If the average RTS were a comic book, Arcen Games' AI War: Fleet Command would be a novel by Iain M. Banks or Alastair Reynolds. With a focus on co-op and a formidable, truly alien computer opponent, AI War eschews the usual micromanagement and clicks-per-second in favour of deep strategy, and conflicts that encompass entire galaxies.
Hellbored sat down for a chat with game creator, founder of Arcen Games and all-round smart guy Chris Park.
Gaming Nexus writes: "For me, it's a rare thing indeed for a game to move from total obscurity to a fixed place on my hard drive in the course of a handful of days. Admittedly, I was less-than-enthused as I first started playing this little gem from Arcen Games. I was thoroughly prepared to slog through yet another space-based RTS, and be on way to bigger and better titles. Then, slowly, I began uncovering a depth of play that I just wasn't expecting in a freshman game from a tiny indie studio. After a few more hours, I realized that I was not only having a blast with my initial runs through the game, I was planning many additional excursions even after my review was written. Although not for the faint of heart (or even the casual strategy gamer), AI Wars: Fleet Command is a surprising, delightful, and thoroughly engrossing RTS title."
Big Download writes: "It's a common thing to let the AI "cheat" in a real-time strategy game. Giving them faster resource gathering, knowledge of the whole map, or even extra units is something developers might do on higher AI difficulties. But why not just streamline out all the resources and construction and just leave the basics of the AI? That is to say, the basics are swarms of AI units that you must overcome to win. AI War: Fleet Command does this, and manages to set itself up as one of the best strategy games this or any year. It's a game that is perfect for playing with your friends, and easily surpasses the RTS 4X standards set by the excellent Sins of a Solar Empire. It shows that one man with a vision and make something just as good, if not better, than that of a large team."
A.I. War: Fleet Command is the rare game that comes along out of nowhere and makes you pay attention. Instead of hindering it, the flaws that the game has only serve to highlight how good the rest of it is. Taking the relatively simple concept of a space-based RTS and running it to the logical-if extreme-conclusion of battling across an entire galaxy. Aside from some repetitive music, no two games will have to play the same, ever. Add in a large dose of cooperative multi-player and you've got a heck of a long-lasting title. Armchair generals can feel free to enlist to become armchair admirals. Build the fleet of your dreams, and send it into a war for survival. It won't break the bank, you don't need a brand new gaming rig to enjoy it, you can lose yourself in the story, and you can keep playing it for hours. Fans of space battles should do themselves a favor and pick this game up as soon as possible.
