Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising

About

Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Rage Software and was released on January 29, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising" is a game that takes place in 2032, where Earth, now a peaceful society, is threatened by a group of ex-leaders, financiers, and politicians planning a return to a power-hungry past. The Antaeus, the last remaining adaptive cruiser, offers the only defense with its advanced nano-technology and real-time strategy gameplay. As the commander, you must create military units and defend humanity from the impending doom.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player

Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising screenshot

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews

story27 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of RTS and vehicle combat, allowing players to command units while also taking direct control of them.
The voice acting, particularly by Tom Baker, adds depth to the characters and enhances the immersive experience.
The story is engaging and thought-provoking, with a well-crafted narrative that keeps players invested throughout the game.

The game suffers from significant compatibility issues on modern systems, often requiring extensive troubleshooting to get it to run smoothly.
Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics without a steep learning curve.
The graphics and overall presentation feel dated, which may deter players looking for a more polished experience.

story
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
76%
2%
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, originality, and engaging plot twists, often compared to cinematic experiences. Players appreciate the well-written narrative and strong character development, enhanced by excellent voice acting, which together create an immersive atmosphere. Despite some criticisms regarding mission design and AI behavior, the overarching storyline remains a standout feature that captivates players throughout their journey.
- “Yes, the graphics are dated by today's standards, but the story is timeless.”
- “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 is fantastic; it could very well come from an A-rated movie.”
- “This is an amazing game of the kind they don't make anymore, and I fundamentally oppose everything the writers of the plot have ever stood for.”
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, the game only has a story mode, so once you beat the game, that's it.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay of "Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising" is characterized by a unique blend of real-time strategy and tactical control, allowing players to command multiple units while also taking direct control of a single vehicle. It features a mix of fast-paced action and strategic planning, with mechanics that encourage both quick decision-making and methodical resource management. Despite some criticisms regarding mission persistence and control complexity, the overall experience is praised for its innovative mechanics, engaging story, and solid execution, making it a standout title for its time.
- “The gameplay 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.”
- “Gameplay wise, this is an RTS, where you can drop in and take direct control of the units at any time, or allow the onboard AI to follow orders.”
- “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 only blemish I can find in the gameplay is that missions are not persistent.”
- “The strategy/single-vehicle hybrid gameplay didn't appeal to me and I found the controls and menu quite clunky.”
- “Gameplay feels convoluted and needlessly fussy.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated by modern standards, with many reviewers noting that while they were impressive at the time of release, they now appear rough and simplistic. Despite this, the visuals are still considered serviceable and not painful to look at, especially for players who appreciate the game's historical context and gameplay mechanics. Overall, while the graphics may not appeal to new players, they do not detract significantly from the overall experience of this classic title.
- “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.”
- “The graphics are showing their age for sure, especially the draw distance is pretty limited by today's standards.”
- “It might be an old game, the graphics are for sure outdated and it won't appeal to many new players.”
- “Clunky graphics and poor controls.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly during cinematics. While some reviews note that the soundtrack may not be extensive, it is described as quite good and fitting for the game's unique gameplay and compelling story. Overall, the original score is considered impressive for its time, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “There is very little music.”
- “The soundtrack is lacking.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it features appealing graphics and smooth performance under certain conditions, users report significant stuttering issues, particularly due to high CPU usage on core0. Additionally, limitations such as the lack of windowed mode and a maximum resolution of 1280x1024 detract from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the core gameplay is generally well-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.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by stunning visuals, particularly the impressive explosions, and a distinct style that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers consistently highlight the game's immersive and engaging ambiance.
- “On top of everything, the explosions look amazing and there's a great atmosphere.”
- “It's a game with an atmosphere and a style.”
- “Great atmosphere.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the game requires significant emotional and intellectual investment, despite its outdated user interface and audiovisual quality. Even without prior emotional ties, players find the experience rewarding and express a desire for similar future projects.
- “I would love to see them work on another game like this, and I would gladly pay the full price. I have no emotional ties to the game; I played it for the first time well more than a decade after it was released.”
- “The user interface is clunky, it is audiovisually mediocre in the modern day, and it seems like a slow-paced game in which you have to carefully weigh in risk and reward. It would require a great deal of emotional and intellectual investment to reap any kind of reward.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its unique and amusing character interactions, with each unit featuring distinct and funny lines that enhance the gameplay experience. While the graphics and cinematics may appear dated, they contribute to the game's charm and historical significance, making the humor a memorable aspect for players. Overall, the game's comedic elements are a highlight, adding depth to the characters and their roles.
- “The graphics are on par for the time, and yes, the cinematics look very funny now, but hey, it's a piece of history.”
- “The characters in each unit all have unique, hilariously awesome lines, so it's worth playing this way often.”
- “This game lacks so much recognition, it's not even funny.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers significant replayability due to the ability to experiment with various strategies, soldiers, and vehicle combinations, encouraging multiple playthroughs. However, some users feel that it ultimately lacks depth in replay value, suggesting a mixed experience overall.
- “I played and 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.”
- “The only other bad thing I can mention is that the game does lack replayability.”
- “The game has poor replayability.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by a versatile vehicle-building system that allows for various strategies, though players have noted some control bugs. Despite these minor issues, the AI remains engaging, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Simple strategy game with good AI, so it's fun to play even when the controls are a bit buggy.”

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