In the early 90s, Coktel Vision (which later became Sierra On-Line) released a quirky point and click adventure game titled Gobliiins which had players bouncing between three different Goblins to find a cure for good King Angoulafre.
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Driftland: The Magic Revival, a strategy game set in a world of floating islands, debuts on PlayStation 5. The title from Polish studio Star Drifters offers a unique mix of RTS, 4X, and god game gameplay. The PS5 release is set for June 12. The game is also available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
Driftland: The Magic Revival is the work of independent Polish studio Star Drifters, known for games such as Danger Scavenger and First Dwarf. The game first launched on PC and holds 73 percent positive reviews from more than 1,400 player ratings on Steam. The title also has a Metascore of 76/100. Ultimate Games S.A. is responsible for preparing and publishing the console versions.
Take Control of Floating Islands
Driftland: The Magic Revival is a fantasy strategy game that blends RTS, 4X, and god game elements. Players take the role of a mage who can move, merge, and transform the lands drifting through the air. The title offers several gameplay modes, including a campaign and skirmishes.
The story is set in a world shattered by a great war of mages, which broke the continents into floating islands. In Driftland: The Magic Revival, players begin ruling a single castle and a small realm, aiming to build a powerful empire.
Players can choose from four factions. Each has unique traits and requires a slightly different playstyle. The gameplay is built on a system where players set goals for their units, which then act autonomously. Support comes from heroes who can fly, for example, on dragons. Success also depends on managing resources effectively, including gold, raw materials, and magic.
Driftland: The Magic Revival – Key Features:
fantasy strategy in a world of floating islands;
a blend of RTS, 4X, and god game elements;
move and transform floating islands;
a deep magic system;
multiple gameplay modes.
The PlayStation 5 release of Driftland: The Magic Revival is set for June 12.
Samobor, Croatia, 8th. June 2026 | Ironward today announced the official launch of Atre: Dominance Wars, their real time fantasy strategy game blending 4X empire-building, tactical warfare, and god-like powers. The game is officially in EARLY ACCESS for PC via Steam and GOG.
Set in a fractured world consumed by a catastrophic event known as “The Merge,” Atre: Dominance Wars puts players in the role of immortal Elders - sorcerers who have transcended mortality and now battle for absolute dominance. Players will forge empires, command magically evolved armies, manipulate both enemies and allies, and unleash devastating magic capable of reshaping the battlefield itself.
“Game of Thrones”
In Atre: Dominance Wars, players can manipulate alliances, create temporary peace, or betray rivals at the perfect moment to seize power. Even getting conquered is not the end. True defeat happens only when you give up on total domination.
Magical prowess
Spellcraft and research define your path to domination. Invest in learning spells and developing abilities that shape your strategy, whether you unleash mutations, rain destruction upon your enemies, or manipulate the dead to fight for you.
“It was a last moment notice but reason for launching EA is that we feel we can do so much more for the campaign and future content with proper player feedback.” - Ironward
Early access content is a fully finished product that contains
Three Levels of campaign
Skirmish/Solo/Multiplayer
Map Editor
More then 20 hours of gameplay
Built for fans of strategy experiences, Atre: Dominance Wars combines real time strategy with tactical combat and high-stakes diplomacy where alliances are temporary and betrayal is inevitable. Only one ruler can ascend.
“We are very happy with the current state of the game and we feel that this game has potential and we want to achieve that potential with our community.”
- Hrvoje Horvatek, Ironward”
Features
Ascend to Godhood: Unlock increasingly powerful magic and eventually gain access to god-tier spells capable of transforming entire regions of the map.
Strategy: Expand territories, manage cities, conduct diplomacy, research powerful unit mutations, and command armies in large-scale battles.
The Apocalypse: Reality itself is unstable, and a cataclysm known as the Merge will create challenges and opportunities throughout every playthrough.
Avatars and Equipment: Equip immortal Avatars with powerful artifacts, unique abilities, and mutated army compositions.
Single-Player, Co-op, and PvP Multiplayer: Compete or cooperate in a constantly evolving strategy sandbox built for replayability.
About Ironward
Ironward is an independent game development studio focused on creating deep, systems-driven strategy experiences. With Atre: Dominance Wars, the studio aims to deliver a strategy game where diplomacy, conquest, and god-like power collide in a constantly evolving world. Ironward released The Red Solstice, Solstice Chronicles: MIA, and Red Solstice 2: Survivors and it’s members are working on games like Zerospace and Band of Crusaders.
The acclaimed fantasy strategy game Driftland: The Magic Revival is coming to consoles soon. Developed by Polish studio Star Drifters, it blends RTS, 4X strategy, and god game mechanics. It launches on Xbox Series X|S on May 22, followed by a PlayStation 5 release on June 12. The game is already available on PC.
Driftland: The Magic Revival was created by Star Drifters, an independent Polish studio behind games like Danger Scavenger and First Dwarf. The game first came out on PC and now has a 73% positive rating on Steam, based on more than 1,400 reviews. It also received a Metascore of 76 out of 100. Ultimate Games S.A. is responsible for bringing the game to consoles and publishing it.
Move the heavens and rule the world!
Driftland: The Magic Revival is a fantasy strategy game that blends RTS, 4X, and god game elements. Its story unfolds in a world torn apart by a mage war, leaving the continents as floating islands.
You play as a powerful mage who can move, connect, and reshape the floating islands. You begin with one castle and a small area, aiming to grow your territory into a thriving empire.
In the game, you set main goals for your units, and they act on their own to achieve them. You can also recruit heroes who ride creatures like dragons into battle.
There are four different factions to choose from, each with its own traits and playstyle. To succeed, you need to manage resources like food, gold, raw materials, and mana. You can play through a story campaign or try custom skirmishes.
Driftland: The Magic Revival - Key Features:
Strategy set in a fantasy world
A blend of RTS, 4X, and god game elements
Move and reshape flying islands
A deep magic system
Multiple game modes
Driftland: The Magic Revival launches on Xbox Series X|S on May 22 and arrives on PlayStation 5 on June 12.
October 1, 2025 | Hooded Horse and Amplitude are excited to share the first development roadmap for recently released turn-based strategy game ENDLESS Legend 2. Early targets for improvement include the UI/UX experience, as well as introducing multiplayer as a new game mode.
Following player feedback so far, the team is prioritizing an update that will make the game more intuitive to play, targeting the UI specifically. Other high-priority items include adding customization options for the current factions, along with balancing and stability patches to build upon the hot-fixes already released since launch. Further down the line, the team will look at modding, enhanced Steam Deck support, a new faction, and more through to early 2026. The studio will continue to work closely with the community, taking on board their thoughts on what improvements they want to see, and the roadmap will be updated over time.
ENDLESS Legend 2 has had a great reception so far, with 88% Very Positive rating with nearly 800 reviews since launch.
ENDLESS Legend 2 is available in early access for PC via Steam, and the Microsoft Store for $49.99 / €49.99 / £44.99 / ¥5,980, with a 20% launch discount running until October 5. It is also available on PC Game Pass via Game Preview.
About Hooded Horse™
Hooded Horse is a publisher of deep strategic and tactical games, including Manor Lords, Against the Storm, ENDLESS™ Legend 2, Old World, Norland, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, and 9 Kings. With people and partners around the world, our goal is to empower and support developers in doing what they do best: creating world-class experiences for their audiences.
Amplitude Studios is a Paris-based company comprised of experienced, quality-driven videogame lovers and – with the help of their loyal player base – creators of the finest strategy games in the world. Founded in 2011, we are a team of over 170 developers hailing from all over the globe. We’re known for the ENDLESS™ series of games, with ENDLESS™ Legend 2 coming in 2025, as well as historical 4X epic HUMANKIND™.
It’s that time again! The writers of Chalgyr’s Game Room get together to cover some of our favorite music in video gaming. This month we are bringing the strategy genre to the forefront, and that is no easy feat! While several game genres have subgenres within them, the list of games and the memorable music out of those genres can be a little simpler to narrow down. However, strategy contains RTS, Tactical turn-based, AND 4X strategy games which makes the list a bit tougher to shrink down. I have one for each of those subgenres because it’s impossible to pick only one or two songs in total.
Starting with the strangely easiest subgenre of RTS, I have two picks that are the most memorable pieces. In a move that should shock no one, the first is the track titled “Heart of the Swarm” from Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm expansion. It was written by Neal Acree and Cris Velasco, although there are multiple artists attributed to the Starcraft 2 OST. Second, is also a track that should shock absolutely no one, and it is arguably the most memorable track of all time. How do I know this? It’s because I’ve never played a Command & Conquer game and yet I am still familiar with the music. THAT is how legendary Frank Klepacki’s Hell March is. Not only do I know the song, but I also have several OCRemixes of the track as well. I can’t put it down and I also can’t explain why it’s an infectious song.
Under the subgenre of tactical turn-based strategy there are a couple of legendary composers, but only one stands at the top. He is a musical giant. And although it was confusing to some of my colleagues, I’m a fan of Battletech. When Harebrained Schemes and Paradox Interactive released Battletech in 2018, I was all over it. This means that the composer for Battletech is none other than Jon Everist, who has written music for The Lamplighters League, Overwatch 2, Star Wars Outlaws, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong. I can’t pick out a single track for Battletech because there are so many good ones, but if I had to pick something it would be Coronation Day. There’s something to be said about the quiet build before everything goes to hell. This song plays as Kamea Arano ascends the throne and it is also the point where her uncle disapproves of her decisions and launches a coup d’etat behind her back. It’s quite the hook for players. The music effortlessly conveys the rise to power as well as the sinister plot unfolding. The music and the game are top notch in my books.
The last subgenre I’m covering is 4X strategy. There’s a ton of beautifully composed tracks attributed to the 4X genre like Endless Legend, Age of Wonders, Humankind, Sins of a Solar Empire, and many more. However, there are two titans when it comes to music for me and that is Andreas Waldetoft who is responsible for the masterful pieces in Stellaris. The other is Christopher Tin of Civilization IV. I’ve previously talked about how I feel about Baba Yetu from Civilization IV so I won’t go into too much detail. This piece captivated its audience in a big way. There have been very few games where I can honestly say I would open the game just to hear the music. (The other game that has managed to achieve this wasJack Wall’s Theme song to Myst IV Revelation.) Baba Yetu, will always top the list for me. However, Andreas Waldetoft has written some amazing pieces for Stellaris. I particularly love the song called Faster than Light. It begins with a soft melody that builds in the background with long notes. Then, the vocalist enters the track with her beautiful soprano tones. When travelling through the vastness of space to take out your opponents, this song keeps your focus on the objective. And although I haven’t played a ton of Stellaris, the music is simply breathtaking.
Mikhail Anatolyevich Kostylev (better known in many parts of the world as Lind Erebros) is a Russian musician and composer who has crafted albums (the Elven Oratory trilogy) and movie soundtracks (two credits currently - Twenty-eight Panfilov's Men and Tanks) alike, but is probably best known for his video game credits, which include Royal Quest, Age of Decadence and three of the Shadow Flight titles.
However, my first experience with Lind Erebros' music was the King's Bounty Series. I absolutely love these strategy games (at least the classic ones - I was less fond of King's Bounty II which Lind Erebros' music did not grace). While the stories told within the games can be a bit strange or even downright goofy at times, the strategy is top-notch and the army building elements are downright addictive.
Even with those qualities, the thing about these games that always stood out the most for me? The music. Horns and flutes that create both quiet, reflective moments and those punctuated with walls of sound that ratchet up the tension. The first game in the series, King's Bounty: The Legend's soundtrack was the highlight of the game for me. Just give a listen to the song Home Lands, and tell me you don't immediately feel like you're embarking on a magical adventure. The creepy, ethereal sounds of Fear hauntingly reflect dark, dank crypts during your explorations. Last but hardly least, Warlord Horn and In the Heart of Battle are the embodiment of music you would expect to hear as you enter an epic battle.
Remember these? MechWarrior 2, MechCommander 1, MechCommander 2, and MechCommander GOLD? I fell in love with these game series with their awesome mechs, the Real Time Strategy genre, and the beautiful music that created the atmosphere, the workmanship of the mechs, and the progression through the game. Duane Decker is such a powerhouse in music composition for games, television, movies, mobile games, his own albums, as well as licencing production music for TV and films. You can check out his credits here!
In the immortal words of one of the mech pilots, "This is Goblin! Do what I can sir!" Each and every pilot had their own voices that resonated with the gamers that have played the games. The music brought you into the atmosphere of being on your own and having missions to accomplish. The opening sequence, down through the skirmishes, and right to the very end you were entrenched in the mech atmosphere of combat. Nothing says it better than the track where you're lining up your mechs to take down an enemy.
Over the years Duane Decker's mech music has been an integral part of focussing on the work I was doing or just enjoying a few tracks to feel like just me inside my mech towering above the combat field. Each track on MechCommander 1 was related to the mission you were on. I couldn't find anywhere a list of track names. They were all listed as either 'Track 1' or 'Music 01'. The track I just listed is reminiscent of reflecting on what had just transpired after victory. One person listed this title for that track and called it 'Reflections' in the comments.
A big Thank you to Susan N. for whispering in my ear the series we used to play together years ago!
Now as I write this, I am longing to play again. So, while you are enjoying the music feast we presented this month, I'll be pulling out my old game cds and firing up whichever MechCommander or MechWarrior game appears first! Happy Summer Holidays all in North America. It's turning out to be quite the heat wave!
January 23rd, 2025 | Uncover mysteries from the darkest reaches of the galaxy in "Tales of the Arnor," a new DLC for 4X grand strategy game Galactic Civilizations® IV available on Feb. 27, 2025. This new content allows players to explore the history of the Arnor civilization, introducing new narrative and gameplay elements. In Galactic Civilizations IV, players build empires and engage in space battles, and "Tales of the Arnor" will add new content to create new opportunities for players to gain valuable knowledge and all new tech to gain galactic supremacy.
Key features of Galactic Civilizations IV: Tales of the Arnor include:
Explore the Legacy of the Arnor Campaign
Take on the Legacy of the Arnor campaign to uncover the history of the Arnor and the foundations of galactic civilizations. Discover how different species and empires evolved through distinct paths shaped by their environments and cultures.
Investigate New Anomalies, Relics, and Artifacts
Unearth hidden treasures and challenges that add depth to exploration. These discoveries provide opportunities to gain valuable resources, expand your knowledge, and trigger unique events.
Address Late-Game Crises
Face new late-game crisis events tied to the unfinished projects of the Arnor. These challenges will test your leadership skills as you navigate the consequences of their actions and the ripple effects across the galaxy.
Develop Unique Technologies
Access a distinct tech tree for the Cybernetic phenotype, unlocking exclusive planetary improvements, ship components, and early-game events. These advancements reflect the unique characteristics and strengths of your civilization.
Enhanced Civilization Creator
Available Today: Free v2.94 Update
Galactic Civilizations IV has received a free update including new content for all players! Update v2.94 features a map generation update with improved player placement and Fog of War system; better UI for the planet, ship designer, and shipyard screens; and better gameplay balance with improved combat, citizen specialties, colonization, and many other changes.
Paris, January 23, 2025 | Today, Amplitude Studios announced ENDLESS Legend 2, the long-awaited next entry in the award-winning fantasy strategy series. ENDLESS Legend 2 brings players back to the ENDLESS Universe with a mysterious world, unique factions, and epic storytelling. Developed by Amplitude Studios, ENDLESS Legend 2 combines the expertise behind the ENDLESS games and HUMANKIND to push turn-based strategy to new heights. ENDLESS Legend 2 will release in Early Access on PC in early 2025. Wishlist the game now on Steam.
EXPLORE A WORLD IN CONSTANT EVOLUTION
Dive into Saiadha, a breathtaking yet perilous oceanic world where ever-changing seasons and monstrous tidefalls dramatically transform the landscape. As the water goes down, the environment itself becomes both an obstacle and a chance for discovery. Players will have to adapt to these constant shifts, confront ancient threats, and uncover the secrets buried deep within Saiadha. Each cataclysm brings new dangers, but also unique opportunities.
FORGE YOUR OWN LEGEND
Step into a world where your choices matter. Players need to lead their hero on epic journeys to conquer new territories, earn valuable experience, and build deep relationships with allies and rivals alike. Select from a variety of factions, each with their own distinct philosophies, strengths, and playstyles, offering a unique gameplay experience. The diversity of these factions is reflected in their asymmetric gameplay, ensuring that no two paths are the same. Discover four unique factions when the game launches into Early Access, with two more to be added by full release.
JOIN THE INSIDERS PROGRAM ON JANUARY 30
For players eager to explore the latest chapter in the ENDLESS Universe, Amplitude’s Insiders Program is reopening! This exclusive opportunity welcomes a select group of players to test ENDLESS Legend 2 before its official release in Early Access and provide valuable early feedback to help refine and enhance the game.
HOW TO BECOME AN INSIDER?
Players simply need to fill out the application form here. Amplitude will try to include as many players as possible, but not all applicants may be selected for every test phase. However, by applying, players will be considered for future testing opportunities.
For the latest information on ENDLESS Legend 2, visit our Steam page, and follow Amplitude Studios on our social channels: Discord | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X
About Amplitude Studios:
Amplitude is a team of experienced, quality driven video game lovers and creators of the finest strategy games with the help of our players! Founded in 2011, we are a French indie studio with a team of over 180 developers based in Paris with an international team hailing from all over the world.
We are well known for our critically acclaimed ENDLESS™ series, played by millions worldwide, and for Humankind™, our historical strategy game.
Our close relationship with the community is a core feature of the studio’s philosophy. We’re proud of the way we create games together with our players via Amplifiers, our custom-built community platform that enables our community to play a key role in the creation of our games at every stage of development.
About Hooded Horse(™):
Hooded Horse is a publisher of deep strategic and tactical games with people and partners around the world – From the distant past of Manor Lords and the haunted woods of Against the Storm to the depths of space in Terra Invicta and Falling Frontier. Our goal is to empower and support developers in doing what they do best: creating world-class experiences for their audiences.
Vienna, Austria, October 3rd, 2023 - Good news, PlayStation and Xbox players! The turn-based fantasy epos SpellForce: Conquest of Eo is coming to consoles on November 7th, 2023. Today marks the start of the pre-order, offering a neat 20% pre-order discount, bringing the game down to $ 23,99 / € 23,99 / £ 19,99.
Good news, PC players! The free patch 1.3 has been published today, adding new content and features to the game:
Quest overview – allows you to quickly find and navigate to active quests on the world map
A new hero: Galtrak, the orc blood mage brings his own kind of magic that may even unlock new spells for your wizard…but they come at a price.
New world locations: The sullied village
Strong performance improvements to optimize your experience on lower-end systems and speed up loading times
Improved gamepad functionalities and guidance
This new content will also be part of the console version when it launches in November. SpellForce: Conquest of Eo is already available for PC at an SRP of $ 29.99 / € 29.99 / £ 24.99.
Choose from various schools of magic at the beginning of a campaign, and make your way through the procedurally populated world, combined with a pool of different adversaries to make every new game feel completely different and exciting.
Features:
The perfect blend of turn-based strategy with light 4x elements, short intense turn-based tactic battles and RPG
Recruit individual heroes to lead your troops, each with their personal quest
Discover new adventures with each procedurally generated campaign
Build up your tower and construct new rooms to determine your wizard's path
Each of the main opponents is randomly chosen and has its own strategy and agendas
Make the living interactive grimoire reveal new secrets and spells to you
Craft anything from magical runes and artefacts to undead minions and take a stand against your enemies
The fame system determines your relation to factions, cities and competing wizards
June 11th, 2023 - HeroCraft PC opened the Demo of its 4X game Revival: Recolonization during the PC Gaming Show event. The demo is available right away on Steam! Press, and influencers alike are welcome to thoroughly try the game before its EA launch on the 28th of June 2023.
The Demo is the pre-final Revival: Recolonization experience and offers hours of gameplay without play-time or content restrictions. Some polishing will be applied to an Early Release though.
Revival: Recolonization is a 4X game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Players will lead a fledgling group of people as they rise up, improve their technologies and lead Humanity to glory and prosperity.
Manipulate the terrain using the Edict System to give your army the edge in tactical battles
Customize your units the way you want to. Primeval warrior with high-tech gear? Sure, why not!
Retake the Earth from the frantic AI that will make you face the consequences of your actions.
Revival: Recolonization is the first entry in the Revival franchise to appear on PC. The first two entries debuted on feature phones.
About HeroCraft PC
HeroCraft PC is a publisher and occasionally a developer of PC games, including King of Dragon Pass, Tempest, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf. The company’s portfolio comprises over 10 games with a focus on role-playing, action, and strategy titles. HeroCraft PC is currently publishing several games, including Heart Abyss (Steam), Deck of Souls (Steam), Anvil Saga (Steam), Catizens (Steam), Roboholic (Steam), and Organs Please (Steam).
April 26, 2023. HeroCraft PC is pleased to announce that the 4x strategy game, Revival: Recolonization, will enter Early Access on June 28, 2023, on Steam. Watch the full trailer for Revival: Recolonization on YouTube here.
The Early Access release will include:
The edict system – Manipulate the terrain to give your army the edge in battle.
Unit editor – Customise your units to look the way you want to.
Domination-type game mode – Conquer enemy factions and be the last one standing.
The Emissaries – Choose between two different Emissaries, each with their own abilities.
A choice of peoples – Pick from five different people and lead them to victory.
Multiple eras – Play through four distinct technological eras.
We will continue to build on the Early Access release with gameplay improvements, new content, and more in future updates.
Revival: Recolonization is a 4x strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic version of Earth, where the terrain and rules of engagement can change during key moments. Players will lead a fledgling band of people as they rise up, improve their technologies – using all manner of weapons, from ballista to war elephants – and lead Humanity to re-take the Earth from an insane AI.
Revival: Recoloniation is the first entry in the Revival franchise to appear on PC. The first two entries debuted on feature phones.
About HeroCraft PC
HeroCraft PC is a subdivision of HeroCraft—an established developer and publisher of high-quality games, including King of Dragon Pass, Tempest, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf. The company’s portfolio comprises over 10 games with a focus on role-playing, action, and strategy titles. HeroCraft PC is currently publishing several games, including Anvil Saga (Steam), Revival: Recolonization (Steam), Catizens (Steam), Roboholic (Steam), Gravewood High (Steam), and Organs Please (Steam).
Age
of Wonders: Planetfall - Invasions is the second
expansion to the critically acclaimed 4x Strategy series. This
expansion adds a ton of gameplay, a new race, a new NPC faction,
world events, and new gameplay modes. After playing through this
expansion over the last couple of weeks, I found Invasions engaging
and well worth the time played.
Age
of Wonders: Planetfall - Invasions Added Features
Since Invasions is an expansion to an already fleshed out game, I'll
cover the new features in detail before talking about my gameplay
experience.
The most notable addition is the new lizardlike race "The
Shakarn" that is stealthy and hungry for conquest. It is a race
that can traverse water, giving them an edge. Shakarn comes with its
own set of tech which includes mechanical hacks, propaganda, and
holotech.
The new NPC Faction The Therians are space pirates that are easy to
tame. I say this because the Therians are genetic mutations of humans
with animal DNA. And they treat the players like dogs with quests
titled, "Who's a good boy" and "The Waking Earth."
(because dogs dig up the earth for treasure... Players must eliminate
the creatures that come from below.) Anyways, doing quests for these
space pirates comes with benefits like the ability to trade for
sharpshooters or hunter camouflage.
In Invasions there are two new disaster mechanics that add an extra
element of strategy to the already complex 4x game. The smaller
disasters are world events that occur at random. In my playthrough, I
encountered a couple of different ones like Earthquakes, Crystal
Meteors, and Superstorms. Late game, players encounter Voidbringers
events which are larger disruptions in a player's strategy.
Gameplay
In my playthrough with the Invasions expansion, I did things
differently than the base game. Originally, I opted to take every
mission or quest to see what would happen, without regard for winning
the campaign. (Those of you that read my
previous review know that I have much more experience
with Civilization than Age of Wonders, so I'm still learning the
differences with this title.) As one would expect, I failed quite
spectacularly since I made deals with factions who were warring
against each other. I did not keep many friends in those
playthroughs...
The Invasions expansion brings world events, a new race, and
holotech, which suits my playstyle better. Most of the time, I lean
towards covert operations where stealth and holotechnology shine. I
welcome this new race with open arms.
The
Shakarn Abilities
The first story mission which requires players to gain information
from the Rift Reactors was quite simple with the Shakarn's ability to
walk on water. Moving units around the continent allowed me to pick
up the intel without issue.
Not only did I manage to gather the intel required for the quest, but
I befriended the Vanguard leader Daiyu Jiang and the Dvar leader
Stanizord Zhelezo. This led to the discovery of personality traits
which adds a layer of manipulation strategy to the experience. What
better way to gather intelligence when players have open border pacts
with the other commanders? *cackles* Sneaky, no?
Because my playthrough includes helping the Therians and befriending
the other two commanders, I have no qualms with world events
affecting my marauder skirmishes. I do have to worry about the pesky
Paragons long enough to complete my ultimate mission.
Propaganda
Usage in Invasions
One more thing I should mention about the stealthy race of the
Shakarn is that they have access to propaganda. If unlocked, players
access to Motivating Broadcasts and Disinformation Campaigns. Once a
player researches more skills, other propaganda methods are available
to use.
It shouldn't need to be said that the motivation broadcasts are meant
for the Shakarn people. Each colony with propagation towers gain 15
research points and the happiness of combat units in the area
increases by 200. Of course, there are some minor drawbacks like the
affected colonies lose 5 energy while it is active and the upkeep of
the propagators increases by 25%.
The Disinformation campaign reduces relations with the other races by
300 for 15 turns. If the disinformation fails, then the player
receives a drop of 100 with the other commanders. As a side note,
that could compromise the Shakarns mission of stealth and
intelligence gathering...
Later in the game, there are larger propaganda campaigns that players
research through the tech tree. The next research in the propaganda
tree is Unsettling Propaganda and Vigilant Broadcasting. Both of
these types will cost significantly more than the previous level and
awards the player appropriately to the success or failure of the
broadcasts.
Invading
Final Thoughts
Even though the Age of Wonders is a 4x strategy game with its own
nuances, I find myself quite taken by this title and its DLC. I enjoy
the complexity of adding world events that change a player's
strategies. Each event has a reasonable length of time, in my
opinion.
Triumph Studios' addition of a lizard race with primary abilities of
stealth and espionage adds to Invasions appeal for me. I find that
the inclusion of world events adds another layer to the strategy
employed by the player. The new campaign and game modes help make the
Invasions viable.
Overall, Invasions is a DLC that adds a lot of value to the Age of
Wonders series. This title is simply spectacular because of its
addition of world events, a new NPC faction, and the Shakarn playable
race. Invasions is a blast and this DLC catapults Age of Wonders up
into a must purchase. As such, Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Invasions
receives an 9 out of 10.
BERLIN & STOCKHOLM - OCTOBER 19, 2019 - Paradox Interactive and Triumph Studios today announced Revelations, the first-ever expansion for Age of Wonders: Planetfall at PDXCON, the annual celebration of Paradox’s global community. Revelations launches on November 19, 2019 for a suggested retail price of $14.99 / £11.39 / €14.99 and is available within the Planetfall Season Pass. Expanding the world of the turn-based strategy title on PC, PlayStation®4, and Xbox One, Revelations introduces the ancient Heritor Secret Technology, new campaign missions, and location mechanics.
Revelations sets in motion the return of the entombed Es’Teq dynasty, whose Heritor descendents aim to use ancient technology and reincarnate billions of followers across the galaxy, establishing divine rule. The Heritor wield strong Entropy weapons that are effective against machines and can awaken ancient Es'Teq minds. Claim ancient secrets or succumb to their power in a new campaign with tactical combat and in-depth empire building.
New Key Features:
Anomalous Sites Mechanic - Explore 30+ mysterious sites filled with traps and powerful enemies to reap unique rewards and uncover great secrets. Encounter unique choices based on each faction or Secret Technology.
Additional Campaign Missions - Experience the awakening of the Es’teq dynasty and the rise of their Heritor descendants with 10+ hours of new content across two campaigns.
New Secret Tech: Heritor - Use ancient Heritor technology to drain the essence of enemies, fueling the opportunity to use powerful abilities, create strong Entropy weapons, and summon new units.
Tomb World Scenario - Challenge yourself to complete this deadly new Scenario, where Heritor enemies create an onslaught of destruction. This scenario also includes a new multiplayer questline to allow more players to join in on the action.
'The Forgotten' NPC Faction - Broken, insane, or otherwise unfit for Heritor’s utopian society, The Forgotten were never meant to be resurrected.
Threats to Your Empire - Reapers are robotic assassins created long ago to destroy those who were friendly to the Heritor cause, but now hunt all who walk the planet. Equally deadly are the Megasow and Piglets, bio-engineered wildlife gone rabid after the fall of the Star Union, which will devour anything in sight.
Locations, Pick-Ups, & Mechanics - Visit an Essence Gash or Es’Teq Well locations to supply new combat effects or abilities to your units. The Holopad pickup provides diplomatic rewards and additional influence over allies and enemies. Take over Imperial Defenses like the new Soul Beacon, Cluster Mine Launcher, or Firestorm Missile Silo to aid in combat.
Free Content - All players will gain the ability to take over the new Imperial Defenses, unlocking Operations that boost the combat effect of your colonies. In addition, the Orbital Relays mechanic boosts your empire’s infrastructure to allow for nearly instant unit transportation between sectors - but beware of sabotage interference by enemies!
"This first expansion allows players to explore deeper into the Planetfall universe, uncovering how the collapse of the Star Union empire has awakened beings from its mysterious past,” said Lennart Sas, co-founder of Triumph Studios and Game Director of Age of Wonders: Planetfall. “With the introduction of Heritor Secret Technology, NPCs, and Essence, Revelations is a new chapter for Planetfall that will affect the rise and fall of empires to come.”
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is available for digital download on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Microsoft Store or as a physical edition. The Paradox Publisher Weekend is live on Steam until Monday at 10:00 AM PDT, offering 10% off the Base, Deluxe, and Premium editions of Age of Wonders: Planetfall.
Purchase the Age of Wonders: Planetfall Season Pass on the Paradox Store for access to three post-launch expansions and an instant reward!
For more information about Age of Wonders: Planetfall, please visit: www.aow-planetfall.com.
About Paradox Interactive
Paradox Interactive is a leading global publisher of strategy games for PC and console. The company has developed and published a world-renowned catalog stretching back to 1999, with players hailing from all around the world.
The publisher’s steadily-growing portfolio includes firmly established franchises such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings, Hearts of Iron, and Stellaris series created by Paradox Development Studio, the Age of Wonders series created by Triumph Studios, as well as award-winning titles such as Cities: Skylines, Pillars of Eternity, and more from a network of partner studios. Paradox is the owner of the World of Darkness IPs and is publishing Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.
Paradox’s head offices are located in Stockholm, Sweden. Our development studios are located in Stockholm, Malmö and Umeå, Sweden, in Delft, The Netherlands, in Seattle, Washington, and in Berkeley, California. We share a passion for gaming and gamers, and our goal is to provide deep and challenging games with hours of gameplay and endless variety to our ever-growing community.
For more information, please visit our forums and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a 4x Strategy game that has some unique elements that other 4x games don't have. It has a number of factions, races, combat options, and other features that I'll cover in the next section. The game also features some amazing music by composer Michiel Van Den Bos, who has worked on the Age of Wonders series since its beginning. In my opinion, the game is spectacular and I absolutely had a blast playing in this universe, despite my steep learning curve.
Story and Gameplay
Right off the bat, Age of Wonders: Planetfall pulls you in with a story about discovering what occurred to your homeworld while you were in cryosleep. The era is known as Planetfall and it gives players a sense of purpose.
Like any other game, players are taken through a tutorial level that teaches the basics of gameplay, complete with army customization, city management, manual combat, annexing land, and more! Age of Wonders: Planetfall explains elements to players without massive text boxes and without too much description, like I've found in other games. No one likes massive walls of text unless they like the nostalgia of text blocks in Star Wars (as an example). Anyways, between the voice acting and the text boxes, players get the sense of what each information screen is used for.
At the beginning of gameplay, I jumped right into the campaign. And as a new player to the series, I felt it was better to jump in and learn on the fly than it would be to customize a commander bound to a faction that I knew nothing about. In brief, there are six different factions that can be played. They are:
Vanguard - The Vanguard is the race that players begin the campaign with. They are advanced humans that use high tech weapons. Vanguards get to use firearms and lasers for weapons.
Syndicate - The syndicate is a stealth-oriented race that is able to ignore morale penalties. Essentially this race consists of rogues and has access to arc and psi weapons.
Kir'ko - A race consisting of humanoid bugs, this race is able to spit out corrosive chemicals and they can buff other players to fight in a swarm. They can use bioweapons and psi weapons.
Dvar - These guys are steampunk looking dwarves who have powerful AOE attacks and medium-ranged attacks. The Dvar get access to firearms and explosives.
Assembly - These are biochemical beings that can come back from the dead by rebuilding their own members from fallen troops. The Assembly is great at researching and have access to arc weapons and firearms.
Amazons - A female warrior race who have awesome dinosaur mounts! They can terraform forests and bend the will of creatures. This faction has access to bioweapons and lasers (cue Austin Powers air quotes!)
Due to the fact that I am a new player to the AoW series, I accepted any task or quest that was offered without regard for the consequences of my actions. Part of the reason I did this was to learn as much about the game as possible in a short period of time. I discovered rather quickly that unlike many 4X games that I've played, when players encounter an enemy faction, instead of accepting or declining an offer, they can complete a quest to gain favor. With the exception of Endless Legend, it is not a commonly used feature in this genre. It gave me the opportunity to see what types of missions players could embark on to gain favor with the different factions in this universe.
Unlike previous AoW games, this title has a story peppered throughout with neat little banters between commanders (like ones between Jack Gelder and Daiyu Jiang) which adds insight between the faction stories and woes. In fact, this surprised me greatly when playing, that not only did these little bits add to the immersion of my gameplay experience, but receiving opportunities from unknown people about factions you might be friends with, really brought me into the game.
There is only one thing that has somewhat bugged me about the game and it's not really that big of a deal. I say that because I do come from playing several Civilization games where players are spoiled when it comes to expanding your cities. When customizing the cities with increased production of energy or food sources, there is a lack of options. Considering the other features that AoW has, it is a minor detail, though it does make me want to not care much about expanding the cities because of that fact.
Overall, I really love AoW: Planetfall because I enjoy 4X games. This one has features that I'm not accustomed to but feel like they add to the experience of the game, like the questing for favor and getting information that might sway your relationship with different factions.
Combat
One of the features I enjoy about AoW is combat. Players have options when it comes to gameplay, depending on how much time they might have to play. There is an auto-combat mode where the AI determines based on your army value and random rolls which side wins the fight. It is a useful feature to have when a player can only achieve so much in a day.
Conversely, if players have time to spend on the combat, there is a manual mode where players use an XCOM style turn-based combat. It is complete with overwatch abilities, cover areas, and healing or grenade abilities which are only available once unlocked in the tech tree. The tech tree is important because players can customize their commanders and units by adding mods that are only available once they are researched. And the army members will be able to add new templates when players modify the units with a variety of weapons or healing capabilities.
As with most turn-based tactics games, there are places that can be used to provide cover and the area is sometimes modified by effects like geothermal instability. What these effects do are modify the players' ability to annex sectors, losing regeneration, suffer damage per round, reduce vision, etc... I successfully completed a battle in a geothermal instability area with some minor loses. It was one of the few times that I decided to manually enter combat instead of letting the computer do it for me - mostly because I took a look at the army values before making this decision.
When it comes to the tech tree for combat, there are certain abilities that are listed under unintuitive names. Most notably is Kinetic Force Manipulation which is merely a fancy name for increased damage and a longer range. But, for the most part, the research levels progress in a logical manner. 4X games are notorious for labeling abilities under names that take time to get accustomed to. However, in AoW, there are many abilities that make a great deal of sense when you consider the two or three pieces of technology that players receive.
Graphics and UI
In the main menu, there are a lot of options available to players ranging from resolution to combat UI. As with most games, there are options to change keybindings, scroll speeds, autosave maximum amounts, displaying damage numbers, and more. Heck, there is even an option to force fast combat animations too!
If that isn't enough, something interesting about this game is that it can be played with a controller. Now, I have no idea how well it plays because I've always played 4X games on a keyboard, but it's a wonderful feature to have for players who prefer playing games like that.
I will say that I like the graphics style and it's no surprise that AoW: Planetfall is a step up from its predecessors because it is skinned to be more modern. The game is rich in graphics, for this type of game, and has multiple screens that give critical insights to a players' cities, army complements, and story objectives. Once I learned where information could be found, the game wasn't too difficult to get into. Everything needed is listed under appropriate tabs at the top left of the screen.
Music and Sound
Given that Age of Wonders: Planetfall is my first experience with this series, I found the music to be compelling and epic. To be frank, this is the sort of music I would listen to while writing an adventure novel. In fact, the music is so brilliant, that I've listened to it several times and I would often catch myself zoning out just to listen to the soundtrack. However, that's not to say that it drowns out gameplay, in fact, the soundtrack complements Age of Wonders quite well. Right now, the soundtrack has nine tracks and they are brilliantly looped to cover two hours of gameplay. Moving forward, the soundtrack will be expanded over time, as was indicated in the Dev Diary.
Since Age of Wonders is a series that has been around for a long time, Triumph Studios hired long-time veteran and Dutch composer Michiel Van Den Bos. He is known for his compositions in Unreal, Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex, and Overlord. Ever since he began composing on the Commodore 64 and the Amiga, he hasn't looked back. Mr. Van den Bos works in the EDM and Contemporary Classical Music categories, and he is also a DJ in the indie/alternative scene. Together, Triumph Studios and Mr. Van den Bos have produced content that is spectacular together. Take a listen to a sampling of Planetfall's music below!
More information about composer Michiel Van Den Bos can be found on his social media pages: YouTube, Facebook, Soundcloud, and Twitter. He does have a website but it doesn't appear to work at the moment, so I won't put the broken link in here.
Thoughts After Planetfall
Age of Wonders: Planetfall has been an enjoyable experience. I haven't played any 4X games recently, especially since I haven't picked up the DLC for Civilization VI, but I can't say that I'm disappointed with this title. The game has a story that isn't shoved onto players with giant text boxes, the factions are unique and interesting, and the gameplay is engaging both in and out of combat. This is a game that players can sink many hours into, especially since they can customize their own commanders and units to suit their playstyle.
Overall, Age of Wonders: Planetfall earns an 8 out of 10. It possesses features that most other 4X games don't have (that I've encountered), an easy to understand tutorial, and options when dealing with other factions. It's definitely a title to pick up!
To get a copy of this excellent 4X Strategy game, grab it from the Steam store or the Paradox website!
Game Information
Platform:
PC Developer(s):
Triumph Studios Publisher(s):
Paradox Interactive Genre(s):
4X Strategy Mode(s):
Single Player Other Platform(s):
Playstation 4,
Xbox One
Stellaris: Console Edition is a very acceptable port of a genre that one would think would not work on a console. Given the intricacies and ultimate reliance on menu navigation within a 4X or Grand Strategy title, the general thought process was “Really? On console?” Fortunately, Paradox and Tantalus have managed to make a menu navigation relatively painless, plus the more I play strategy games on console the more I realize that screen navigation with analog sticks are not entirely horrible, in fact, with Stellaris, I think it really shows that the genre could flourish on consoles.
Stellaris, for those unaware, is massive in its ambitions and scale; easily the largest in years with regard to your ability to fine tweak your government options during setup to the Policies and Edicts you select (or research) while playing the actual game. With the level of depth one might be concerned with the accessibility of Stellaris but it is actually quite easy to get into as a new user; the help options are deep, well written/voiced, and easily point new players to new features, ideas, or concepts within the massive empire builder game.
Veteran fans, more specifically those of us that have the PC version of Stellaris, might be a bit taken aback about the version that the console edition launched at. Whereas the PC version, as of time of this writing, is 2.2 to 2.3, the Console Edition launched at version 1.7. The reasoning behind the varied versions and not launching at the latest is, according to Paradox, related to start of development dates; development for the console version started during the 1.7 PC lifespan and that is where the branches split. However, it should be noted that they are working towards releasing updates to bring it current/in line with the PC version; it is just a matter of hunkering down and waiting for any updates.
Stellaris is a game about telling stories, though not in the same vein as those told in a traditional sense, where a game puts forth an arc or sub-chapter surrounding a primary plot point. Instead it is a deft combination of the player telling their story of conquering the galaxy (primary arc) dotted with dozens of small, interesting stories (sub-chapter arcs). The player is largely in charge of how they go about telling their story; from using the Federation function to fold others into their empire to all-out galactic war.
The smaller stories though, are handled via Research projects that your science vessels will come across as they scan new systems. Some of these can be as simple as finding out that there was an ancient civilization that ended its own existence via nuclear war to far, far more intricate (and interesting) Research projects following precursor civilizations through their histories, leading up to extinction or survival.
These little stories, though scripted, have a certain … sense … about them that really bring them to life while simultaneously being a sobering element on the excitement that comes from expanding through the stars. Research projects are not the only source of stories as each fleet engagement can result in its own small and more personal story, though it is one told more by the player (as the primary arc is) and less by the game.
As an example, I had the System Defense Fleet, a small fleet that started off with just a handful of corvettes and grew to a massive armada full of every ship available. The SDF worked primarily as a local defense fleet, never leaving the borders of my galactic property but instead focusing solely on the defense of our colonies. Over the course of my 40+ hour game this fleet survived longest, was pushed hardest, and often came down to being one of the last fleets (sometimes THE last fleet) that stood between certain defeat and survival.
I like to envision that its fleet commander is a tired old Admiral, sent back from the front-lines and had risen through the ranks largely because they simply survived. From there he began collecting his band of misfits, being handed the “junk of the fleet” with random ship commanders and loadouts, only to end up coming to humanity’s defense time and time again and winning out. As of my last log in, the SDF was still going strong as they held orbit over Pandora Prime, their staging area near the core of my galactic empire. Each of my fleets, in some way, hold stories similar. With these types of stories comes attachment, meaning I am far more critical of how I use them in combat, how willing I am to let them die, and how far I am willing to push them.
These little off-script stories are made more intimate due to the level of ship customization allowed in Stellaris. Rather than predefined units and a simple tech tree, Stellaris allows you to research various technologies (assuming they come up in the random research queue) that will see you research cruisers, carriers, or new science vessels, each with their own potential loadouts. Once you research the core ship you can research new weapons technologies, from missiles to alien tech (like the void lightning!), to upgraded lasers. Then you can head on over to the Ship Designer to well … design ships!
Though it might be tempting to simply auto-complete and put the strongest weapons or armor/shields on your ships, it may not necessarily be the smartest thing to do. Each encounter will be different and though there is a place for “ships of the line” (i.e. heavily armed and armored tugs that rush to the front and work to hold the line against a station or fleet), there are also a need for more hit-and-run style light ships, or picket ships to defend against oncoming missile fire. Carriers and artillery-like ships also have their place in an armada, so variation is strongly recommended in your fleet loadouts.
If there was anything I really do not like about anything related to the fleets in Stellaris, it would be how combat looks. Even fleet-to-fleet engagements tend to fall into a “let’s fly in circles.” If you zoom in on a fight you will see ships flying in circles and in later parts of the game, they tend to be super boring, which is a shame because I would love to see ships squaring off in broadsiding, or artillery ships forming their lines and holding while they put the hurt down-range. Carriers that work to flank at range would be slow-moving and push to the extremes of range while sending strike craft/bombers out one sorties. Corvettes, frigates, or strike cruisers, ships designed for speed, should move in fast in an erratic fashion, strike, and move past their target (for non-stationary targets this mechanic would make for some spectacular dogfight-like scenarios). Instead everything just … flies in circles. Like I said, it can be pretty boring.
Stellaris is not a game to take lightly nor is it designed to be played in short bursts. Given the complexity of the famed 4x, Stellaris is a title that you will spend an afternoon, evening, and maybe even early morning playing … all in a single sitting. The cosmic array of minute stories are enough to keep you going for hours and if you mix in the small, more personal stories written by your vessels, you have content for days. To compliment the storytelling found in Stellaris are the graphics; though you may find yourself spending the lion’s share of your time in the galactic map, Stellaris is finely detailed all the way down to each individual ship or craft. The best part? Paradox made it work all on a console, a piece of hardware not generally thought to be suitable for epic strategy titles like Stellaris.
Given the countless possibilities within each campaign of Stellaris: Console Edition, I foresee it reigning supreme as the pivotal example of how to bring strategy to consoles. Well done Paradox.
Game Information
Platform:
Microsoft Xbox One Developer(s):
Paradox Development Studio
Tantalus Media Publisher(s):
Paradox Interactive Genre(s):
4X Strategy Mode(s):
Single Player
Multiplayer Other Platform(s):
Sony PlayStation 4
PC (Original Version)
