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AI War: Fleet Command

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 7 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 27 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Arcen Games

Developer: Arcen Games

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy, Turn-Based Combat

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)

Release Date: September 1, 2009

Summary

Space-based RTS, single player or up to 8 player co-op. Powerful emergent AI that retreats, probes defenses, and surprises even veterans with intelligent tactics. 30,000+ ships at a time on 10-120 simultaneous planetary battlefields. Different Every Time: 16 billion procedural maps, each with specific units. - A focus on deep strategy with nearly no micromanagement. [Arcen Games]

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Boomtown

Expertly crafted resourcing and development tools prevent stagnation of the game's simple conquest objective, and the sheer scope of ships, maps and difficulty levels – not to mention co-op – is likely to keep this gem afloat for some time. RTS fans rejoice.

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DarkZero

If you are one of those few who enjoy a hardcore experience you will dive into the game and never look back. I applaud the developers of AI War – Fleet Command for the complex system they have created and with a few more updates this game will be close to perfect.

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PC Gamer UK

Excellent space strategy. [Nov 2009, p.90]

Gaming Nexus

All told, AI Wars: Fleet Command is bound to be a delight to any fan of the heavier strategy titles.

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Cheat Code Central

AI War: Fleet Command provides the kind of gameplay depth rarely seen in today's mainstream RTS offerings, and it does so with one dimension tied behind its back.

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AceGamez

There are some minor problems; the graphics are debatable and the size of the game means you can often loose track of what's happening. On the other hand, if you love realistic, complex and thorough space-based real time strategies, purchase this game right now as it is an aspiring space commander's dream.

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Gamer Limit

There is an intuitive and intelligent game to be found, it just takes quite a bit of patience, learning and experience to find it.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Howie G. gave it a3:
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.

Goekhan b gave it a10:
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 aren'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!

deMangler gave it a10:
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.

Leomann gave it a10:
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.

[anonymous] gave it a10:
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.

Josh "Spikey00" Y. gave it a9:
This game focuses on 1-8 player coop, and is really quite the game when you have a spare friend to try it out with you. While it isn't heavy on graphics (has some current-gen backgrounds/etc.), it makes it up with large amounts of ships, both ship types and the amount they can be deployed in, along with some great AI to pair it up. Coincidentally, AI War can run on pretty much any decent computer (including mine) and can do it well--thousands of ships (30K+/10-120 planets) can exist in a single game, and its normal to have a couple thousand on a single planet in combat. The different ship types, combined with their own unique abilities and weapons, creates a diverse experience. The game focuses on the point of "little macro", where your own ships make smart targeting decisions and they never seem to overkill. What do you do in the game? Fight off two customizable enemy AIs that seek to annihilate you, of course! It's why some claim it is a "4X Grand RTS/Tower Defense" because of the scale and diversification between units. While each player begins the game with a different type of ship specialization, along with four base ships, they can always obtain more of these ships through research by acquiring a higher tier level (they have separate unit caps, so you'll usually use T1's even if you have T3). There are other objectives in the game too, such as research raiding (all planets can be 'harvested' for knowledge), and capturing Advanced Research Stations which provide the entire team with a random ship type. The economy in the game works similarly in comparison to modern RTS's: metal, crystal, and energy are the three main currencies of the game. You can acquire more through colonization; however, be warned that the AI will respond in kind when its "AI Progress" increases for either when you destroy certain structures, or do nothing (passive). It begins sending in larger and more frequent waves and cross-planet-attacks, so you always have to plan strategically if you wish to mitigate its efforts against you. Of course, if you are like me, you could capture every single planet and mass up all the different types of turrets to guard the wormholes where units travel through, then annihilate it even further--though your friend might not like it when he/she is not prepared for a thousand+ ships incoming. Teamwork is the key here, and it's always best to play with at least one other friend because there currently isn't a teammate AI to play with--however, suggestions are always being considered by the developer, Chris Park of Arcen Games, and he stays close to the community. Many of these suggestions are implemented into the game, and are notably done with care with respect to the game. Always ready to help answer questions and give his thanks, he is the gem of the game. I say definitely try the game out if you have the time--you can play the demo for three hours in each of your games until you are ready to buy the full game. It doesn't include any DRM--only a simple license key; after consideration, Chris believes people will make the right decision, and treat the players with respect.

zombiemaster gave it an8:
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!

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AI War: Fleet Command

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

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