While this genre of game is not exactly my cup of tea, credit should be given where it`s due. One of the first things that stands out in Rise of Legends are the graphics, which at times can be spectacularly detailed and alluring.
It doesn`t stop there, however. Add in some nifty magic and some pretty funky technology, and the scene is set for endless epic battles that promise to keep strategy geeks playing for many hours. Perhaps that is putting it a bit simplistically, for there is much more to the game.
This is Big Huge Games` real-time strategy sequel to the well-received 2003 offering, Rise of Nations, and is due for release in the US this May, and shouldn`t be far behind in hitting our shelves.
By all accounts, this game does not pull many punches. Unlike the original saga, Rise of Legends abandons the historical European battlefields in favour of a completely mythical setting.
Essentially, the game presents three races, with their own distinct characteristics, strengths and abilities. The preview version of the game, which is reviewed here, reveals two groups - the Vinci and the Alim. The third is not yet available in this version.
Trying to find balance
The Vinci - drawing influence from Leonardo Da Vinci - is primarily a technology-oriented race, while the Alim is a desert-based group, but with more efficient mobility and a stronger leaning towards magic. This power allows them to call for reinforcement to fortify their position or strengthen an attack.
In a typical strategy game scenario, a tribe`s resources must be carefully balanced, to build-up a strong fighting force, while progressing on the technological front - falling behind the opponent in either department could prove fatal.
To increase a group`s wealth, a mining operations need to be optimised, profitable trade must be ensured, and neutral cities conquered. Keeping your eye on the ball here is very important as resources and wealth not only enable the creation of fighting units and city districts, but also allow these to be upgraded and open the way to technological upgrades.
For mineral wealth, Timonium is mined by setting up mining operations and putting a couple of miners to work. While it`s nice to set up a couple of mines and watch the Timonium roll in, these sites are vulnerable to attack and have to be well protected.
The options for churning out offensive and defensive items and structures are pretty much endless, but again, a good strategy is needed to best utilise what is on hand and what is available.
Each race builds districts in their cities which are unique to their characteristics and the number of districts determines what upgrades and specialised units become available. The bigger the city, with the right mix of districts (these include military, industrial and merchant), the stronger the position.
Complexity
Population size (which includes all types of units) is capped, depending on the size of the city - thus expansion is paramount. Keeping up development and growth can become tricky though, especially when time is occupied fending off wave after wave of attacking forces.
To add more complexity, and indeed playability, to an already multi-faceted game, a player can also gain "dominances" over an opponent. Political, tactical and military dominances give a player advantages in certain situations, and should thus be aimed for.
These are but some of the factors that feature in Rise of Legends. The game can be severely influenced by decisions made at the start of the game, often spelling the difference between success and failure.
While not much of this may be new or original (most of these elements have featured in some form or other in games like Age of Empires, Age of Mythology, Warcraft and Empire Earth), there are some new ideas, as well as originally-packaged old ones. In short, the sum of the parts adds up to an almost larger-than-life whole, making Rise of Legends stand out in a crowd.
Despite having fiddled with this game on and off for the past two weeks, with spells that fluctuated at times between delight and utter frustration, I feel I have barely scratched the surface of this game. I guess my nine-to-five gets in the way of some serious gaming.
Those who don`t have that problem (or who can get away with much less sleep than I can) will certainly enjoy Rise of Legends - at least those who enjoy real-time strategy. Those with merely a passing interest in the genre may be put off by its complexity.
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