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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Anciet Wars: Sparta is based on the history of the ancient ages and their main nations. Spartans, Persians and Egyptians are fighting for influence around Little Asia, Europe and North Africa. Historical correct timeline is 700-300 BC and the action takes place with different campaigns for all three races. Sparta represents 3D strategy in real time with the new developed Ancient Wars Engine (AWE), where the player will have to use each nation’s powers to be superior over other competitors and build up a driving and ruling faction. The main emphasis is on large-scaled battles and complex tactical manoeuvres. Additional to this, a new method of army equipment is represented. Warriors can be equipped with weapons and shields, can be put on horses or on chariots and be given special abilities. The player can collect abandoned weapons after battles or import powerful weapons from other cultures to build more powerful and different special units. Additionally the forces of nature are very important, because fire, find etc. will affect the whole environment. Cities can be upgraded (e.g. turned to fortresses), workers gather resources to ensure the economic part. [Playlogic]
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... 78
PC Format
It may not be particularly beautiful to look at, but it's tactical and challenging enough to keep you occupied. [June 2007, p.64]
75
GameShark
A game with a different and effective spin on an old idea.
 72
PC Zone UK
Wannabe "Age of Empires". [July 2007, p.82]
70
Gamers Europe
If you stick with it, though, and you don't mind your games on the slow but strategic side, you should find a fun and inventive title hiding under all the faults.
70
Game Over Online
Lacking. It lacks original gameplay. It lacks excitement. It lacks anything that might set it apart from any number of entirely uninspiring RTS games that have come out in the last 2 years. And most of all, it lacks the level of interest required to have me write another word about it.
68
PC Gamer
Sparta doesn't have much meat on its bones - we've all been there and done that, just maybe not as Spartans. [Sept 2007, p.62]
63
Worth Playing
A very generic RTS game. It's graphically appealing, but in terms of gameplay, there are many better RTS offerings out there.
63
GameSpot
Don't expect any grand, over-the-top treatment of Spartan history, as Sparta: Ancient Wars is a very generic real-time strategy game.
60
IGN
None of the presentation, unit design, tactical options, or factions were interesting enough to capture my attention and when an RTS junkie like me doesn't want to jump back in for another skirmish, there's definitely a lack of substance, style, or both.
60
PC Gamer UK
Grossly predictable. [June 2007, p.84]
60
GameZone
If you want to jump in with the current "300-craze" and play it your way - this will sate your cravings with no regrets. However, if you have a shelf of BC themed RPG titles, you won't feel like you have anything new.
59
GamingExcellence
However, it hasn’t been patched yet, six months after its release, so it’s unlikely it ever will be. Sadly, this game is thus doomed to end up in the bargain bin.
59
Game Chronicles
A by-the-numbers RTS that offers few surprises.
52
Cheat Code Central
There really isn't a lot going on in Ancient Wars: Sparta in terms of strategy. That said, it's not an easy game to play, but you have to play by a specific set of rules - rules that would rather have you collecting resources than employing strategies on the battlefield.
50
Ferrago
Given the intriguing nature of the narrative and the potential for development in such a plot, it's surprising to see such a bland title. 300 offered a glimpse of what could have been created with a little imagination and it is a shame that Ancient Wars - Sparta, despite the innovative unit management system, fails to deliver overall.
50
AceGamez
For a brief play it serves a purpose well enough, but if you really want to get the most out of this exciting period of ancient combat then you'll want to wait until something more inspired comes along, because Ancient Wars is just a bit too spartan to give you the experience that you are hoping for.
48
Strategy Informer
If you have the sheer will power to push on through the vast mire of early drudgeries, there are jewels to be found buried deep within Ancient Wars: Sparta, but whether you’ll still be motivated enough to really enjoy them is another matter.
40
EuroGamer
Instead of the kind of solid, varied combat which the RTS genre has been steadily evolving towards over the years, Ancient Wars: Sparta falls back on resource management for its core gameplay. Distressingly, this is a sub-"Age Of Empires" affair which rapidly becomes a chore.
40
Sydney Morning Herald
There's no option to edit the keyboard layout; the way your soldiers navigate the terrain can be erratic; tight map designs feel tactically restrictive; building armies is a slow process; and the overall presentation is extremely rough around the edges, including clumsy dialogue and grainy cut-scenes. "Total War" or "Supreme Commander" are better options.
40
Games Radar
A slower, less colorful Age of Empires. None of the research trees make much sense (you need to go through multiple steps just to get a spearman) and by the time you get to the cool weapons like scythed chariots and elephants you won’t care very much.
40
G4 TV
Ancient Wars: Sparta just isn’t an enjoyable game. The only reason it’s not getting one star is because technically, the game is very proficient and quite polished.
Alex Q. gave it a10: Tristan H. gave it a1: Stu M. gave it a3: Aaron P. gave it a10: Sam A. gave it an8: Joe M. gave it a3: |
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