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Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition Game Cover
71%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
story, graphics
71% User Score Based on 107 reviews

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PCWindows
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Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition Game Cover

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Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with a historical theme. It was developed by JOTASOFT STUDIOS and was released on January 28, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition is a real-time strategy game that uses an improved version of the AWE engine. It offers improved mechanics from the original game and adds new features such as a huge unit and skill tree, RPG elements, and historically epic single-player campaigns. The game also promises a great multiplayer experience.

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Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition screenshot
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71%
Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun and nostalgic RTS experience, especially for fans of the original version.
  • The developers are actively supporting the game, making noticeable improvements to AI and overall gameplay.
  • The customization of units and the variety of factions provide a unique gameplay experience.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode.
  • AI behavior is inconsistent, often leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Many players feel that the game lacks the depth and strategic elements of the original, making it feel rushed and unbalanced.
  • gameplay
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic elements and strategic depth reminiscent of the original game, while others criticize the lack of balance, stale mechanics, and technical issues that detract from the experience. Many users express a desire for more content, polished mechanics, and improved campaign levels to enhance the gameplay. Despite some positive aspects, such as the introduction of new factions and siege weapons, the consensus is that the gameplay needs significant improvements to meet modern standards.

    • “In the end, I loved the gameplay, the music, the changes they made to the factions, and the addition of the new ones (the original had only 3).”
    • “The original 2006 AWS is one of my favorite games, with various really unique mechanics that made the game itself unique and stand out.”
    • “I remember playing this game back in 2012; I really liked its concept back then, the gameplay, the micromanagement of units, its customization, etc. Overall, I missed it so much that I've been looking for a copy of it.”
    • “I used to think this game had potential, but in the end, gameplay is the most important aspect, and unfortunately, it can't be changed.”
    • “Gameplay, AI, scuffed maps, the weird new factions that just seem to have no semblance of balance, the campaigns - and even the Steam Workshop splash screen being just stretched out.”
    • “Every path is the same and thus, gameplay becomes stale quite quickly.”
  • story
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players noting that the campaign missions feel disjointed and lack a cohesive narrative structure, as they are separate and unordered. Technical issues, such as crashes and missing audio elements, detract from the experience, while some players appreciate the ability to level up individual soldiers. However, there are concerns about the game's reliance on reskinned factions and the overall impression of it being a cash grab.

    • “It was really cool in the original that for the first few missions you are dependent on salvaging enemy weapons in order to equip your army.”
    • “A) The dev talks actively with the community in the Discord channel, listens, and gives some suggestions about the missions, which is good and honestly only had another studio who did this; this is a plus one for me.”
    • “Voice lines are missing; the campaign missions have no objective markers; the new factions added by the Steam version are unapologetic Spartan reskins... there's also no combat music, and whenever a fight breaks out, the audio cuts off completely.”
    • “The campaigns are also separate from each other and have no specific order to obtain a complete story.”
    • “I would love to give this game an upvote, but this is just a cash grab; campaign missions are glitched.”
  • graphics
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the graphics have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear outdated and in need of significant improvement. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and higher resolution in the definitive edition of older titles, others feel that the textures and overall polish are lacking, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Graphics look nice.”
    • “Visuals are retro feeling but gorgeous.”
    • “15 years after the original 2007 game 'Ancient Wars: Sparta', there is now the definitive edition where we can relive all the Victorian memories with a lot of new content and better polished graphics that also keep the old charm of the game intact.”
    • “Ships' graphics could definitely use some better textures.”
    • “Graphics need at least minimal lifting to be fully enjoyable.”
    • “It's a good idea if it wasn't for the ugly graphics and lack of polish, which means that you can't really admire your designs.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received significant criticism, with many tracks missing, likely due to licensing issues, resulting in a lack of combat music and an overall sparse audio experience. Players noted the absence of voice lines and objective markers in campaign missions, further detracting from the immersive quality of the game. While some appreciated the gameplay and faction changes, the music aspect was largely viewed as a disappointment.

    • “In the end, I loved the gameplay, the music, the changes they made to the factions, and the addition of the new ones (original had only 3).”
    • “Voice lines are missing; the campaign missions have no objective markers; the new factions added by the Steam version are unapologetic Spartan reskins... there's also no combat music, and whenever a fight breaks out, the audio cuts off completely.”
    • “In fact, a lot of music tracks are missing, presumably due to licensing issues, so most of the game is just a few sound effects.”
    • “The unit designer really was the only unique idea this game had, and it was wasted on a broken piece of garbage with no combat music.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing interactions during battles, such as the comical physics when units are hit by projectiles, leading to entertaining moments. Players appreciate the blend of frustration and humor, making the gameplay experience both engaging and lighthearted. Overall, the game's charm and unexpected comedic elements contribute to its appeal, despite some initial skepticism.

    • “When a ballista fires, you can feel it, and when it hits a single unit, it's funny to watch the guy fly. This game should be way more popular than it is!”
    • “It can be one part infuriating as well as one part funny.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is criticized for being poor, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of features exacerbates the issues, leading to a perception of the game as a "buggy mess."

    • “However, the current state of the game is a buggy mess.”
    • “This weird dearth of features adds to the already numerous bugs and glitches.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the overwhelming number of ships encountered during island crossings. However, the automatic generation of helots from resources is appreciated, as it helps manage unit capacity and reduces the need for constant worker management.

    • “The island crossing and ship focus was tedious as I got swarmed by ships.”
    • “The automatic generation of helots from resources (mining & farming) is a double-edged sword; while it conserves my unit's capacity, it also limits my soldiers and makes the grinding feel repetitive.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been criticized for feeling outdated, reminiscent of mid-2000s titles, with frequent crashes, stuttering, and frame rate drops during late-game scenarios. Many users feel that the "definitive edition" is merely a rehash of previous titles with minimal improvements, leading to disappointing performance overall.

    • “More like definitely re-launching a game from the mid-2000s, complete with the good old crashes as well as stuttering and frame rate drops in late game when you have lots of units on the field.”
    • “Wow, definitive edition and released as early access... it's honestly just pulled assets from Golden Horde/Fate of Hellas with a minor rework to the UI and some units... the only thing separating the performance from this to its previous titles is that clouds are turned off and texture LOD is far lower.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users labeling it a "cash grab."

    • “This is a cash grab.”
    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and unfair.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads and in-app purchases.”
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Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition is a casual role playing game with historical theme.

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition is available on PC and Windows.

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition was released on January 28, 2022.

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition was developed by JOTASOFT STUDIOS.

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Ancient Wars: Sparta Definitive Edition is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Age of Empires IV, Stronghold Warlords, Stronghold Crusader 2, Age of Empires Definitive Edition, Age of Darkness Final Stand and others.