Turn based strategy/war games...

Jas1975

Jas1975

Jas1975

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Ok - was hit by a bit of nostalgia today when I found an ancient PC magazine advertising Battle Isle 2 (amazing game, spent days on it). Are there any modern-day type equivalents of turn based war games or is it a dead genre now?

Any recommendations? Retail or online?
 
There was this awesome game I used to play about 10 years ago, but I can't remember what it was called.

You built cities and units, kinda like dune, but it was all top-down map view, and was turn based.

Futuristic, like air units and the like, but I can't remember anything else about it :(
 
Cheers for the suggestions people - keep 'em coming!

Am frantically ripping apart boxes as I know somewhere I still have my copy of Space Hulk.
 
Jagged Alliance 2 - on Steam or Good Old Games.

A superb turn-based team shooter, similar (but better, IMO) than the original X-COM games, with a good storyline and some interesting 'team morale' features where your characters chat to one another as you go. Several on the characters are loosely based on film characters (Mel Gibson and Arnie notably). The interface is a little clunky at first, but the weapon selection is highly detailed and realistic, and the combat becomes frighteningly addictive once you figure out how to blow open the sides of buildings and take pot-shots at the enemies knocked over inside. Tear gassing a room and entering three turns later armed with gas masks is great fun :)

It's criminally under-rated and deserves a look.
 
I don't know if this is the sort of war game you're looking for because of its science fiction setting, but Galactic Civilizations 2 would be a possibility.

Apart from that I strongly second the Jagged Allaince 2 sugggestion.
 
Age of Wonders is worth a look.
The lastest one *Shadow magic" has a good (and huge) fan-patch as well.
You start with a hero wizard and a modent wizards tower and have to build units, conquer cities, research magic etc..
I like the high-lvel domain spells which gradually turn any territory you claim into lanscape based on your spell speciality, such as an undead wasteland, firery desert or lush forests (if you're a pansy goody teo-shoes elf lover)
 
krooton said:
There was this awesome game I used to play about 10 years ago, but I can't remember what it was called.

You built cities and units, kinda like dune, but it was all top-down map view, and was turn based.

Futuristic, like air units and the like, but I can't remember anything else about it :(
Click to expand...

Alpha Centauri?
 
Cogwork said:
Age of Wonders is worth a look.
The lastest one *Shadow magic" has a good (and huge) fan-patch as well.
You start with a hero wizard and a modent wizards tower and have to build units, conquer cities, research magic etc..
I like the high-lvel domain spells which gradually turn any territory you claim into lanscape based on your spell speciality, such as an undead wasteland, firery desert or lush forests (if you're a pansy goody teo-shoes elf lover)
Click to expand...

Shadowmagic was a very good game, kind of reminiscent of the old microprose game Master of Magic. The Heroes of Might and Magic series is another good turn based series if you like fantasy.
 
I got quite into HOMMV but it is so slooooow. And with such limited units per battle and small arena after awhile fights seem to get repetative.
 
Ooh, just thought of another odd one - "Shadow Watch".

You have a small squad of 6 and can take 3 into any level. There is a semi-randomised campaign tree with semi-randomised plot.

Each character levels up, but interesting part is each character has fixed equipment and skill options.
For example "Archer has a smg that has long range but limited arc of fire, and leadership buff skills ". "Bear" has a shotgun with T shape arc and kick down doors etc. Each character has very specific role, so it plays a bit like a chess, and choosing what 3 to take is very important.
AI is actually quite sneaky too.
 
Heroes of Might and Magic III specifically. 4 was rubbish, not sure about 5.

Shadow Magic sounds interesting, will have to try to dig up a copy.
 
Should have explained that it's a turn-based tactical shooter type thing.
Each level is a building filled with goons and a specific goal such as rescue hostage, steal something, or just kill everyone. Stealth ones are a bitch as you have to make sure no guards set off any alarm.
it also has a cartoony cel-shaded look with very limited pallete which looks good despite it's age.
 
One that I've had for many a year - The Operational Art of War (TOAW)

Latest revision is version 3 - available from Matrix Games can be found here:

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/317/details/Norm.Koger's.The.Operational.Art.of.War.III

Wiki info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Operational_Art_of_War

Its basically world war 2 and beyond turn based combat - some great realism, I've just recently bought the version 3 - still getting used to the new engine.

Personally I love the TOAW 1 original engine, even thought it did have some interesting quirks. Might be hard to find a copy these days though.

Hope that helps ya!
 
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