a blog by a man with hair.
Published on June 19, 2009 By baldgye In PC Gaming

Ok, well over the last year or so I've been all about RTS's. Gaming seems to go with one genre for a few years, for the longest time I can remember PC gaming was all about FPS's with Quake, Doom, Unreal Tournament and Call of Duty, but recentally its been all about RTS's. So here's my list of most played and most loved RTS games.

 

5. Starcraft

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Now this dosn't go very high on my list for a number of reasons. Back in the day when this launched, and even with the launch of Brood War I never played SC. I'd heard of it but was too busy in FPS's and any RTS game I played was one of the many C&C games from Westwood. But with the recent anoucement of SC2, and the hype arround it I deceded to download SC and Brood War from the Blizzard store and have been playing through the single player. This was where I discovered that I'm really not about the single player RTS experiance anymore. While the single player missions where pretty good, pretty hard and long with the story being told with cut scenes and ingame voice over aswell as the breifing room I really just didn't care all that much and just wanted to see what crazy shit I could build. I tried the skirmish to try and check out the tech tree of each race, and it just was impossible for a n00b SC player to get anywhere as the AI will apprentally only attack you, and rush you at the soonest possible moment, which ends up being a very frustrating experiance. I've not played it online becasue without any friends that play it, I cant imagin I will do much better.

 

4. Command & Conqure 2: Tiberan Sun

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This is again a pretty old game, but is one of the best RTS's out there, this shows off what Westwood could really do. Not only did they build on C&C1 they added countless new units and structures and the graphial jump was huge (although granted it was relised along time after C&C1). Its maps where huge and had bigger battles that alot of current RTS's have. Its one of the best looking 2D RTS's to date.

 

3. Dawn of War

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Ok, I'm not a fan of DoW2 but DoW is one of the most fun RTS's out there. Its mechianic of capturing nodes was pretty fun and can be very fast paced. It also had a very low camera which meant it was very easy to micro manage huge forces in intence battles. Its also one of the best games to use races from Games Workshop which when I was a lad was all I cared about (sisters of battle hell yeah!). It even had an army painter which allowed you to make your side have the most repulsive battle colours, which was really... very cool.

 

2. Demigod

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This game rocks. It would be number one if it had more support. Yeah I know thats a little unfair as its a brand new IP from a company with a small gaming history but thats just how it is. This took the idea of DoTA and made it AWSOME. Every game is like an entire game of Diablo, but with co-op. AWSOME! I also love the fact that the game comes DRM free, and then when I got the Retail and download version of the game I got 2 serial keys so I can give it to a friend if I wanted! And I've not even mentioned the best bit... you can play as a massive upgradable castle with legs that can absorb buildings and thats armed with a massive hammer of dsetruction, a catapult, a light tower and a shoulder full of archers!..... AWSOME!

 

1. Red Alert 3

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At first, I didn't like RA3 at all, infact I hated it and I hated EA for killing Westwood studios. But, the more and more I played it online co-op or 'deathmatches' the more I loved it. You really have to let it grown on you before you'll get it, and even more so if you liked RA2 (which I did, alot). EA and whats left of Westwood really have taken Red Alert where it needed to go, and instead of it being a C&C3 clone with diffrent units its a totally diffrent game thats heavily focused on the micro and small scale battles. But, if your handly with your reasouse managment you can still achive massive armies. Not only this but EA actually seem to give a shit about support, which from what I can tell, is a 1st! Who knows what the future brings for RA3, all I know is they keep making it more and more ballanced and keep on updating the C&C site, which is all good as far as I'm consered.


Comments (Page 2)
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on Jun 20, 2009

whoa gotta catch a train now but i'll list my games in a second

on Jun 20, 2009

1. Homeworld

2. Shattered Galxy

3. Starcraft

4. Red alert 1

5. Casterls 2

Most of the newer RTS games are a huge fail in my mind, for a simple reason: they bring nothin new 10 years after the originals. I did not enjoy the newer C&C games as much as the old red alert.

I also must note that the only similar game above are red alert and starcraft, the rest are a defferent games.

 

I would like to hear if you guys think there is a new game that can actually compete with any of the above, please note that MoM graphics are good enough in my mind.

on Jun 20, 2009

1) Warcraft III:  An awe-inspiring game, truly one of the greats of history and to date the best RTS game I've ever played.  Its powerful map editor clinches its position as one of the greats in the history of the genre.  I've played dozens of RTS games since its release, but only a handful even deserve to sit on the same shelf as WC3.

2) Sins of a Solar Empire:  The only title I've played over the past several years that can be compared to Warcraft III, Sins is a great masterpiece.  It's a shining example of what developers should be creating, and shows that a little guy with some good ideas can rise to challenge a titan.  Looking forward to what IC has in store for us in the future!

3) Age of Empires II:  Whether it comes down to castles, knights, or mongol hordes, Age of Kings really nailed what it means to be a medieval RTS game.  Striking a beautiful balance between being an empire builder and a streamlined game, it really holds a special place as one of those defining titles in the history of the genre.

4) Red Alert 2:  the last true command and conquer game (I refuse to recognize the trash masquerading as sequals to this venerable franchise), RA2 took a silly premise and created an interesting, fast-paced, and streamlined RTS that was great fun.

5) Starcraft:  does it really need introduction?  Starcraft became the gold standard by which people measured their RTS titles.  Its interface and basic mechanics have been copied extensively, and many of its core mechanics are so ingrained that diverting from them instantly makes a title new and innovative.

 

That's my top 5.

on Jun 20, 2009

1. Rise of Nations - Easily the best cross-pollination of TBS and RTS gameplay elements ever. By far the RTS I've played most, and still installed on both my laptop AND desktop.The Conquer the World campaigns offer the best replayability of any RTS in single player that I've ever experienced. Oh, and RoN also features the best AI I've seen in a game of this genre.

 

2. Dawn of War: Dark Crusade - Captures the feel of my favorite miniatures game, forces the player to expand and actively play the entire board. The single player campaigns in Dark Crusade (and Soulstorm) are weaker than those in RoN, but a metamap campaign beats the tar out of a linear story based campaign any day of the week for long lasting single player enjoyment. The base AI is terrible, but the Skirmish AI mod puts it almost on par with that in RoN.  Soulstorm's not here because of the bugs (largely fixed by the aptly named bugfix mod) and the flying units, but it still worthwhile. It's a real pity what they did with DoW 2.

 

3. Anno 1701 -  A cross-pollination of an Impressions-type city builder and an RTS. It leans more towards the latter than the former, but is a joy to play, gorgeous to look at, and offers enough economic and strategic depth to qualify in this category IMO. Granted the combat is very weak compared to most RTS games, but it's nice to see a game balanced around the economic end of things now and again.

 

4. Warcraft 3 - This one gets a lot of hate, and the campaigns are useless, but the skirmish is challenging and an interesting mixture of RPG and RTS components and the mod community is SO good that it simply can't be overlooked. This is the game that gave us DoTA (which in turn gave you Demigod) and all its variants. It's responsible for the popularity of the tower defense genre, as well. Personally, even the basic game holds up well enough to be worthy replaying now and again.

 

5. Starcraft - Too good not to mention, even if it's so dated that it's now quite hard to play. Again, mods and again, enormously influential and important to the growth of the genre. If not for the now-awkward interface and the lack of decent resolutions I'm sure I'd still break it out now and again.

 

Someone mentioned Men of War, which by rights I should probably have on my list as well. I think of MoW as a spiritual successor to games like Close Combat and, as a result, tend to regard it as more of a pure tactical game than a real time strategy game. Regardless, don't take it's exclusion here as anything other than a narrow definition of RTS, it's a brilliant title in its own right.

on Jun 20, 2009

1. Warcraft II

2. Earth 2150(inc. Moon Project, Lost Souls)

3. Perimeter

4. Star Trek: Armada

5. Sins of a Solar Empire(would of been higher with a story, campaign)

on Jun 20, 2009

1.  Homeworld (The music, story, graphics, and true 3d playing field, EPIC )

2.  Homeworld Cataclysm ( same as 1, but prettier and moar story = win)

3.  CnC Red Alert 2(  ever since westwood became EA its never been the same , RA3 sucks! )

4.  Company of Heroes ( 1.71 patch, everything after that just has not been the same... )

5.  SoaSE

on Jun 20, 2009

1:Company of Heroes (The original release, unpatched)

2:Sins of a soalr empire

3:RA2 & Yuri's Revenge (Go flying saucers sucking up all their power!)

4:ArmyMen 2 and every release afterwards (Aerosol can and choppers ftw!)

5:DoW

on Jun 20, 2009

Can't make my own list seeing as how I've only had a computer for about a year and a half; gotta love a good rts on a console right?  Unfortunate since this has been my genre of choice ever since simcity back in the early 90's.  I'm not seeing much love for C&C 3, it's expansion, or Supreme Commander Forged Alliance.  All three being fantastic games in my opinion.  C&C for a quick fix and Forged Alliance for a more diverse experience.  Also, I only played DOW soulstorm of the originals but I guess that pretty much covers all the previous installments.  It was cool for another quick fix.  Lot's of different factions but not much variety in it's maps, but boy did they drop the ball with DOW2.  Looks great but no basebuilding or variety.  Pretty much an RPG.

on Jun 20, 2009

1) Homeworld/ Homeworld cataclysm

The music automatically puts it on the list , but the variety of units and storyline just makes it my top. Also it was my first true RTS. Cataclysm expands on the already great story and I might just add that it looks prettier. I couldnt decide on which was better so i put them both at the top mark.

There are no transmissions coming from anywhere in the system.....not even the beacons...

2) C&C Red Alert 2/ Yuri's Revenge

The sheer wackiness and plot of the Red Alert 2/ Yuri's Revenge games will make you laugh. It pokes fun at the cold war on a subtle level and draws you into the conflict.

No Premire Comarade, it has only begun

3) Sins of a Solar Empire / Soase Entrenchment

Although lacking much of a storyline or campaign mode, the ease of modability (hardcodes notwithstanding) and the replayability put it at the number 3 spot on my list.

Times of War are upon us

4) Star Control 2: The Ur-Quan Masters

This is on my RTS list because this is the first video game i had ever played. While not a true RTS, you still could command a fleet of ships, negotiate diplomacy, and fight battles. This game laid the groundwork for what we consider the modern RTS. P.S. the Vasari might be running from the Ur Quan Kohr Ah.

In the End, our task is simple. We Cleanse. You are the Filth.

5) Starcraft / Starcraft Bood Wars.

This game will immeadiaely show you why it has such a cult following. The variety of units (and eventual Upgrades and abilities) makes this game not for the faint of heart. While prone to the inevitable Rush (not just the zergling one) and geared toward expierenced veterans, it sure is playable. Dont forget the mods out for it.

You wanna piece of me boy?

on Jun 20, 2009

Tkins
1. Rise of Nations

2. Sins of a Solar Empire

3. Age of Empires 3

4. Rise of Legends

5. Red Alert 2

 

My exact choice list!!!

on Jun 20, 2009

Total Annihilation absolutely revelutionized RTS. A game that 12 years later is still being played and modded by thousands. Hundreds and hundreds of user created units, structures and maps. No RTS ive ever played featured battles so intense and hectic. There was no organization, just mass destruction and chaos. Total Annihilation. The engine was amazing too as almost any pc could play huge games w/out lag.

Sins of a Solar Empire also features an amazing engine. My pc can handle multi-system huge maps with ten players w/out lag. And i beleave that sins is THE best RTS space game out there to date. JUST LOVE IT.

I didnt like Supcom because the engine is crap in my opinion compared to other games out there. The same pc that plays 100+ planet maps with 10 players cant do a 1v1 on a small map in supcomm w/out seriously lagging. I have never been more disapointed buying a pc game with such rave reviews.

Red alert (origional) will be an all time favorite for me always as it was my first RTS that i really got into and played for several years and still play everyonce in a while today...

so:

1-Total Annihilation

2-Sins of a Solar Empire

3-Red alert 1

4-Star Wars: Galactic Battle Grounds

5-C&C: Generals (and Zero Hour)

 

on Jun 20, 2009

This is too hard of a choice for me, so im making my top 10!

For me it has to be:

 

1) Starcraft + broodwar

My second RTS, the online Use Map Setting maps were just too much fun!

2) Warcraft II + exp.

My first RTS, loved it to death

3) Warzone 2100

This is one of the most amazing games out there, its old but currently since its open source, people have been fixing it back up to be able to play on newer comps, hands down amazing game, I beleive the Earth 2150 series was based off of it.  wz2100.net

4) Total Annihilation

Another classic that was too much fun.  I remember games that would bring me down to .5 FPS due to the ridiculous amount of artillery firing

5) Homeworld Series

Insane games I played with buddy with this entire series.

6) Star Wars Rebellion

I count it as a semi-RTS, its a classic and way too much fun!

7) Sins of a Solar Empire with Entrenchment

Also a semi-RTS that is amazing.

8) Supreme Commander + forged Alliance

Heck i just finished a game of this 10 minutes ago

9) Rise of Nations

Amazing classic of its time

10) Metal Fatigue

Yes the robot fighting sold me as soon as i played the demo years back during school in the library!

 

I would include the command and conquer series, but those games really dont make me go back and play them over and over like the games it listed.  Another good series as well is the Empire Earth series, 1 and 2 that is, 3 sucked.

 

on Jun 20, 2009

CURRENT top 5 RTS:

1. Act of War - Direct Action (2005) Not much love for Act of War???, I wonder if its because people dont like it or if they never played it. Anyway, best rts ever created.

2. StarCraft (1998) Can't believe this is still in my top 5 even after 10 years. Masterpiece. I can still remember the day it came out and hearing that marine; Give me something to shoot! Classic.

3. The Lord of the Rings - The Battle for Middle-earth (2004) BFME stays true to the movies it was created upon, something not many games can claim. The movies are good, BFME is great!

4. C&C Red Alert 2 (2000) An instant classic, fun, witty, imaginative...

....we Romanovs have our legacy to consider ...I dont give a wooden nickel about your legacy...

just priceless.

5. Age of Empires II - The Age of Kings (1999) Even if it is old, the gameplay is still good and much better then the dreadful 3rd one.

on Jun 20, 2009

7) Sins of a Solar Empire with Entrenchment

Also a semi-RTS that is amazing.

jus wondering how sins is a 'semi' rts...?

on Jun 20, 2009

I consider it such due to its high mixture of 4X components, that and its not a standard style RTS, it is quite unique that is why i call it a semi-rts.

 

Edit:  A better explanation would be is that i beleive it looks like an RTS, plays like one too, but doesnt feel like one, that is why, if this makes any sense.

 

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