Looking for Myth-style combat strategy game without tedious economic/resource development
April 18, 2007 10:41 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for a battle strategy game in the tradition of the Myth series (or the old-school game "Siege"). Interested in troop movement and in-battle tactics, NOT maintaining economy/resources, spawning units, buildings, etc. (Warcraft didn't interest me when I tried it many years ago).
I've seen similar questions on Metafilter but the responses never quite match what I'm looking for.
I prefer fantasy-style, but I'd be willing to try something more realistic or even futuristic.
I've tried Medieval:Total War and it seems pretty close to what I'm looking for, but not quite it--it just wasn't as much *fun* and I found it hard to control accurately. Is it worth trying one of the other TW games, or are they all basically the same from a gameplay point of view?
Things I liked about Myth: control over individual troops with unique skills, story-driven campaign with various challenging battle scenarios, surviving troops continue from battle to battle and become "veterans," etc.
Can you recommend any other games where the primary focus is combat strategy, without getting bogged down in resource management?
I've seen similar questions on Metafilter but the responses never quite match what I'm looking for.
I prefer fantasy-style, but I'd be willing to try something more realistic or even futuristic.
I've tried Medieval:Total War and it seems pretty close to what I'm looking for, but not quite it--it just wasn't as much *fun* and I found it hard to control accurately. Is it worth trying one of the other TW games, or are they all basically the same from a gameplay point of view?
Things I liked about Myth: control over individual troops with unique skills, story-driven campaign with various challenging battle scenarios, surviving troops continue from battle to battle and become "veterans," etc.
Can you recommend any other games where the primary focus is combat strategy, without getting bogged down in resource management?
If you're willing to pick up a DS or Game Boy Advance (or, ahem, emulate), you should try Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the Advance Wars series, and the Fire Emblem series. These are all turn-based rather than real-time, but Fire Emblem especially sounds pretty close to what you're looking for.
posted by aparrish at 11:53 PM on April 18, 2007
posted by aparrish at 11:53 PM on April 18, 2007
You could give Warhammer: Mark of Chaos a try. I haven't played it, but it seems to be a similar type of game as you're looking for: real-time strategy with no economy. There's a demo available.
You could also try a demo of Rome: Total War. The engine has gotten quite a bit more sophisticated since the original Medieval. I haven't played Medieval II, but it was generally critically acclaimed.
If you're looking at old turn-based tactics games, I would highly recommend Shining Force and Shining Force II. They are still my favorite examples of the Japanese style unit tactics genre.
You might also be interested in Full Spectrum Warrior, which is sort of an action small scale real-time strategy game.
posted by demiurge at 12:04 AM on April 19, 2007
You could also try a demo of Rome: Total War. The engine has gotten quite a bit more sophisticated since the original Medieval. I haven't played Medieval II, but it was generally critically acclaimed.
If you're looking at old turn-based tactics games, I would highly recommend Shining Force and Shining Force II. They are still my favorite examples of the Japanese style unit tactics genre.
You might also be interested in Full Spectrum Warrior, which is sort of an action small scale real-time strategy game.
posted by demiurge at 12:04 AM on April 19, 2007
In the RTS genre, Ground Control and Ground Control 2 have essentially no economic aspects at all. Just battle tactics.
posted by Nelson at 12:22 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by Nelson at 12:22 AM on April 19, 2007
Warhammer Mark of Chaos have all you want: an interesting campaign, veteran troops, etc. The campaign it's not better or worse then other things based on GW games, however, then don't expect a good story.
I still haven't tried it, but even the multiplayer it's interesting: in pure warhammer style, you build an army list for your army based on the number or points the map you're playing it's based on.
World in Conflict is another interesting game (Q3 2007 they say): made by the Ground Control team, with no resources management and 80's music!
posted by darkripper at 2:02 AM on April 19, 2007
I still haven't tried it, but even the multiplayer it's interesting: in pure warhammer style, you build an army list for your army based on the number or points the map you're playing it's based on.
World in Conflict is another interesting game (Q3 2007 they say): made by the Ground Control team, with no resources management and 80's music!
posted by darkripper at 2:02 AM on April 19, 2007
You know that if you still have your myth cds, Myth 2 is still actively supported by these guys: http://projectmagma.net/
You can still play online at www.playmyth.net I recommend it highly.
posted by OldReliable at 5:06 AM on April 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
You can still play online at www.playmyth.net I recommend it highly.
posted by OldReliable at 5:06 AM on April 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Its not really in the Myth style, but I found Field Commander for the PSP to be a fun RTS which doesn't include the bog down of the economics. I also second the Advance Wars series. Really excellent games. Have you tried the new Command & Conquer for the PC too?
posted by tundro at 5:55 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by tundro at 5:55 AM on April 19, 2007
Battle for Wesnoth is a really nice FREE turn-based strategy game for Windows and OSX (and they are working on Wii and PS3 versions).
Has:
- control over individual troops with unique skills
- story-driven campaign with various challenging battle scenarios
- surviving troops continue from battle to battle and become "veterans"
Also has:
- really steep (for me) difficulty scale -- first three (or so) missions are super easy, after that almost impossible.
- some resource management-y stuff (choosing what troop type to build, making sure troops you want to level up get more kills, etc) but it is not onerous.
And hey it's free, so try it!
posted by Rock Steady at 6:39 AM on April 19, 2007
Has:
- control over individual troops with unique skills
- story-driven campaign with various challenging battle scenarios
- surviving troops continue from battle to battle and become "veterans"
Also has:
- really steep (for me) difficulty scale -- first three (or so) missions are super easy, after that almost impossible.
- some resource management-y stuff (choosing what troop type to build, making sure troops you want to level up get more kills, etc) but it is not onerous.
And hey it's free, so try it!
posted by Rock Steady at 6:39 AM on April 19, 2007
You might like Age of Empires (or Age of Mythology). But, like the Total War series, there is a focus on economies and resource management. However, in both series I seem to remember there being an AI option to manage your resources for you.
The Total War series (Shogun, Medieval I & II, and Rome) is the gold standard for battle map troop combat. Other games aren't going to have the depth that it has with unit vulnerabilities, positional advantage, and formation tactics. I urge you to try them out again.
It's the difference between:
Typical game: Train unit, group units, travel to enemy base and watch them kill or be killed as they meet resistance. Rinse. Repeat.
Total war: Harass the enemy's weak frontline units with a cantambrian circle of mounted javalineers while your heavy cavalry position themselves on a left flank. The dead on the field spook the enemy, even though they outnumber you. When the lines meet, the cav. charge in wedge formation and send a cascade of panic through the enemy line. You cackle maniacally as they rout and are chased down like dogs.
It's deeper gameplay.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:01 AM on April 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
The Total War series (Shogun, Medieval I & II, and Rome) is the gold standard for battle map troop combat. Other games aren't going to have the depth that it has with unit vulnerabilities, positional advantage, and formation tactics. I urge you to try them out again.
It's the difference between:
Typical game: Train unit, group units, travel to enemy base and watch them kill or be killed as they meet resistance. Rinse. Repeat.
Total war: Harass the enemy's weak frontline units with a cantambrian circle of mounted javalineers while your heavy cavalry position themselves on a left flank. The dead on the field spook the enemy, even though they outnumber you. When the lines meet, the cav. charge in wedge formation and send a cascade of panic through the enemy line. You cackle maniacally as they rout and are chased down like dogs.
It's deeper gameplay.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:01 AM on April 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Commandos and its early sequels sound a bit like what you're looking for (except for the fantasy part). They are sort of part tactical, part puzzle, and very very involved. I don't like puzzle games, but my old housemate used to play them for hours on end.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 7:21 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 7:21 AM on April 19, 2007
Seconding Battle for Wesnoth - I'm completely addicted to that game. It's turn-based, which I like better, although some hate that style of play. Definitely try it though - amazing game, especially considering it's free.
Another nice feature is that other players have created a lot of "unofficial" campaigns that you can download and play from their server, many of which are very good - will give you hours and hours of entertainment.
posted by chundo at 7:55 AM on April 19, 2007
Another nice feature is that other players have created a lot of "unofficial" campaigns that you can download and play from their server, many of which are very good - will give you hours and hours of entertainment.
posted by chundo at 7:55 AM on April 19, 2007
Also, RockSteady, the Wii / PS3 thing was an April Fool's joke. The bastards.
posted by chundo at 7:57 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by chundo at 7:57 AM on April 19, 2007
Damn, I knew that sounded too good to be true. I thought maybe web-based somehow, or Virtual Console? Oh well, easy come easy go. Any specific recommendations for user campaigns?
posted by Rock Steady at 8:24 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by Rock Steady at 8:24 AM on April 19, 2007
Thirding Wesnoth.
I'd gladly pay for it. But it's free! So what have you to lose?
posted by jammer at 10:14 AM on April 19, 2007
I'd gladly pay for it. But it's free! So what have you to lose?
posted by jammer at 10:14 AM on April 19, 2007
The Sid Meier games Gettysburg! and Antietam! are completely tactical, Civil War reenactment games. No resource management, and historical to boot.
I also loved the Close Combat series. The sensation of having realistic "command" over your troops instead of godlike powers over them is unparalleled in any other game. It does tend to play itself at times, since troops will (and should) fire on baddies that they see. The later versions introduce a small, but manageable resource management element.
Both these are old PC game series, so hardware shouldn't be an issue. Finding good copies may be harder, though.
posted by meowzilla at 10:17 AM on April 19, 2007
I also loved the Close Combat series. The sensation of having realistic "command" over your troops instead of godlike powers over them is unparalleled in any other game. It does tend to play itself at times, since troops will (and should) fire on baddies that they see. The later versions introduce a small, but manageable resource management element.
Both these are old PC game series, so hardware shouldn't be an issue. Finding good copies may be harder, though.
posted by meowzilla at 10:17 AM on April 19, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Zaire4Ever32 at 11:35 PM on April 18, 2007