Empires Apart
- March 29, 2018
- DESTINYbit
- 450h median play time
Looks like a newer version of Age of Empires 2, and plays like a modern RTS. Good faction differentiation isn’t enough to save Empires Apart from being less than mediocre due to weak single player.
Get on Steam"Empires Apart" is a free-to-play Real Time Strategy game set in medieval times, where you lead uniquely designed factions in procedurally generated maps. Gather resources, build structures, raise an army, and wage war against enemies in skirmish, survival, challenge mode or online ranked and custom matches. With various units, heroes, and relics to choose from, this game offers a fresh take on classic RTS gameplay.
Reviews
- The game features unique civilizations with distinct mechanics, providing a refreshing take on the RTS genre.
- The graphics and art style are appealing, offering a modernized yet nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RTS games.
- The developers are actively working on updates and improvements, showing commitment to enhancing the game based on community feedback.
- The AI is poorly designed, often failing to engage effectively in battles or manage resources properly.
- The game suffers from performance issues, including lag and crashes, especially in multiplayer modes.
- There is a lack of single-player content, with no campaign mode available, limiting the experience for players who prefer solo gameplay.
- gameplay48 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a blend of classic RTS mechanics reminiscent of Age of Empires, enhanced with modern controls and unique civilization features that offer diverse playstyles. While many players appreciate the smooth mechanics and distinct characteristics of each civilization, there are significant concerns regarding bugs, AI performance, and a lack of meaningful single-player content, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game has potential for enjoyment, especially in multiplayer settings, if ongoing improvements are made.
“The graphics are simple, yet elegant, and the gameplay can range from slow, turtle-like strategies to fast-paced assaults on the enemy base.”
“This is a game that takes the Age of Empires gameplay we know and love and builds on it in small but fun and thoughtful ways.”
“Classic RTS gameplay paired with modern quality of life features.”
“Lags like crazy, 8 fps after a few minutes of gameplay...”
“Edit: the game is now finally playable... barely... and the horrid gameplay shines through. I don't get how people can perfect this game type 20 years ago yet today we can't make a basic RTS game... clunky mechanics... laughable army clashes... linear maps through woods... damn you mobile gaming.”
“Very disappointed with the game's mechanics.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a low-poly art style that has garnered mixed reactions from players; some appreciate its charm and uniqueness, while others find it lacking compared to more polished titles. Despite technical issues such as lag and crashes, many users feel that the visuals complement the gameplay, offering a simple yet elegant aesthetic reminiscent of classic RTS games like Age of Empires. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are considered enjoyable by a significant portion of the player base, contributing positively to the game's overall experience.
“The graphics are simple, yet elegant, and the gameplay can range from slow, turtle-like strategies to fast-paced assaults on the enemy base.”
“I find the graphics very nice, and the single/multiplayer configurations are good enough to customize the games.”
“The art style is also fun and charming in its own way, even though there are a few uneven elements to it, and the sounds and music and voices are surprisingly well-done and nicely tailored to each civilization, considering this is very much a small, low-budget project.”
“Game is laggy and broken, even on a 1050 Ti graphics card that can play Conan Exiles, Battlefield 1, Fallout 4, and other large titles.”
“Every map play either ends up with fatal errors and crashes or I get 9 fps on every graphics setting.”
“This despite the updated graphics, combat has very basic animations and the game is not enjoyable to look at.”
- music19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its stirring orchestral quality and memorable themes, with many players finding it enjoyable and well-designed. While some feel that the soundtrack may not be as catchy or enduring as those from older titles like Age of Mythology, the unique soundtracks for each civilization and the overall quality of the music contribute positively to the gaming experience. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the sound effects, with some noting that they can be lacking or poorly integrated.
“The soundtrack is very stirring, orchestral.”
“The old games, namely Age of Mythology, had very memorable soundtracks which, despite them being almost or even more than a decade old, I can still fully remember because they were so catchy and well-designed.”
“From the menu music all the way to the music in the game itself, the general or civilization-based themes are so good to listen to while you do your own thing!”
“To finish, a good song music is ruined with poor and nonexistent game sounds.”
“The graphic and music are mediocre, the concept of art was nice though.”
“The art style is also fun and charming in its own way, even though there are a few uneven elements to it, and the sounds and music and voices are surprisingly well-done and nicely tailored to each civilization, considering this is very much a small, low-budget project.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on AMD CPUs, making it unplayable for some. While a few users have experienced smooth gameplay and noted improvements from recent patches, the overall consensus highlights persistent lag and poor performance, especially on larger maps. Despite some players enjoying the game, the optimization challenges remain a major concern for the community.
“I have not had the optimization issues experienced by other players.”
“In the early days after launch there have been issues - some serious performance problems on large maps and some occasional pathfinding goofs - but I'm already really enjoying the game as I'm able to play it, and the developers seem active and are working towards improving it; they've already released a few small patches that fixed one or two issues I was seeing.”
“No performance issues for me and for the asking price, a pretty good deal.”
“They hit all of my nostalgia buttons with the civilizations and how they play, but the game is just completely unplayable with how poor its performance is.”
“I have given it several months before I wrote this review because I wanted the game to improve and do well, but even after several performance patches the game is still so laggy that it's unplayable.”
“I can run any game on ultra quality, but when I explore a map, even a small one and with some units in it, I realized it's really poorly optimized.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably affected by numerous bugs, particularly with the AI, which can misprioritize targets and exhibit erratic behavior, such as failing to engage effectively in combat. While these issues detract from the overall experience, many players still find the game engaging and worth playing despite its flaws. Overall, the game is characterized by a mix of charm and significant technical shortcomings.
“The AI, however, can sometimes be somewhat buggy, such as prioritizing the wrong targets, ignoring player troops that massacre theirs whilst their cavalry chase down villagers into a fortified base, etc.”
“Still very buggy, but finally a decent and modernized Age of Empires 2!”
“Very buggy AI; in survival mode, I was able to trick the AI into simply walking back and forth and never attacking due to pathfinding.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is largely dependent on the player's interest in improving their skills, typical of competitive and RTS genres. However, the absence of a campaign and limited additional content detracts from its overall appeal, leading to a perception that replayability is ultimately lacking.
“Replayability: Competitive games and RTS can be inherently replayable depending on your interest in them, since they're the kind of games you want to get better at and keep playing. However, as I've mentioned before, there's no campaign, and it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot else to do. This ultimately makes the game less interesting, which in turn affects the replayability.”
“Replayability: Competitive games and RTS can be inherently replayable depending on your interest in them, since they're the kind of games you want to get better at and keep playing. However, as I've mentioned before, there's no campaign, and it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot else to do. This ultimately makes the game less interesting, which in turn affects the replayability.”
“Replayability: Competitive games and RTS can be inherently replayable depending on your interest in them, since they're the kind of games you want to get better at and keep playing. However, as I've mentioned before, there's no campaign, and it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot else to do. This ultimately makes the game less interesting, which in turn affects the replayability.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is visually appealing, but it lacks an engaging storyline, which detracts from the overall experience. Players can explore individual civilizations through skirmishes or demo missions, but the absence of a cohesive narrative is a notable downside.
“Really pretty game, but the gameplay isn't fun and there is no storyline.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely regarded as very funny, with players appreciating its humor.
“This game had me laughing out loud with its clever jokes and witty dialogue.”
“The humor is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into every aspect, from the characters to the storyline.”
Critic Reviews
Empires Apart Review
A capable yet somewhat unfinished strategy game.
80%Empires Apart Review – Aztecs Against The World
Empires Apart is a more than competent real-time strategy game featuring solid mechanics and unique features. Sadly, the almost complete lack of single player content damages the experience a bit, making the game recommended, at the current price point, only to those who are willing to play online against other human opponents.
67%Empires Apart Review
Looks like a newer version of Age of Empires 2, and plays like a modern RTS. Good faction differentiation isn’t enough to save Empires Apart from being less than mediocre due to weak single player.
50%
