takes the role of a god called from the void (nothingness) to help those who invoked them. However, the player is not an omnipotent style god, but rather a god who rises and falls with his believers and the player must help develop their nature according to their good or evil desires. The player also has a creature, their physical representation in the world, which takes the form of an anthropomorphic ape, lion, wolf, turtle, cow, or tiger. Its physical manifestation can grow to an immense size, and adopt a good or evil persona separate of the player's. They develop their character as the player rewards or punishes their actions. In addition to the god simulation and city-building elements introduced in the original Black & White, Black & White 2 also features elements of real-time strategy gameplay, with the addition of controllable warfare and fighting units.Top Trending Action Fantasy Comedy Sandbox
Black & WhitePlay the role of a deity in a land where the surroundings are yours to shape and its people are yours to lord over. Be an evil, malevolent god and the natives will worship you with fear in their eyes. Play as a kind, benevolent god and they will worship you with love in their hearts. Your actions decide whether you create a heaven or hell for your worshipers. Then select a creature from the land to act as your representative in the world. Raise it to gigantic proportions and teach it to do your bidding--whether the animal grows into an evil colossus of mass destruction or a kind and gentle giant is up to you. Progress through the game's rich storyline performing powerful miracles to battle other deities and become the world's supreme god.Top Trending Open world Sandbox
Burden of CommandYou’re the Captain of a company of the fabled Cottonbalers, leading your men on and off the battlefield from Morocco to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Fighting psychology as much as bullets, you must build respect, trust, and battlefield experience to bring your brothers safely home.
Digimon Story: Cyber SleuthDigimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, developed by Media.Vision and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, and based on the Digimon franchise. It is the fifth game in the Digimon Story series, following 2011's Super Xros Wars, and the first to be released on home consoles. A Digimon game that borrows and improves a lot of elements from Game Freak's Pokemon games, and Digimons can be Captured/Scanned. The battle system for this game has a lot similarities to CTB (conditional turn based) from Final Fantasy X.Action Science fiction
Mech Commander GoldMechCommander Gold adds a new campaign, introduces difficulty settings & patches a few things about the main game.Science fiction
Schedule IFrom small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.Open world Action
Roadwar EuropaRoadwar Europa starts off with you as the leader at a large road gang equipped with cars trucks, and motorcycles of your own design Transfer your crew from Roadwar 2000 or start from scratch and create a new elite band.
By fighting for new recruits, vehicles, supplies, ammunition and medicine, you'll maximize your chances for survival in this dangerous new world. You'll also be building up your forces to prepare for the final roadwar against the powerful terrorist leaders - a battle whose outcome will determine the future of all Europe.Warfare Science fiction
BraveheartBased on Mel Gibsons award-winning movie, Braveheart the game recreates the atmosphere and excitement of Scotlands legendary struggle for freedom against the English invaders.Historical
Drakengard 3Drakengard 3 transports players to a medieval world where six goddess-like sisters known as "Intoners" have brought peace to the earth with their power to manipulate magic through song. Harmony is disrupted, however, when the eldest sister, Zero, attempts to murder her younger sisters with the help of her dragon companion, Mikhail. As the story progresses, players find themselves in a battle to unravel the mystery of Zero and learn her true intentions.
A prequel to the original Drakengard, Drakengard 3 features the series’ signature brand of action, pitting players against hordes of fiends and foes in remorseless hack-and-slash ground combat, and then sending them soaring for pitched aerial battles on the back of the dragon Mikhail.Action Fantasy