Top 5 Fantasy War Games
Monday, 22 August 2011 22:28
When you add to that my love for all things fantasy/sci-fi, it comes as no surprise that some of my favorite games are fantasy (and sci-fi) strategy games. I enjoy immersive strategy games, with booming scores that send chills down my spine whether I'm using the latest Klipsch surround sound system or my trusty pair of circumaural headphones. Obviously gameplay is a major component, as is the quality of the graphic design, but if the sound is lacking, I have a hard time getting into a game. Here's a rundown of what I consider to be the best fantasy strategy games of all time.
5. Disciples II: Dark Prophecy
Set in the fictional kingdom of Nevandaar, Disciples II allows the player can choose from four main factions: the human Empire, the dwarven Mountain Clans, the demonic Legions of the Damned and the Undead Hordes. Disciples is a turn-based strategy game, with gameplay similar to Heroes of Might and Magic. The player has a capital city they must build onto to recruit new units to assign to a squad led by a hero. Heroes level up as their squads defeat monsters and the player can choose to take one hero with them after each map has been completed. The score is haunting and expansive, drawing you into a universe filled with magic, elves and an undead horde.
4. Lord of the Rings: the Battle for Middle Earth
Set in Tolkien's iconic Middle Earth during the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this game secures its #4 spot mostly because of my love for LotR. The gameplay is fairly straightforward. Players may only construct buildings in predefined areas on pre-defined building locations. Units can be constructed and each basic unit type is strong against one other and vulnerable to yet another, making certain that superior tactics will win over an immense army of one unit type. Players can choose from the factions of Rohan, Gondor, the Uruk-hai of Isengard and Mordor's orcs, each with their own special hero units, representing major figures from the books. The score includes music from The Lord of the Rings films as well as original music, all of which makes the player feel more like they're taking part in an epic battle than playing a game.
3. Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Warcraft III in itself is a fantastic RTS, but the Frozen Throne expansion takes the game one step further, adding new units to each faction (humans, orcs, undead and night elves) and reintroducing naval units which were in Warcraft II but conspicuously missing from the third game. Players must still construct buildings and harvest resources in order to produce normal and heroic units. Ultimately, the gameplay is that of a straight-forward RTS, with the strategy required being just a bit more in-depth than its predecessors, by virtue of the amount of units and their possible upgrades. The soundtrack features deep bass along with stringed instruments and brass, evoking a feeling of adventure and battle.
2. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
In this game, players choose from four factions: Space Marines, Chaos Marines, Eldar and Orks. Warhammer 40K is a mix between sci-fi and fantasy, with elves (the Eldar), Orks and various abilities that walk the line between magic and technology. The gameplay is based on capturing and holding strategic locations, increasing resource acquisition. There are several requirements for victory, but the two most used are controlling a majority of the strategic locations and annihilating the enemy and their bases. Units are produced in squads and can be upgraded, reinforced and attached to commander units, increasing their effectiveness in battle. The score of the game features orchestral arrangements and broad use of brass instruments, giving the player the feeling of being involved in an epic battle.
1. Starcraft II
Starcraft II, the long-awaited sequel to 1998's Starcraft, is an iconic strategy game. Blizzard is well-known for crafting well-balanced games, ensuring that no side has an overwhelming advantage on the field of battle. Resource collection and base production are essentially the same as the first game, but the old units have been tweaked and new units have been added, often replacing units from the original game. During the campaign, players act as Jim Raynor, a human mercenary captain, and must choose what missions to take and how to spend their hard-earned reward money between missions. The score for Starcraft II is at times haunting and choral and, at others, energetic and upbeat, drawing a dichotomy between the battles and the time spent investigating the storyline further.
