For anyone who likes WW2 strategy games I recommend RUSE. Unlike many RTS games it has a lot of actual strategy to it and is very playable and the units and powers are nicely balanced. There is none of that mindless build-racing and micro-managing of upgrades that you get in other strategy games. RUSE focuses a lot more on the terrain and the individual strengths of the units, which means there are quite a few ways you can win the game. The name RUSE is derived from the tactical advantages you can employ in different sectors during the game. These range from BLITZKRIEG (increased speed of units) to SPIES to RADIO SILENCE (stealth) and others. Each has a different impact on the game and the proper utilization of different ruses can swing a game in your favour even against improbable odds. There are a lot of improvements I would make to the the game play and the strategic options are still limited, but the basic concept is very nice. I doubt this game will be a big hit (most will find it too difficult), but if it manages to make it to a second edition it could become a real classic.
Hi TMM I haven't even played the missions really. I'm more interested in the multiplayer game. For me a RTS is always about the multiplayer mode (especially online play, not A.I. so much). The missions just for show as far as I'm concerned. The AI in RUSE is actually pretty intuitive. Usually they just weight the odds severely in the favour of the computer and then it responds to triggers. Some strat games I've played have very obvious triggers - like as soon as you build a tank factory it would bombard you from the air, or as soon as you put a toe over a certain invisible line on the map, the computer throws EVERYTHING at you. That kind of thing. RUSE reminds me a lot of another good WW2 strat game called Blitzkrieg, except Blizkrieg was a 2D game and the AI was rather stupid. It was only good vs humans. But there were a few elements of that game that RUSE could do with such as "digging in" your units for more protection and organizing supply lines to your units to make it more interesting with the possibility of running out of fuel and ammo if you extend your supply lines too long. Like I say - with a few improvements this game could be a classic. Re-acquaint yourself with the game and maybe we can play online sometime.
I know it's a multi player oriented game, but I tend not to play online...I usually play for 30-40 minutes and then go do something else. There's nothing worse than someone logging out halfway through a game...and that (if I played multiplayer) would be me :P
I just beat the campaign in R.U.S.E. It was one of the best games I'v ever played. I especialy liked the story, it stuck to the WW II storyline and had a bit of fiction to spice it up a bit. But it was artfuly done. R.U.S.E. is a must have game.
