The graphics weren't probably too nice even by early 2000s standards (especially when zoomed in) and the voice acting can be cheesy at times. Yet the concept of the game is pretty unique, spawning the entirety of human history, not to mention the unit upgrade system where you can upgrade various stats of your units to your liking such as range, speed, attack and hit points at the cost of some resources. One of the greatest strenghts of this game lies in the scenario editor. It's pretty easy to use, and it's a ton of fun. You can change various unit attributes not normally accessible via triggers. Want to make your artillery fire fast as heck? Sorted. Want to make your swordsmen kill tanks with just a single swing of a sword? It's possible. Want to make a gigantic walrus able to destroy the most advanced combat robots with ease? Sure. Want to make a nuclear bomber able to obliterate the entire map, including your units & buildings? Well, you get the picture... I'd recommend this game to every RTS fan not scared of archaic 3d graphics. BTW, as of 2024 this game works on Win10 right out the box.
The interface didn't feel confusing at all after reading the manual. I guess playing Enemy Unkown also contributed to how easy this was to pick up in general. The game feels genuinely challenging and winning a battle is very satisfying. It was a sad moment when my squaddie Will die Horribley got fatally wounded by a plasma rifle and died a slow and horrible death. Research med kits ASAP.
Once you get the hang of it, you'll be playing for just one more turn... There doesn't seem to be a beginner's guide or much discussiom about the game, but the included manual is very helpful explaining the basics. I wish there was a higher resolution available though, but the graphics are fine as is.
