Why arent more games like Dark Reign?

oxygene

oxygene

oxygene

Soldato
Joined
20 Aug 2004
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Ok ignoring the rubbish that was Dark Reign 2 I've been thinking about how much I enjoyed the original lately. And then I realised just how much is in this game that modern games havent managed to add. Theres ways to set the indiividual AI of the units to scout or harass or search and destroy enemies (yes none or two RTS games have a scout feature), you could use scout units disguised as inanimate objects to watch your enemy (stealth units have taken over this roll in most games now but all base defences can see them), and you had methods of modifying the terrain to make it easier for vehicles to travel over, or harder (very few games have terrain alteration). The artillery was a genius idea too imo. Very long range but very week, needing scouting and such. Giving the enemy time to find your scout or destroy badly protected units. Plus ofc there was the ability to play either side in any mission, which has only recently been added to stuff like RA3.
I really did enjoy Dark Reign, more then total annihilation of the time, and cant understand why so many RTS games have regressed as regards AI and terrain altering technology!
 
Dark Reign was a great game, but if I remember rightly it was released the same time as Total Annilation and was completley overshadowed by it.
 
Indeed, and I hated total A for a long while because of that. Thyey even camew on the same demo disc From pc gamer!
 
You've just reminded me I have an unplayed copy of dark reign 2 somewhere. Bought it as part of a compilation that I wanted cos it had Homeworld - Cataclysm in it.

Is it rubbish then or worth a look?
 
Dark Reign was very tough if I remember, it required good tactics and mixed units instead of CnC tank rush. Also, it was one of the few games that started terrain based fog of war, where higher elevation allowed better distance and range on the map.
 
Dark Reign was very fun, wish i had a copy of it somewhere. DR2 was still a good game imo though, might install it later to have some fun.
 
From memory now I do recall one small problem with the game which was otherwise an annoyance. The minimap didnt stretch to the size of the world. If the world was bigger the minimap had to scroll at the edges.
 
Freedom Guard got a little too overpowered what with the morphing, phasing, shockwave tank (goodbye base if you let it get close enough to activate) and cheap aircraft (sky bikes). Still, it was entertaining back in the day, tough SP campaign too.
 
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