What NEW strategy games are a must own?

I have been out of PC gaming for awhile now, so there's been plenty of games i've wanted to play but just haven't been able to. I stupidly tried to "convert" to console gaming, buying a xbox360 first, then a Ps3, but i've been unhappy with console gaming. it's very shallow and doesn't compare to PC gaming imo. (I'm SOOO sick of FPS now, i'm done with them for awhile now).

I already bought Heroes of might and magic V: Tribes of the East (i'm a huge fan of the series). now that I will finally be able to satisfy my hunger for Turn-based Strategy, i'm looking to satisfy my RTS & RPG craving.

I've had my eye on Soulstorm, Medieval II Kingdoms, Company of Heroes, and Supreme commander. Possibly Kane's Wrath, but C&C just seems too shallow in terms of gameplay, but I could be wrong. Doesn't seem like there's too many grear RPG's out right now?

I have to say, i'm extremely dissapointed that Hellgate didn't turn out better. I was really anticipating that game for awhile.

My most anticipated games are Warhammer Online & Dawn of War 2.

100% Company of Heroes, its something what u will play for long time and u will like it

World in Conflict IF you like commanding 5 troops in huge battles and sending nukes :P

Medevial 2 is good but u never play it for long because u have to do same thing in the campagain i so i liked costom battles more

If u are a fan of Star Wars or Lord of the Rings then there are games like Star Wars: Empire at War and LotR: Battle of Middle Earth 2

I think Company of Heroes is best from that list

Sins of a Solar Empire is seven days off.

If you love Dawn of War - you will be familiar with Relic's other games, yeah? Tried Homeworld?

If you're fond of strategy games as well, you will have probably tried a 4X/TBS game like Civilization or a GalCiv game, right?

Imagine massive, massive maps - on scale with TBS stuff, only it's real time. It's all real time. Giant honking space ships, blasting eachother apart in massive space battles. In massive space.

You know, I don't even like space games all that much, but I've been waiting so long for someone to take a game with the scope of a TBS and make it all real time.

Seven days, people. Seven days.

CoH definitly. Also World in Conflict is a pretty sweet game..

I also liked Supreme Commander. I'd definitly try this game!

I'm a huge fan of Space games, and I was a big fan of the original Homeworld game when it first came out. This Sins of a Solar Empire sounds amazing. I like Galactic Civ, but I didn't like the combat. Seems like Stardok is making this game for the fans who wanted better combat. I just wish they could mix both, and then we'd have a game of epic proportions.

How is Medieval II's expansion?

I'm a more defensive styled RTS gamer, and I don't like rushing all the time. What RTS's out there let you play any playstyle you want, and has in-depth gameplay? C&C3 seems more for people newer to RTS, where a game like Supreme Commander has a lot of depth, and a huge variety of strategies.

Supreme Comander looks, ok but the storyline and art of the game just doesn't do anything for me. I love RTS games where you can appreciate the design, the story, and the creative process that was put into the game (Starcraft, Warcraft, DoW, ect).

So far Medieval II Kingdoms is looking great, is combines a lot of gaemplay elements that I love, and they did a great job with the graphics and design of all the nations.

I'm getting Rise of Legends & AOE III with my new pc for free, i've been wondering how those games were. I probably won't like them much, but heh, they're free.

Company of Heroes is undoubtedly great, but i'm a little disappointed they don't have the Russians and Japanese. The Germans are my favorite faction to play in WWII games, but how awesome would it be to play as the massive infantry & tank forces of Russia, or the fanatical & fearless Japanese.

I'm a huge fan of Space games

Ibrahim17

...then try master of orion 2 its old but great, for rts warhammer40k dark crusade is my fav

[QUOTE="Ibrahim17"]

I'm a huge fan of Space games

crapdog

...then try master of orion 2 its old but great, for rts warhammer40k dark crusade is my fav

I've already played those. I still plan on playing DC with my new computer in a couple weeks. Master of the Orion is a classic, but I wouldn't play it mnow considering the newer stuff out now, or soon to be out. I'm big on graphics too, so it's hard for me to go back and play older games (with exception to Diablo II, HoMM3).

100% Company of Heroes, its something what u will play for long time and u will like it

World in Conflict IF you like commanding 5 troops in huge battles and sending nukes :P

Medevial 2 is good but u never play it for long because u have to do same thing in the campagain i so i liked costom battles more

If u are a fan of Star Wars or Lord of the Rings then there are games like Star Wars: Empire at War and LotR: Battle of Middle Earth 2

I think Company of Heroes is best from that list

henrynarits

I agree 100%. While the other games are worth checking out, Company of Heroes is definatly the best.

Sins of a Solar Empire is seven days off.

Imagine massive, massive maps - on scale with TBS stuff, only it's real time. It's all real time. Giant honking space ships, blasting eachother apart in massive space battles. In massive space.

You know, I don't even like space games all that much, but I've been waiting so long for someone to take a game with the scope of a TBS and make it all real time.

Seven days, people. Seven days.

mfsa

Aww man you've got me even more excited for Sins of a Solar Empire now! If that was possible of course :P I still need to go and reserve me a copy :D

Anyway, TC I would recommend Company of Heroes and Sins of a Solar Empire! (especially the latter since you put "NEW strategy games" and you said you were a graphics whore :P)

get Forged Alliance over vanilla sup. com. Lots of improvements.

CoH is also worthy. And your right about C&C 3. its a very basic strategy and very rush friendly. don't know about now havent played it in forever, but that would honestly be my last pick. WiC is good, single player that is. I have only played a couple multiplayer games, but almost all of them involve the other team picking all armor (maybe one air support) and somehow just tank rush everything. Especially on the mode where you have to capture or defend one point w/e thats called. They just rush in a crap load of tanks and the point is taken...fun.....and you don't even have enough points to call in anything b/c its the beginning of the round.

But the times where its not like that its fun. but i have stopped playing b/c it turned me off.

SoaSE sounds good. I still want to get gal civ and homeworld, and I liked freelancer. So this game should be awesome

You should definately check out the SupCom demo (retail RUNs 100x better). It's storyline isn't as in-depth as Starcraft or Warcraft, but it is 1000x more epic in scale. In no other game will you be able to send 100+ units to completely annihilate your enemies base. Swiftstrike5

Not only that, but the units lack personality and don't seem very interesting. In DoW the units reek creativity and "fluff". This is something i've liked and has been important to me since Warcraft. I like it when units in RTS grab my attention and have a "personality" about them. Makes you appreciate who your fighting for when picking faction sect.

[QUOTE="Swiftstrike5"]You should definately check out the SupCom demo (retail RUNs 100x better). It's storyline isn't as in-depth as Starcraft or Warcraft, but it is 1000x more epic in scale. In no other game will you be able to send 100+ units to completely annihilate your enemies base. Ibrahim17

Not only that, but the units lack personality and don't seem very interesting. In DoW the units reek creativity and "fluff". This is something i've liked and has been important to me since Warcraft. I like it when units in RTS grab my attention and have a "personality" about them. Makes you appreciate who your fighting for when picking faction sect.

If you've tried the demo, and don't like it, I won't try to convince you otherwise. It's only for certain people. Besides DoW and Warcraft, I can't think of any games with "fluff." WiC and CoH have unit ability management, but art detail/storyline isn't as imaginative. I'd just wait until SC2.

Try Supcoms expansion too. It's fantastic. Soulstorm has a demo, try it out, if you like Dawn of War, then I doubt you'll be bored with Soulstorm (and what it's promising.) - for a good taste of DoW without having to go all the way back to number one, just grab "Dark Crusade".

Company of Heroes, if you don't like it, then something's just..not right...

A lot of people are gonna say "The Witcher' but I suggest you do a lot of research into it (and don't look at the Zero Punctuation review, whether you take it seirously or not, he's just an RPG hater lol.) - but anyway, that game isn't for "everyone". Yet, it's my fave. RPG right next to "Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines", try that too.

(if you don't like The Witcher, then, maybe you'll like this game more, it's 20 bucks and just remember, you get what you pay for, but honestly, VTMB is fantastic so you get more then what you pay for, just don't pay too much attention to "graphics" and stuff, like you said, console gaming is shallow so you should know better.).

Oh, and almost all those games have demos, so it's worth a try.

Vampire the Masquerade is amazing. The medieval part of the game (1/2 of the game) was great, then when it turns modern it kinda lost what it had going. Too bad the sequel flopped.

I'm definitely going to give SupCom a try, don't get my wrong. I think i'm just subconsciously associating it with Empire Earth or C&C (games I didn't care for with futuristic armies) and i'm turned off by it. I'll most likely love it on my new comp though.

My most recent PC game is Dark Crusade. I was playing it until my graphics card keeled over last year. My old card was barely good enough to run it, so I could never really enjoy it as much as I could have. I'm really looking forward to when my new comp arrives in a couple weeks. It's going to be a whole new experience.

One good thing that console gamingtaught me, was playing games & being comfortable is great. Therefore i'm hooking my new pc up to my 50"DLP HDMI TV, with a wireless keyboard & mouse setup. I've never seen this done, before so it's going to be insane playing an epic RTS game on my TV.

Company of Heroes, if you don't like it, then something's just..not right...

ElArab

I've been trying to get into company of heroes for a month with no luck, i just dont like it... is there sth wrong with me?

SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE. Forgive the caps, but this game will OWN MY SOUL.TheCrazed420

is it like galciv 2 ? cause it had too much micro management and i missed tactical combat like in master of orion

Company of Heroes you bastards. Company of Heroes.

Oh, and Dawn of War as well, although I don't really think soulstorm is going to be much good.

As a strategy buff I have to say that Company of Heroes is the deepest RTS released to date from a tactical standpoint. The cover/vetrancy/LoS/map design/balance etc. just make any of the other games mentioned end up coming off shallow in comparison.

For games that go deeper into the strategy layer Medival 2/Kingdoms has that in spades but sacrifices the tactical depth CoH has. Sins also looks to be a contender in the strategic level camp though I can't vouch for an unreleased game.

[QUOTE="TheCrazed420"]SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE. Forgive the caps, but this game will OWN MY SOUL.crapdog

is it like galciv 2 ? cause it had too much micro management and i missed tactical combat like in master of orion

The devs have specifically stated that they are really minimizing the amount of micro-ing in this game, keeping it more balanced as a result.

Um, as a strategy buff myself (RTS hardcore gamer). Everything you said above is true, except CoH balance. Although it is improving.100000

If you're referring to the gamereplays.org trolls who claim that any reduction in micro makes a side OP then this is true. I tend to keep with the more moderate folks (also posting up a storm at gamereplays.org) who view micro minimization as a valid playstyle with its own inherent weaknesses. There's no such thing as a perfectly balanced game but the attention to rebalancing aspect that get popular from Relic is encouraging.

If you're referring to the gamereplays.org trolls who claim that any reduction in micro makes a side OP then this is true. I tend to keep with the more moderate folks (also posting up a storm at gamereplays.org) who view micro minimization as a valid playstyle with its own inherent weaknesses. There's no such thing as a perfectly balanced game but the attention to rebalancing aspect that get popular from Relic is encouraging.

No no, I agree, micro for the sake of micro is stupid. But I mean balance overall.

Commandos, marders, firefly, trenches, heroic charge, group zeal, scout car spam, early-tech to Armored cars, early blob of assault grens, mortar pit (brits), ranger spam.

If you're referring to the gamereplays.org trolls who claim that any reduction in micro makes a side OP then this is true. I tend to keep with the more moderate folks (also posting up a storm at gamereplays.org) who view micro minimization as a valid playstyle with its own inherent weaknesses. There's no such thing as a perfectly balanced game but the attention to rebalancing aspect that get popular from Relic is encouraging.

No no, I agree, micro for the sake of micro is stupid. But I mean balance overall.

Commandos, marders, firefly, trenches, heroic charge, group zeal, scout car spam, early-tech to Armored cars, early blob of assault grens, mortar pit (brits), ranger spam.

100000

I'd like to note that you covered quite a few factions and quite a few different types of units in your OP list. All RTS's should be so lucky with the variety in their balance problems.

You also forgot to mention pio spam. :-)

[QUOTE="ElArab"

One good thing that console gamingtaught me, was playing games & being comfortable is great. Therefore i'm hooking my new pc up to my 50"DLP HDMI TV, with a wireless keyboard & mouse setup. I've never seen this done, before so it's going to be insane playing an epic RTS game on my TV.

SamiRDuran

I'm doing the exact same thing lol, just with a 26'' T.V.

It's insane seeing Supcom and Total War on such a big screen.

My most anticipated games are Warhammer Online & Dawn of War 2.Ibrahim17

When's Dawn of war 2 coming????

Fantasy War was extremely nice, turn-base. (Domination Massive Assault like never before is starting to get old, but if you like Fantasy War, you may want to try this one after).

Disciplie III is coming out soon.

Sins of a Solar Empire is seven days off.

If you love Dawn of War - you will be familiar with Relic's other games, yeah? Tried Homeworld?

If you're fond of strategy games as well, you will have probably tried a 4X/TBS game like Civilization or a GalCiv game, right?

Imagine massive, massive maps - on scale with TBS stuff, only it's real time. It's all real time. Giant honking space ships, blasting eachother apart in massive space battles. In massive space.

You know, I don't even like space games all that much, but I've been waiting so long for someone to take a game with the scope of a TBS and make it all real time.

Seven days, people. Seven days.

mfsa

*chants* seven days! seven days! seven days! huzzah! huzzah!

but ya, RTS rule and so do TBS. These are what I like:

-Command and COnquer 3
-Command and Conquer: The First Decade
-Homeworld 1 and 2, and Cataclysm
-Dawn of War plus explansions (perhaps the best expansions ever)
-Company of Heroes
-Supreme Commander is good if you really like to turtle (I do, so I like SupCom)
-Earth 2160 has a good singleplayer campaign, and unit customization is sweet (voiceacting sucks tho)
-World in Conflict has an AWESOME singleplayer (Alec Baldwin, woot!), and multiplayer is very cool and doesnt require huge chunks of time

For turn-based, I like these:

-Shattered Union (basicaly WiC except turn-based, in a sense)
-Galactic Civilizations 2
-Alpha Centauri (oldie but a goodie!)
-Civ 4

If you feel like city builders (ya theyre not strategy but they fill your craving somehow), I recommend these:

-Caesar IV
-Pharoh
-Children of the Nile
-City Life
-Sim City 4