AI War: Fleet Command

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In AI War: Fleet Command, you lead a small human resistance force against an AI overlord that has defeated humanity in a brutal war. With faster ships and automated defenses, your mission is to outsmart and defeat the AI subcommanders, avoiding detection by central processing until it's too late. This challenging real-time strategy game demands strategic thinking and careful resource management to overcome overwhelming odds.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,204 reviews

gameplay51 positive mentions

graphics37 negative mentions

AI War: Fleet Command offers a deeply complex and rewarding experience, with one of the most original and engaging AI systems in the RTS genre.
The game features a unique asymmetrical gameplay where players must strategize carefully to avoid provoking the AI, which grows stronger as players expand their territory.
The cooperative mode adds an extra layer of strategy and fun, allowing players to work together against a formidable AI opponent.

The steep learning curve and lackluster tutorial can be daunting for new players, making it difficult to grasp the game's mechanics.
The user interface is often described as clunky and overwhelming, which can detract from the overall experience.
The graphics are dated and simplistic, which may turn off players looking for a more visually appealing game.

gameplay
201 mentions
25 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its deep mechanics and strategic complexity, offering a unique blend of real-time strategy, tower defense, and 4X elements. While the steep learning curve and unintuitive interface can be daunting, players who invest time in understanding the mechanics find a rewarding and engaging experience, particularly with the dynamic AI and extensive customization options. Despite its dated graphics, the gameplay depth and variety, along with the potential for cooperative play, make it a compelling choice for strategy enthusiasts.
- “The ability to customize your approach and develop unique strategies adds a layer of personalization that keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
- “Its engaging gameplay, massive scale, and strategic depth make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
- “The gameplay is solid, the AI is superb, and after the initial hump, the interface is comfortable.”
- “I found myself relying heavily on external guides to grasp the game's mechanics, which was a bit of a letdown.”
- “The game looks and feels amateurish and cheap, and its mechanics are weird and dumb.”
- “Where the game is weak is the game mechanics are poorly explained when you start out, the interface design is highly unintuitive and rather ugly, and the overall graphics just passable.”
graphics
177 mentions
20 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The graphics of "AI War: Fleet Command" are widely regarded as outdated and simplistic, often described as minimalistic 2D visuals that do not impress by modern standards. While some players find the graphics unappealing and a barrier to entry, many agree that the game's depth and strategic complexity more than compensate for its visual shortcomings. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in facilitating gameplay, allowing for large-scale battles without significant performance issues, but they may deter those seeking a visually stunning experience.
- “The graphics may not be top notch, but you forget about that 10 minutes in once you realize how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
- “Don't let the graphics fool you; this game is one of the deepest rock-paper-scissors games you will ever play.”
- “While the graphics are somewhat lacking, the AI is insanely hard on the max settings.”
- “The graphics are not something to behold anymore because of the aging, but the implementation of the GUI and other features are shoddy and have rendered the game something to avoid.”
- “The graphics are borderline abhorrent, primarily using royalty-free recycled assets from an old game called Tyrian.”
- “The graphics are terrible even for an indie game.”
music
77 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beautiful, calming, and epic soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. While some noted occasional repetitiveness or issues with sound effects, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, often describing it as "godly" and integral to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's emotional depth and replayability.
- “The game also features an excellent soundtrack which works very well in setting the tone for the game.”
- “This game is beautiful, and the soundtrack is even more so.”
- “The soundtrack alone puts it above most other games I've recently played.”
- “The game quite frequently just goes to a black screen and system cursor while music continues and the game keeps focus so alt-tab etc. don't work.”
- “No story, no good music.”
- “The music is a little repetitive.”
replayability
51 mentions
55 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its customizable difficulty, diverse campaign setups, and a wealth of strategic options that lead to unique experiences in each playthrough. Many reviews highlight the game's depth, challenging AI, and the ability to adapt strategies, making it a standout in the RTS genre. Overall, the combination of rich content and emergent gameplay ensures that players can enjoy countless hours of varied gameplay.
- “A great many 'oh that's what I should have done' moments mean the learning never stops, and the number of setup options gives you near infinite replayability.”
- “The game has incredible replayability and customization value even before the additional content; each map is not only a different experience in the technical sense but unique in its feel.”
- “This game is stupendously configurable in its setup, which can be somewhat overwhelming when you first start, but makes for an extraordinarily replayable game, even more so with the expansions, rich in choices, threats and options.”
- “Chock-full of emergent complexity and replayability, this is a game designed to keep people like me happily occupied for many hours and many playthroughs.”
- “An amazing RTS, where the AI can and will profit from the slightest mistake you make... thanks to the random maps and starting ships, the replay value of this game is sky-high!”
story
45 mentions
20 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal or lacking depth, with many players noting that it serves more as a backdrop than a central focus. Despite this, the emotional impact of gameplay and the overarching themes of humanity's struggle against AI resonate strongly, creating memorable experiences even without traditional narrative elements. Some expansions and side quests offer additional context and excitement, but the core gameplay remains the primary draw rather than a compelling storyline.
- “The inspirational music and background story.”
- “It is rare for a game with a story that is merely in the background quietly there, but not really required for you to understand the game to be such an emotional rollercoaster, nor for it to instill in you love of the faction you play and hatred of the faceless AI, simply off the way the game plays out.”
- “The 'story' behind this fighting is that AI populations have taken the world we know (or better the universe) and the human species has to recover and fight back.”
- “It manages to be one of the most emotional RTS games I've ever played, despite not really having much of a story at all.”
- “As for the campaign, the base game does not include storyline missions.”
- “They put so much effort into building the strategy side of things that there literally is no plot or immersion.”
grinding
14 mentions
7 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the later stages where managing extensive territories and resources becomes repetitive and time-consuming. While some appreciate the strategic depth and complexity, many feel that the need for meticulous planning and resource management can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a grindy experience that may not appeal to everyone.
- “No tedious micro-management, clever and devious AI opponents, engaging storyline, and epic games that can last well over a week.”
- “A good game which becomes a bit tedious in the later parts of the game.”
- “You need about 60 to 80 systems in a playthrough to enable you to do what you need to win. By the 15th system, it's rinse and repeat, grinding your forces down with each win, replace, wait, next system... over and over.”
- “One of those games where it doesn't feel like you're fighting battles so much as grinding economies against your opponent.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unexpected emotional depth, managing to evoke strong feelings despite a minimal narrative. Players describe it as a challenging experience that fosters a deep connection to their faction and a visceral hatred for the AI, likening it to an emotional rollercoaster. Overall, it stands out as a uniquely impactful title in the RTS genre, capable of eliciting tears even without a traditional story.
- “It manages to be one of the most emotional RTS games I've ever played, despite not really having much of a story at all.”
- “Think of it as a brutal game of chess, played against a sadist bent on causing you the highest amount of emotional pain.”
- “It is rare for a game with a story that is merely in the background, quietly there, but not really required for you to understand the game to be such an emotional rollercoaster, nor for it to instill in you love of the faction you play and hatred of the faceless AI, simply off the way the game plays out.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while the UI and customization options are highly praised and performance issues are minimal in RTS mode, players report bugs and network performance problems in cooperative play. Additionally, the graphics strike a balance between performance and visual appeal, though some find them simplistic at times. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, but there are notable areas for improvement.
- “The brilliantly optimized UI and customizations brought to its current state by years of improvements is the best there is in any strategy game.”
- “RTS with no performance issues to worry about.”
- “But the creators lacked the vision to make this game great in coop (lots of bugs, bad network performance), an official localization for the most common languages is missing, and the campaign length is way too long for the usual LAN party.”
- “The graphics are not excellent, but it's a compromise between performance and graphics.”
- “The graphics are sometimes a bit simplistic, but you can get some beautiful visuals during intense fleet battles, and its performance footprint can get pretty small.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate its strategic depth and mechanical feel enhanced by music, others criticize the graphics and gameplay for lacking engagement and failing to create a compelling environment. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as inconsistent, with some elements contributing positively while others detract from the experience.
- “It has a cunning and difficult AI to play against, a huge amount of strategic variety, some great mechanics (like AI progress - so the more you conquer, the more resources you have - but the more vicious the AI's response) and is also very atmospheric, with a cool, mechanical feel.”
- “Also have to add, the music and atmosphere really bring this game together.”
- “Terrible graphics, blob-like tactics, and somewhat boring spaces of time building things up; the twitch-like gameplay doesn't really build the intended atmosphere.”
- “Atmosphere: 3/5”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the AI's witty remarks amusing, others feel the overall experience lacks engagement, leading to boredom. Additionally, the ease of obtaining achievements adds a layer of comedic relief, though it may not be enough to keep players entertained.
- “You must have missed that day in tactical school," says the AI, chuckling to itself.”
- “However, the achievements are hilariously easy to cheese.”
stability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on older systems without significant glitches, users report persistent bugs and balance issues that detract from the overall experience. These problems can make gameplay feel unsatisfying, especially during complex battles.
- “This game runs smoothly on older systems, with no glitches, and doesn't require high-end graphics cards, even during battles with thousands of ships.”
- “The stability of this game is impressive; it maintains performance without crashing, regardless of the intensity of the action.”
- “I've experienced zero crashes or bugs, making for a seamless gaming experience that keeps me engaged.”
- “The UI is full of glitches and annoying details that distract me from learning the game.”
- “But it's always buggy, always unbalanced, and therefore always a bit unsatisfying.”
- “This game will work on older systems, but it's always buggy.”