KnightShift

Refreshed childhood classic that, thankfully, still delivers. Despite being over 20 years old, it remains highly playable. The main content – three RTS campaigns – is excellent. Missions are varied, generally well-paced, and while some sections can be challenging, they never feel unfair. I’m not an RTS veteran, yet I managed to finish the campaigns on the highest difficulty without too much frustration. What really hooked me was the progression system. Missions aren’t isolated – you carry over loot, upgrades, and some of your units between them. All controllable characters are named, gain experience, and level up. Combat units can equip new gear, whether purchased through upgrades or found via loot and exploration. These light RPG elements make you more attached to your army – suddenly one infantryman isn’t just the same as any other. The balance is solid; every unit has its role, and there are no obvious “do-it-all” types. Technically, the game holds up well, aside from a pretty ugly UI. I ended up dropping the RPG campaigns. They feel rushed and unpolished, more like a quickly made mod than a finished product. Maybe some people enjoy them, but with so many good hack-and-slash games available today, it’s hard to justify spending time there. Years ago, when we had fewer options, I probably would’ve appreciated it more. Now it just feels like a wasted opportunity – a rotten cherry on an otherwise great cake. Overall, it’s a very solid pick for people who, like me, have avoided RTS games for years. There’s only one resource to manage, so the economic layer is as simple as it gets, letting you focus on what’s more interesting: planning and executing your strategy in each scenario.