Praetorians

About

"Praetorians - HD Remaster" is a real-time strategy game that transports you to the political turmoil of an emerging Roman Empire. Command one of three unique armies, each with distinct troop types and war machines, as you battle your way through Egypt, Gaul, and Italy to become Emperor. With a focus on strategy and tactical deployment of units, you'll need to exploit enemy weaknesses and master the art of war to defeat the powerful Praetorian Guard and claim the Imperial throne.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 465 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Praetorians is a nostalgic classic that offers engaging and strategic gameplay, making it a favorite among RTS fans.
The game features a unique squad-based combat system and a historical campaign that provides a fun challenge without the need for resource management.
Despite its age, the game still holds up well and can be enhanced with mods, making it enjoyable for both new players and veterans of the genre.

The game suffers from significant compatibility issues on modern systems, often resulting in crashes and graphical glitches.
Many players report difficulties in launching the game or getting it to run properly, especially on Windows 10 and 8.
The multiplayer functionality is limited and often requires third-party solutions, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
75%
7%
The game's story is extensive, featuring over 30 chapters based on real battles, complete with voice acting and engaging cutscenes that enhance the narrative experience. While the campaign offers a variety of missions and tactical challenges, some players have reported technical issues that hinder their ability to fully enjoy the story. Overall, the campaign is described as enjoyable, with a mix of unique environments and mission objectives, though the tutorials may feel tedious.
- “The story mode is actually quite long, with 30 or more chapters, all of them with voices and their own story, based on real battles.”
- “Campaign missions are very enjoyable, with great siege defense.”
- “This being said, once you understand the game, it can be very engaging and it is hard to press save because you want to finish your mission from the senate.”
- “Then, in an actual mission you will still get a black screen after the cinematic.”
- “The cutscenes every 3-4 episodes are really cool and help you understand what is going on in your story (what little there is of it).”
- “I was able to play through one of the tutorial missions without problems after working at fixing this for 2-3 hours, and even then when I tried to start a regular campaign mission the overlay glitch prevented me from doing anything at all.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
75%
10%
The graphics of this game, released in 2002, are generally considered outdated, with many users noting graphical glitches and compatibility issues on modern displays. While some appreciate the simplicity and find it holds up well compared to contemporary titles, others express disappointment, suggesting that improved graphics could enhance the experience. Overall, the focus remains on gameplay rather than visual fidelity, with many players acknowledging that the graphics are not the primary reason to engage with the game.
- “It has much better compatibility and updated graphics.”
- “Technically from all sides the best game in the universe (graphics, sound, ease of play, and tutorial system etc... 100/100).”
- “Insane graphics and very deep and complex strategy elements.”
- “Before you buy this game, you must consider that this game is an old game, so the graphics will be bad and the issues will be so annoying.”
- “Every time I start the campaign or a scenario, the game shuts down or the graphics glitch and cause the ground to disappear and is replaced with black.”
- “This game will seem overwhelming at first, and the fact that it is old and has pretty harsh graphics to look at won't help, especially if you're new to the RTS genre.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
46%
15%
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some praising its strategic depth and addictive nature, while others criticize its clunky mechanics and outdated user interface. Many players find the game easy to learn and enjoyable, despite its age and limited camera zoom, which can hinder situational awareness. Overall, it appeals to fans of classic strategy games, but may not hold up against modern titles.
- “Great strategic gameplay.”
- “Don't listen to any haters, that game is really easy to learn and has awesome gameplay.”
- “While the story in the campaign isn't incredibly memorable, the gameplay itself as well as the challenge is just incredibly addicting and fun.”
- “It is nice that it is about Rome, but the gameplay is very clunky and the UI has poor visibility.”
- “I never managed to understand the full range of mechanics it offers, nor did I win any campaign battle beyond the tutorials.”
- “In terms of gameplay, you're limited to a relatively tight camera zoom, making things feel claustrophobic and making situational awareness quite difficult.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
14%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and memorable soundtrack, which enhances the authentic feel of the game. Players appreciate the soothing quality of the music, considering it one of the best aspects of this Rome-themed title. Additionally, mods like "imperial mod 5.0" offer even more music options, further enriching the experience.
- “The soundtrack is epic and memorable!”
- “Music is spot on, the look and feel is so authentic.”
- “One of the best Rome-themed games and definitely the best soundtrack among them.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent graphical glitches and severe pathfinding problems for troops, particularly on walls. Players report that the map and unit info overlay often malfunctions, leading to drastic frame rate drops and unresponsive controls, making the game nearly unplayable without extensive troubleshooting. Overall, potential buyers should be cautious and prepared for a frustrating experience.
- “Then, in-game the map/unit info overlay glitches 80-90% of the time when a unit is selected, making framerate crawl and locking up the mouse, killing the game.”
- “Tl;dr don't buy this unless you're prepared to do some serious troubleshooting just to get the game to a place where it's playable.”
- “Only on the walls the troops seem kind of buggy with their pathfinding.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its symbolic significance and the deep feelings it evokes, suggesting that its value transcends its price.
- “I bought it because it is half price and because it symbolizes something deeply emotional inside me; this is worth any price you pay for it.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is well-optimized for its age, running smoothly and remaining playable despite its outdated graphics, which are simple and uncluttered. However, players feel that its longevity may be limited compared to more modern titles, suggesting it may not hold consistent appeal over time.
- “The game runs smoothly and is quite playable, showcasing interesting game mechanics in relation to modern titles.”
- “Despite its age, the graphics are simple and not cluttered, allowing for a clear focus on gameplay.”
- “While it may not hold consistent playtime against more modern games, it still offers a solid experience.”