Dark Reign

Rating:
Summary: The most underrated strategy game ever made
Review: Firstly, yes, this is the "prequel" to Dark Reign 2, another Real-time strategy game that got short-shrift from gamers. Dark Reign had the misfortune to be released at the same time as Total Annihilation. I've also played Total Annihilation, and I admit that I found Dark Reign to be much more fun.

The two strongest features of Dark Reign are it's unit-control interface and artificial intelligence, which have only been rivalled by one other game - Age of Empires 2. On Easy level, the enemy will send squadrons of diverse units against your base. For instance, the AI might send tanks and ground troops, only to have them vaporised by your turrets. It might then send air units against your base, which has no anti-air guns.

The unit-control is even better than Dark Reign 2. You can command your units to scout the entire map (and unlike Dark Reign 2 they really WILL explore the entire map). You can even send them on harrassment missions, which I've found very useful in slowing down enemy AI production.

The weakest feature of Dark Reign is it's storyline. Instead of actually being a member of the warring armies, you're actually an observer replaying historical battles. The only real excitement is at the end, when you utilise units and buildings from both sides to defeat both opposing armies. The final mission is definitely NOT for the fainthearted.

It's unfortunate that Dark Reign didn't get the kudos it deserved. It's graphics may not have been of the same standard as Total Annihilation, but it's intense gameplay easily surpassed that of it's rival.

Rating:
Summary: The most underrated strategy game ever made
Review: Firstly, yes, this is the "prequel" to Dark Reign 2, another Real-time strategy game that got short-shrift from gamers. Dark Reign had the misfortune to be released at the same time as Total Annihilation. I've also played Total Annihilation, and I admit that I found Dark Reign to be much more fun.

The two strongest features of Dark Reign are it's unit-control interface and artificial intelligence, which have only been rivalled by one other game - Age of Empires 2. On Easy level, the enemy will send squadrons of diverse units against your base. For instance, the AI might send tanks and ground troops, only to have them vaporised by your turrets. It might then send air units against your base, which has no anti-air guns.

The unit-control is even better than Dark Reign 2. You can command your units to scout the entire map (and unlike Dark Reign 2 they really WILL explore the entire map). You can even send them on harrassment missions, which I've found very useful in slowing down enemy AI production.

The weakest feature of Dark Reign is it's storyline. Instead of actually being a member of the warring armies, you're actually an observer replaying historical battles. The only real excitement is at the end, when you utilise units and buildings from both sides to defeat both opposing armies. The final mission is definitely NOT for the fainthearted.

It's unfortunate that Dark Reign didn't get the kudos it deserved. It's graphics may not have been of the same standard as Total Annihilation, but it's intense gameplay easily surpassed that of it's rival.