Great game, if you have the patience to learn it. As others have mentioned, the learning curve is steep. There are tutorials, and forums, and wikis and instructions, and you will need to reference them all many times to get a real sense of what is going on. In a nutshell, make progress, but don't cheese the AI off too much or you will die. You have to always be aware of the AI's progress meter.

The fun is in seeing how far you can push the AI before that happens, and if you get really good, you will win a game or two. If you can't stand losing, this is not your game. If you find losing is a part of the learning experience, you will enjoy this game.… Expand

What an absolutely brilliant game. AI War presents the player an impressive and even daunting challenge in a way I have never yet experienced before in an RTS. The one main reason why I love this game so much? It boils down to the decisions the player gets to make... a multitude of tough decisions that actually make a difference... and there are no right answers. Dislike micromanagement? The game design has your back. Or maybe you love micromanagement... manage away! The diverse array of strategies, tactics, weaponry, tech, etc. as well as a near infinite number of maps, game options, etc. will ensure that every game is not only different, but that every game will contain DEPTH. You will lose to the AI... a lot. This game puts the pain in growing pains, but it also makes success so so sweet. The expansions are a must. I highly suggest you read the Arcen AI War Wiki for getting started tips. There is so much to absorb and even after 50 hours of play I'm still learning. Chris Parks did a phenomenal job and I hope he continues to make such fantastic games... and ultimately I hope we keep seeing expansions for AI War. Worth every single penny spent, plus more.… Expand

A bit complex at first, but the tutorial open you the doors to a world of pure strategy. The AI is really astounding (starting at difficulty level 7, which is considered where the real game begins) The game is coop-directed, so even if it can be appreciated in solo, you will only increase the fun exponentially to the number of friend you grab. Even more, ArcenGames supports feedback from the community; the game now can hardly be compared to what it was at the beginning. RTS lovers got to try the demo.… Expand

AI War takes real time strategy to the extreme. I managed to make it through the tutorial and am now able to grasp the basic elements of structures and squads. It's a tremendous amount of detail, highly complex, and overwhelming for just about anyone, especially novices to this genre. Looking underneath all the complexity, one can clearly see the fundamental RTS elements: gather resources, build structures, create a military, and kill your opponent. It just takes place on a much grander scale than most.

The game is quite intimidating because of the sheer number of options, the busy HUD, and the non intuitive user interface, but the game allows total control over every intricate detail and that is truly where the game's strength lies. You have the freedom to control ANYTHING. I can clearly see the long term enjoyment at this early stage, but it will take a lot of patience, persistence, and dedication to get there. Fair warning--this is not a game that offers instant gratification.… Expand

Although one of the more confusing games on the market, once you wrap your head around it, you will find it to be one of the deepest RTS games that you are likely to play.

this game is not for anyone who wants quick strategy games. the trial on steam allows 3 hours on each game and sounds like a lot, but you won't even get past 1/4th of the game. unless you're a superhuman with unholy management skills you wont have a problem with finding a challenge in this game. i personally love this game, but i can see why it's not for everyone. you should probably download the demo just to see whether or not it's the right kind of game.… Expand

This game works almost entirely because it throws away the standard RTS convention of trying to make the AI players act like human players. The AI in this game is an AI. It acts like an AI. It's deliberately designed to play differently then a human. As a result, a lot of the stupid cheating that other games do in order to make the AI a challenge while giving it the human's rules don't exist here. The AI is not playing with the same rules you are, but it is playing a well defined set of rules. Exploiting the AI isn't cheesy in this game, it's virtually required on higher difficulty (and not as easy as it sounds, the AI gets pretty mean). The goal is to beat the AI while taking as few planets as possible, because the more you take the more aggressive the AI gets in response. Graphics are nothing to write home about. Soundtrack is good. Ship selection is good, and insanely huge if you have the expansions. Any serious RTS fan should give this one a try.… Expand

AI Wars does not shine with graphics. AI Wars does not shine with its interface. And AI War certainly did not reinvent the "build up army and then mow down the enemy" genre.

AI Wars shines with its AI (the name of the game kinda gives that focus away). An AI that learns from you. An AI that you have to beat again and again, just 'cause you got it once does not mean that the same strategy will work again. Or that it will work anymore later in the game when the AI found out how you play and adapts. If you notice a plan works too well, it could well be that the AI lets you "win" a few non critical planets and think that your idea is great, only to set the trap for you on one of the more important key systems.

Another thing that makes AI interesting is that you can't simply use the steamroller tactics that often give you the edge in such games, i.e. mass your forces and roll over the enemy, build a new front line, roll forwards... If you do that, you already lost because the AI gets more powerful depending on how many systems you invade and "liberate". Every time you take over a key system, you "give" the AI more "progress", which translates into more power it may use against you.

In general an awesome game that only has one sore point: Multiplayer. No, it is actually stunning in multiplayer (seriously, playing this game with a few people is just plain awesome), since you co-op against the AI. What blows is that the game comes without any tool whatsoever for matchmaking. So either you have a few friends you play with or you can only hope to find someone on their boards that might want to play at the same time as you do, you talk it out and agree on a time... no "lobby" system to connect to and hop into a game with some other random player who wants to give it a spin.

But if you and your friends happen to like challenging, co-op RTS games with a very challenging AI, by all means this is a great game!… Expand

By a long way, the best RTS I have played in years. The learning curve is pretty steep - The tutorial does not cover a lot of important information, but there are comprehensive guides on the wiki that explains whats going on, and the other players on the forums are very friendly to newbies. There is no better 'co-op vs the AI' style game out there, especially with the ability to save and resume games, and add or remove players mid-game. Puts high-budget games to shame.… Expand

This game is mind blowing in scope. Simply put, nothing quite like this has ever been released before. The AI is intelligent and can be both reactive and aggressive depending on situation and settings. The combat scale is beyond anything, though thinking 'Supreme Commander' will help you understand what I'm talking about. A must play for any serious RTS player.

Maybe I'm a complete idiot or something but I can't wrap my brain around this game. I've played for many hours and the instant I leave my home system I get obliterated every time by the AI even on the easiest setting. Seriously. I can't even dent them as if the game is bugged or something and they walk over me like I've got my head stuffed in a baboon's backside... Most of the time I can barely comprehend what's going on and the sheer amount of management required to even get the ball rolling is overwhelming. Keeping track of what's going on in just one system is difficult and if I had ever succeeded in capturing another my overtaxed (and admittedly tiny) brain would probably have exploded... I don't really like this game much. Way way to much to keep (and lose) track of.… Expand

At first I had some concerns regarding to the game. But after trying the demo, I immediately picked up the game. And I'm loving it. They'll soon implement a system for matchmaking, but till then, I recommend you using Steam AI War chat or irc to find some others to play. Later on in the game, you and your buddies need to develop plans in order to take the AI down. There aren9;t much games that combines 4X, RTS, TD together, so if you have concerns, give it a shot. I'm sure if you like any of the game types described above, you'll like it. If you are a TD player, you can take a defensive role on the border planets for example. As a RTS player, you can lead the battles. As a 4X player, you can develop the plans, which planets to take/leave and so on. Just give it a try, you won't be disappointed!… Expand

This has to by the only game I have ever given a 10/10. It completely lacks that 'something is missing here...again...' feeling that I get whenever I play any other strategy game. Somehow, in it's low-budget way it delivers on it's promise and exeeds not only my (somewhat lowered) expectations but manages to remind me what I was always looking for in this genre.... THIS! I want the developers babies, only they would probably just engage in practicing unexpected strategic flanking excersises behind my back and then look all innocent when I turn around. Anyway, as I said, 10/10.… Expand

This is a rare gem of a game, pure and simple. It demonstrates all the allure of an Indie game by staying true to what it wants to achieve rather than opting for maximum flashiness, and the result is exactly what it's supposed to be: an awesomely hardcore strategy game. Its non-bleeding edge graphics allow you to fight in truly epic battles against what is possibly one of the most advanced A.I's seen to date, and its mechanics are meticulously crafted, unhindered by unessential garbage that usually takes up system resources. For those that are seeking a true strategic and intellectual challenge on a wide range of systems, this game is nothing less than a miracle.… Expand

This game is by far the most annoying game ever made. After 5 games with me and my friends the AI learned how to do and counter most of my friends strategies... I love it, finally an AI that thinks and makes me think too.

Good gameplay, awesome AI. Takes time to learn, but worth the investment. Some of my friends couldnt handle the simplistic 2d graphics, but for me, once i saw 1000 ships moving out, i think it was well worth the tradeoff (graphics vs units onscreen). Recommended for RTS fans!

I bought this game off of Steam last week. I have never played an rts game in my life before I tried this game. The tutorials and videos make everything so easy to learn and although one round takes many hours to play the time will just fly by. AI War has tons of settings you can change so the game is how you want it each time. It's a good multiplayer experience if you can find a partner. The support for this game is awesome. I've gotten answers to my questions and more from the IRC and the forums of Arcen Games.… Expand

A very interesting and fresh look at the RTS genre. At first this looks like a Sins of a Solar Empire Clone (in itself not a bad thing) but then it develops into a whole lot more. For a start the player has an asymetric relation with the computer; your opponent owns the whole galaxy and is quite capable of wiping the player(s) out immediately. Of course, it accounts for this by replicating alert levels for the computer, allowing the player to run lightning raids on important installations, possibly crippling the AI's means of reinforcements in a particular area, preparing it for a full scale assault. All this in additions to it being a wonderful multiplayer experience makes it well worth a purchase.… Expand

Had my first 7 hour campaign with a friend last night, great fun, very deep and involved gameplay, and a pretty fantastic AI, even when playing on the lowest level. Please note, this game takes a little effort to get into, but it is very much worth it.

One of the best RTS games I ever played. Not much in way of graphics, but gameplay before graphics, and this game has amazing gameplay.

Kinda easy to learn if you really want to understand it, hard to master as the AI seems to always be one step ahead of you and it all has a feeling to it that no other game yet can provide. The only downpoint is the extremely outdated graphics, even though they add some strange nostalgic feeling to the game. Still its worth a try, considering the price and additional free content each month, the extreme replayability and inventive co-op management. Beats most of the warcraft 3 or AOE clones with ease...… Expand

The AI doesn't really shine unless you hit standard difficulty levels (Difficulty level 7) and that can be a bit misleading. However, when you hit that level, you will be amazed by how challenging and fun the game can be.

Imagine Civilization in real-time, but without micromanagement. Executed really well. Incredibly good support and updates. The only downside for me is that the game is a bit on the technical side - learn which ship costs how much, how much damage it does, etc.

An amazing game. The learning curve is longer than many modern games, but far from being too long, and 100% worth it. AI War is the best RTS I have ever played, and happens to be 100% my favorite gametype: Coop. Long, deep in strategy, and hooked with great AI, this game was one of my very few game purchases this year.

Long learning curve. If you don't mind spending a lot of time reading explanations (in-game or on the wiki), the game is great. If you're looking for a lighter game, this is not it.