Favourite strategy game?

More Than Mortal · April 12, 2016, 12:18:29 PM

Besides the thread on the upcoming Total War instalment, and some noise about Halo Wars 2, we don't really see much discussion of my favourite genre on here: strategy games. Which is weird, since I know a fair few of you guys play them. Maybe I just don't come here enough. So, what's your favourite strategy game?

Civ V was really the game which pulled me into the genre properly, particularly 4X games, and I've logged ~80 hours on it so far. But it kind of feels like baby's first strategy game at this point. Not that it's a bad game, but it just lacks depth. I've also started playing Endless Space and Endless Legend--at about 10 hours each--and I'm only really scratching the surface and getting used to how the game operates, but it's incredibly enjoyable, not least because of the highly asymmetric factions in both games.

But, for me currently, the best strategy game in my library is Medieval II: Total War. It's definitely more engaging than any other strategy game I've played. Maybe Warhammer will change that.

Turkey · April 12, 2016, 12:21:41 PM

Probably Starcraft.

I really enjoyed EndWar, too, but I'm not sure that's considered 'strategy'.

Civ 5 was pretty fun for me but I wish it was faster-paced. Even on the quickest setting it's felt extremely slow, and I always end up winning by domination because waiting for the space shuttle is grueling.

More Than Mortal · April 12, 2016, 12:27:04 PM

Quote from: HollowedTurkey on April 12, 2016, 12:21:41 PM

and I always end up winning by domination because waiting for the space shuttle is grueling.

Yeah, this is a big thing for me in strategy games. Endless Space actually gets some points in my book for managing to mix this up; even on easy difficulty (first ever game) it's managed to throw me some curve-balls that a game of Civ V never offered. Originally I was planning on going for either a supremacy or expansion victory (both military), but the fact that one of the other civs I haven't had much contact with managed to shore up their military and make me think that I should change tactic and shoot for an economic victory.

That kind of thing keeps it dynamic.

Jono · April 12, 2016, 12:40:34 PM

No other RTS will ever surpass Brood War for me. I still play it from time to time despite there being coloring glitches in the menus and in-game sometimes too. Its my favorite game of all time. Starcraft 2 is a lot of fun and stuff, but there's just something about Brood War that Blizzard perfected that they haven't been able to recreate.

I also had a soft spot for the original Command and Conquer. That game was a ton of fun and I loved the death sounds that the soldiers had. It always warms my heart to hear those same sounds still in games today. I followed C&C until C&C 4 when EA murdered the franchise with that game. It saddens me that we will probably never get another proper Command and Conquer ever again.

I also enjoy Civ 5. There's a ton of games that I have saved that my friends and I never finish because one of us lags out or the game takes too long to load in between turns.

I've also been thinking about getting back into Warcraft 3 since Blizzard recently announced that they are going to release an update for it.

DAS B00T x2 · April 12, 2016, 12:52:17 PM

Civ is always fun. I hope further expansions to Beyond Earth can make it a little more content filled like the final Civ V expansion did. Contrary to Turkey, I love playing the game on long or marathon time settings. If I'm not 20 hour in to it by the time I research planes, it's been to fast.

Hearts of Iron 3 has been a lot of fun despite my failure at keeping up with the typical learning curve and I'm eagerly waiting for HoI4 come June. The UI is gonna be cleaner and more like EU4, so that's super exciting.

gats · April 12, 2016, 01:03:12 PM

I like a whole bunch for different reasons.
Attila, Shogun 2, Wargame Red Dragon, Age of Mythology take the spot for me.

Rome 2 (now), Civ 5, Age of Empires 3 and Command and Conquer Generals deserve honorary mentions.

Ushan · April 12, 2016, 01:25:16 PM

Honestly, I'd have to say Total War: Shogun 2 because it's vastly different from the other games in the series, and because it had interesting time periods to play in.

I'm hoping the next historical Total War game is either set somewhere other than Europe/the Middle East/North Africa, like in central and east Asia or that they do a second Empire Total War.

Mr. Psychologist · April 12, 2016, 01:29:20 PM

I love endless space

Favourite has to be Dawn of War Dark Crusade/Soulstorm though, with AOE3 coming a very close second. TW shogun 2 is up there too and total warhammer will be when i get to play it.

It's really quite satisfying when you forge an alliance between all of the races against the not-tyranids and then go to purge the systems they have infected to save the planets from being consumed.

Then when they are dead, it's usually a sort of awkward sidewards glance between the other races and I before everyone fuckin legs it for the scientific victory. Quality game.

🍁 Aria 🔮 · April 12, 2016, 04:13:44 PM

XCOM: EU
Halo Wars
CivRev
SimCity 4

Verbatim · April 12, 2016, 04:19:39 PM

chess

Saleem · April 12, 2016, 04:20:41 PM

Age of Empires 2

big sponge · April 12, 2016, 09:43:35 PM

StarCraft: Broodwar is probably the best RTS game ever made.

Endwar was the best console RTS though. Too bad it's never getting a proper sequel due to Ubisoft trying to hop on the MOBA train using that franchise.

Ian · April 12, 2016, 09:56:38 PM

How am I the first person to mention Forged Allience? Or Empire At War?

More Than Mortal · April 12, 2016, 10:05:59 PM

Quote from: Ian on April 12, 2016, 09:56:38 PM

How am I the first person to mention Forged Allience? Or Empire At War?

ngl playing Supreme Commander 2 pretty much put me off picking up any other SC title.

Empire at War has been on my wishlist for a while, though.