What a fantastic game -- I am a die-hard fan of the real-time strategy genre, and never thought I'd ever match the goosbumps I got the first time I played Warcraft years ago. Starcraft came close (I still play that game with my brother-in-law online...timeless), Kohan and C&C Red Alert 2 were fun while they lasted, but Battle Realms really does take the cake. Who'd have thought that Ubi Soft, notorious for releasing horribly untested games, would make something as great as BR? True, the game does have a slight tendency to bomb occasionally, but a patch should fix that shortly. BR's 4 clans are extremely well-balanced and unique with special "battle gear" that improves combat acumen. Populations are limited to 30 -- including your peasant class -- and there are built-in discouragements to the rush tactic. I know you don't know me, but trust me: it you've ever liked an RTS game, you owe it to yourself to check out Battle Realms.
The setting and characters of the game are clearly inspired by some of Hong Kong's most spectacular martial arts films--particularly the work of director/choreographer Tsui Hark--as well as some of Japan's action-packed comics and animated films, like the gory and stylishNinja Scroll. The incredible fight sequences featured in last year's film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are also a good frame of reference for what you can expect from the battles in Battle Realms.
First, the game is great. Incredible graphics, superb sound, easy to use interface. The real thing that sets this game apart is the need for real strategy. The landscape makes a big difference in a battle. Archers see farther when on a bluff. Units can't be seen very well when in the forest (although disturbing the birds can give you away). The limit for units is small and the more units you have the slower they are generated (all units start as peseants spawned from their huts) So, unlike other RTS games where even a unskilled player can throw alot of units at an opponent, this game requires you to plan your units and upgrades for maximum effect. The game makes me leave the computer in frustration on occasion, but it keeps calling me back. The sure sign of a great game.
