Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising
- January 29, 2014
- Rage Software
Get on Steam"Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising" is a single-player Science Fiction Role Playing game with good mechanics. In 2
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Hostile Waters is a unique blend of RTS and third-person shooter gameplay, allowing players to control units directly or issue commands from a tactical map.
- The game features excellent voice acting, including performances from notable actors like Tom Baker, and has a compelling story that resonates with players.
- Despite its age, the game is still considered a hidden gem, with engaging mechanics and a nostalgic value that many players cherish.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes when loading new game saves and compatibility problems with modern systems, particularly on Windows 10.
- There is a lack of modern features such as cloud saves and multiplayer options, which limits its replayability and integration with current gaming platforms.
- Some players find the controls clunky and the camera angles restrictive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
- story80 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging and well-constructed narrative, featuring a unique premise that combines elements of strategy and action. Players appreciate the depth of character development, excellent voice acting, and the emotional weight of the plot, which includes unexpected twists and a poignant setting. Despite some minor frustrations with mission design, the overall storytelling experience is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay.
“Never mind the absolutely great storyline, characters, and superb voice acting.”
“The storyline and concept is excellent and engaging, and drives the mission structure superbly, and the characters, acting, and script all add to an awesomely immersive game experience.”
“The storyline, written by famous comic maker Warren Ellis and narrated by legendary Doctor Who veteran Tom Baker, is very deep and engaging, and makes you genuinely care about both your crew and vessel, and the helpless world you are protecting.”
“The story itself is well constructed, based on an interesting premise, and the difficulty curve is steep but not unmanageable. Though strategy is important, the game never gets to the stage where you can face the enemy on equal terms; producing energy and destroying the enemy's ability to do so will always be the primary concern in every mission.”
“It's quite cheesy, and the story is a little ridiculous at first, but it soon gets interesting once the 'real' enemy appears.”
“The story - B-movie.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a unique blend of fast-paced action and strategic depth, allowing players to control a carrier that utilizes nanites for weapon creation and management. It features a well-designed control scheme that accommodates both real-time combat and tactical planning, making it accessible yet challenging. While the missions lack persistence, the overall mechanics and engaging story contribute to a highly enjoyable experience, showcasing the game's underrated potential.
“The gameplay is you controlling a carrier that uses nanites to build weapons of war, chips added to them to work under your command or direct control.”
“With a story better than most games today, a gameplay that mixes action, RTS, and RPG elements as well as resource managing and micro management, an awesome OST for its time.”
“The game mechanics, the direct orders and the time pause while in the war or build room accommodate everything from an overwhelmingly fast-paced strategy while driving/flying and dodging attacks and shooting enemies at the same time, down to step-by-step strategy at your own pace.”
“While the gameplay formula is simple, it can go from 0 to 100 very quickly.”
“The only blemish I can find in the gameplay is that missions are not persistent.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated but were impressive for their time, showcasing a blend of charm and nostalgia. While some players note clunky visuals and occasional frame rate drops, many agree that the graphics remain serviceable and do not detract significantly from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the game is recognized as a classic that still holds up visually, despite its age.
“The graphics look nice, and obviously the performance is smooth as butter!”
“The graphics, physics, gameplay, and story are all top notch, despite its age.”
“Graphics-wise, quite amazingly, the game looks rather good, especially given how old it is, and it will run without a problem on any machine.”
“If you can get past the dated graphics and occasional drop in frame rate, this will be one of the greatest RTS games you will ever play.”
“From a graphics perspective, it is a product of its time and budget.”
“Clunky graphics and (camera) controls.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some users report smooth performance and appealing graphics, others experience significant stuttering and limitations such as a lack of windowed mode and low maximum resolution. Despite these issues, the core gameplay is considered well-rounded and generally optimized.
“The graphics look nice, and obviously the performance is smooth as butter!”
“However, the root game is quite well-rounded and optimized.”
“Support (meaning no windowed mode), no higher screen resolution than 1280x1024, and the worst part is that it causes a lot of stuttering due to excessive CPU core 0 usage (i5-3570k).”
“As another comment has said - to fix performance issues, go to.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its ability to create a relaxing atmosphere, with a standout original soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, particularly the main menu theme. While it may not reach the heights of more renowned titles, it is still considered impressive for a game from an underrated studio, complementing its engaging story and gameplay.
“With a story better than most games today, a gameplay that mixes action, RTS, and RPG elements as well as resource managing and micromanagement, an awesome OST for its time (the main menu theme rocks!).”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“There is very little music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky character dynamics and amusing cinematics, which, while dated, contribute to its charm. Players appreciate the distinct personalities of the characters, each with their own humorous traits and preferences, adding a layer of comedic depth to the gameplay. Overall, the humor is seen as a nostalgic element that enhances the game's historical significance.
“The graphics are on par at the time, and yes the cinematics look very funny now, but hey, it's a piece of history.”
“They all have their own ups and downs; Borden is capable of doing pretty much everything, she doesn't complain, but Ransom won't 'fly' a ground vehicle, Patton wants big guns, Kroker wants to be stealth (he looks like Gordon Freeman), Madsen is a sniper, etc. This game lacks so much recognition it's not even funny.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its distinctive atmosphere and style, contributing to an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Reviewers consistently highlight the strong atmospheric elements as a standout feature.
“It's a game with an atmosphere and a style.”
“Great atmosphere”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability for players who enjoy experimenting with various strategies, soldiers, and vehicle combinations, encouraging multiple playthroughs. However, some users feel that the overall replay value is lacking, suggesting a divide in player experiences.
“I played several times, finishing the game and then playing it again. The replay value is awesome because you can try different strategies, different soldiers, and different vehicle combinations.”
“Each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the variety of choices and paths you can take, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The game offers so many different scenarios and outcomes that I find myself replaying it just to see how different decisions affect the story.”
“The game has poor replayability.”
“There isn't much incentive to play through the game again.”
“Once you've completed it, there's little reason to return.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the emotional depth of the game, noting that it fosters strong personal connections and resonates on a profound level, making it a compelling recommendation beyond individual experiences.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every moment feel deeply personal.”
“I found myself emotionally invested in the characters' journeys, feeling their joys and sorrows as if they were my own.”
“The storytelling is so powerful that it evokes a range of emotions, leaving a lasting impact long after the game is over.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that stability in the game varies significantly based on the vehicle type—helicopters, hovercrafts, tanks, and buggies each exhibit unique handling characteristics that can influence combat effectiveness. Players note that the choice of vehicle and weapons can greatly impact performance in different scenarios, suggesting that stability is closely tied to strategic decision-making in gameplay.
