Imperial Glory

The French emperor Napoleon used his military and diplomatic skills to subdue half of Europe. You can try to do better while controlling one of the five major powers of the era. In the turn-based management mode, strategize by making treaties, building armies, and improving your nation's infrastruct

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"Imperial Glory" is a real-time strategy game set in the Napoleonic era. Players can choose to lead one of five European powers, competing in diplomacy, trade, and war to become the dominant force in Europe and the world. The game features a detailed campaign mode, intense battles, and historical accuracy.

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Play Modes

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 494 reviews

graphics20 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience with engaging gameplay mechanics reminiscent of classic strategy games.
The battle system is enjoyable, with a focus on tactical unit placement and strategy, making each encounter unique.
The game has a rich historical setting, allowing players to engage in diplomacy and manage their empire effectively.

The game frequently crashes, especially after battles, which can be frustrating and disrupt gameplay.
The graphics and user interface feel dated, making it less appealing compared to modern strategy games.
Limited playable factions and a lack of depth in unit variety can lead to repetitive gameplay.

graphics
54 mentions
37 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its age, but they were decent for their time, with some users noting that they still hold up reasonably well for older hardware. While many reviews acknowledge the graphics as simplistic and occasionally kludgy, they emphasize that the gameplay experience compensates for the visual shortcomings. Overall, the graphics are seen as a minor drawback in an otherwise enjoyable game, particularly for fans of historical turn-based strategy.
- “Despite its age, the graphics and animations are actually simple but good. For the time this game was made, it was a challenge to do what they did in it, and they did it quite decently!”
- “Graphics are awesome for a 10-year-old game.”
- “Very lovely visuals for the time it was, and it runs very smoothly (besides an occasional crash bug that is easily fixable).”
- “Graphics are rather old and the game unfortunately in all this time still doesn't have wide screen support at least.”
- “But people might have trouble getting into it since its graphics are a bit dated.”
- “Maps are awful, graphics are too, even for a 2005 game.”
gameplay
42 mentions
38 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is generally praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, offering a simpler alternative to Total War games while still providing enjoyable strategic and tactical elements. However, players have noted issues such as crashes, clunky controls, and a lack of depth in battle tactics, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many appreciate the unique gameplay features and the immersive campaign mechanics that set it apart from similar titles.
- “Amazing gameplay without overly intricate mechanisms like Total War.”
- “The gameplay is simpler than a Total War game yet features an extensive research tree and exciting combat that, in my opinion, holds up even today.”
- “The overall gameplay of this game is fantastic, a mix of strategy/politics with warfare.”
- “Though the campaign can be interesting with the mechanics shown, the battles had such clunky controls regarding troop and camera movement (controls which cannot be changed, mind you) that it just made it rather unenjoyable.”
- “I've seen somewhere in the reviews here, someone compared the battle scenes to an Android/iOS arcade-type battle mechanic - and I have to say that is very accurate.”
- “The battle mechanics are also very... paper-rock-scissors-like; cavalry reigns supreme, and an infantry regiment, while having a lot of firepower, can realistically (in the sense of the game) be used for two to five battles at the most.”
story
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely absent, with players noting that it feels more like a series of missions rather than a cohesive narrative. While the campaign offers various historical battles and quests, the focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics and combat rather than storytelling. Overall, the experience is enriched by engaging battles and technological advancements, but those seeking a strong narrative may be disappointed.
- “Imperial Glory brings to the table many things that I have yet to see in a game of this style before, such as population-based recruiting and missions that can give you many bonuses, such as buildings being built instantly or elite units.”
- “The quests and the tech tree feature make things interesting.”
- “Has campaign, quick game (create your own mission/battles), historic events (e.g., Waterloo), and even multiplayer.”
- “There is really no story.”
- “Trying to do anything feels like a mission and a half and the game crashes randomly at times; only buy if every other game on Steam suddenly leaves and only this is left.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally criticized, with many players needing to adjust settings or emulate older systems like Windows XP to avoid crashes and improve performance, even on newer hardware. However, some users note that the graphics are surprisingly good for a 2005 title and can run smoothly under the right conditions. Overall, while gameplay remains enjoyable, the optimization issues can detract from the experience.
- “Graphics were surprisingly good for 2005, and they run smoothly.”
- “Optimization is great as well.”
- “My only complaint is that I had to set it up like I had Windows XP to run smoothly.”
- “This game's optimization is not that good, requiring you to do a small bucket list of things to run it, but the gameplay is still incredible.”
- “As this game is very old, you should know that if you want to play it without crashes, you should change its optimization to Windows XP.”
- “Empire is so poorly optimized that even new rigs often can't run it well.”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game offers good replayability, largely due to its challenging AI and dynamic conflict scenarios, which keep players engaged. However, some users express a desire for additional playable nations to enhance the experience further. Despite occasional crashes, the overall replay value remains strong, especially for fans of military strategy games.
- “Good replay value.”
- “But still, it's got replayability, and I got it on sale for 49 cents.”
- “The AI will generally do its best to rip you a new one, which maximizes replayability from the very beginning.”
- “The only problem with it is it sometimes crashes, but one thing that sucks is that everyone around me tries to go to war with me. I invade a country that has no alliances or anything, then two other countries are at war with me. Other than that, it's an awesome game if you like Tropico, but this game is more military and takes place in a completely different time and place (Europe and North Africa and some of the Middle East). The only thing that could make this better, aside from fixing the crashing, is adding more playable empires/countries, especially some North African places because they have special units.”
music
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with players often returning for its captivating soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. While some find the music occasionally out of place, it remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal, surpassing that of similar titles.
- “Even though improvements have been made in the genre, I often find myself coming back to this little game for its music, its setting, its feeling, and to play around with all the ways there are to victory, whether that be diplomatic or militaristic.”
- “I prefer 'Imperial Glory' to 'Empire: Total War' due to the superior tutorial, the overall feel, the shorter waiting time between turns (mainly thanks to the omission of visual gimmickry), and the nicer interface design, voice-overs, and music.”
- “But the best thing about this game is still the music.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, battle freezes, and crashes on startup, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, some players still find enjoyment in the gameplay.
- “Every time the game ends, a battle freezes.”
- “Cutting my old review down to just the negatives to match, this is a half-finished, bug-ridden mess of a game even for the time it was made.”
- “Freezes on startup and then puts a heavy burden on my hardware until I force stop the program from running.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its engaging ambiance and soundtrack. However, some users note that certain elements can feel a bit lengthy. Overall, the atmosphere contributes positively to the gaming experience.
- “I just love the general atmosphere of the game as well as the original soundtrack.”
- “The atmosphere is okay, but it can get a little lengthy at times.”
- “The atmosphere feels lacking and doesn't immerse me in the game world.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in the game involves using inexpensive melee units that charge into battle, often resulting in chaotic and unrefined combat scenarios. This mechanic can lead to a repetitive experience as players repeatedly deploy these units against ranged attacks.