Regiments

As a person who tried to get into Wargame, this game rocks. It is way more manageable and thus fun. It looks similar to what you expect from grand RTS, but plays differently, in more casual and relaxing way. I haven't played for two weeks, but managed to complete a mission successfully after. Good thing is how game content is planned - campaign consists of operations, each is split into missions, and each mission can be completed during a few phases. That means, that even if you didn't succeed with mission in first try, you can continue that mission where you left of during the next phase. So, basically a task that can be completed tomorrow after you had a good rest. I recommend it if you want a serious game with tanks and stuff, but you are a person with a life.

Yes with a few significant "but" type quirks to consider. For what it is, it is a decent enough WARNO/Wargame alternative... and fortunately there is a demo to try before you buy.... BUT.... The overall approach is a slightly streamlined and simplified version of this type of RTS. In some ways that is quite good, but in others, it can make it start to feel "same-same" the more you play. Overall this is a superb alternative to the Wargame/WARNO... but because of the time limit per battle phase and the general game design focus on time urgency while working with ordinance/unit limitations... the game can start to feel same-same pretty quickly. Try the demo to get a feel for it. I found the maps gave off a kind of flat and small feel about them. The movement impact regarding small hills, forests, rivers, etc. often felt more like a burdan rather than a significant part of the greater tactical puzzle. I'm not saying that is an actual design fact, but you can't escape the immersion impact, or lack of impact, in this aspect of the game design. As cool as that zoomed in look is, I have spent 98% of my time zoomed out simply because there is no time to get up close and personal when the action is going on. During the lulls in the defensive map phases, you also tend to stay zoomed out just for safety. The action packed nature of the video trailer is lost because you do not really have the time to indulge in clever little side/stealth tactics. Having finally started playing the game after the final 1.50 patch.. it is overall very good, but the client definitely does crash. I have had a few crashes within the first 2 minutes of a battle. A few half way through a phase, and most often at the very end of a phase when the battle report appears. Since you can't save mid-battle/phase, these crashes can encourage extreme frustration with the timer system. Each battle phase basically dictates the limited tactical approaches you will be allowed you play with. There are sequentially locked capture battles, ala Battlefield or Arma, that remove any chance of throwing blitzkrieg tactics into the mix. Non sequential offensives can also feel too spread out and random-to-respond to, making a blitz ineffective. Defensive phases are, basically, survive-the-clock scenarios. In some ways the phase approach coupled with the timer limit can often feel like it kills a lot of your tactical choices. One strange thing I found was changing battle speed... it does not alter the speed of the timer.. or if it is supposed to, it did not for me. So x2 speed simply meant faster movement and combat... which then makes you question what the value of a x0.25 speed would be when the clock still ticks down in real time. Aside from some of the more painful survival defensive phases, rapid movement and combat is what you need to move across the map. But if you really want to take a moment to shuffle multiple orders around, you are always better off just pausing the game and issue a string of commands while in stasis. If you're a hardcore Wargame/WARNO gamer, this is 100% worth exploring. It is different enough to be worth your time. But, if you have a broader RTS set of tastes that are perhaps more grounded in you're old fashioned Blizzard/C&C or Dawn of War style RTS, Regiments can feel a bit limiting. If you're a hardcore Total War'er... unit responsiveness and the general accuracy of combat engagements will likely feel too vague and "not in your control." BUT... try the demo and you will know for certain. DRM-free, Demo available, and a straightforward Singleplayer focused experience with an AI opponent that isn't absolutely tarded or obviously cheating... runs cleanly on an ultra wide triple monitor setup (total overkill though). Plenty of boxes ticked to earn apositive response, even if the quirks don't quite fulfill your personal RTS needs.