Rise of the Ancients
- May 29, 2016
- Talentplace
Get on Steam"Rise of the Ancients" is a real-time strategy game set in a mystical world where players build and manage their own civilization. Battles against AI or other players take place in dense forests, medieval towns, and dark caves, with a focus on strategic resource management and unit control. The game features 26 unique units and structures, 8 ancient races, and a variety of game modes including single-player, multiplayer, and co-op.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is extremely cheap, making it accessible for players looking for a low-cost experience.
- It features a variety of enemies and challenging gameplay, providing a sense of accomplishment when overcoming obstacles.
- The game has a unique charm with its quirky graphics and music, which some players find enjoyable despite its flaws.
- The game suffers from poor design, including a lack of options menu, bad targeting mechanics, and unresponsive controls.
- Many players report technical glitches and bugs that disrupt gameplay, making it frustrating to play.
- The overall presentation is considered subpar, with graphics and animations that feel outdated and unpolished.
- music15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as both calming and ominous, creating a memorable atmosphere that lingers in players' minds, even leading to nightmares for some. However, many users criticize the volume levels and lack of control options, finding the music too loud and overwhelming at times. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments of enjoyment, it is marred by technical issues that detract from the experience.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Game of the year, hours of fun for the whole family, love the soundtrack.”
“I would not recommend this game, although it has fancy graphics and chilled music which I really enjoyed during the six minutes I played it.”
“The soundtrack is decent too for such a low quality game.”
“Music (?) - you just want to turn it off somehow.”
“The game sounds were just off, too much music, and no way to turn it down.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of strategic elements and challenging puzzles that encourage critical thinking, but are marred by technical glitches and a linear progression that limits exploration. Some players criticize the overall execution, describing the gameplay as unattractive and hindered by small button sizes. Overall, while there are engaging aspects, the experience is often disrupted by bugs and a lack of freedom.
“⚔️ Strategic gameplay and challenging puzzles. The game offers strategic gameplay elements and challenging puzzles that require players to think critically and plan their actions carefully.”
“Strategic gameplay and challenging puzzles.”
“Despite being a fairly glitchy incarnation of a well-overdone gameplay, it at least has the decency to offer interesting graphics.”
“Some players may encounter occasional technical glitches or bugs while playing Rise of the Ancients, which can disrupt immersion and hinder gameplay progress.”
“Some players may find the game's linear progression and limited exploration opportunities to be restrictive, particularly if they prefer open-world gameplay experiences.”
“Occasional technical glitches affecting gameplay.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as cheap and poorly executed, often comparing them unfavorably to older systems like the ZX Spectrum. While some players noted that the visuals can be interesting and fancy, they are marred by glitches and a lack of polish, leading to an overall lackluster experience. Additionally, the absence of an options menu and numerous bugs further detract from the visual quality.
“Despite being a fairly glitchy incarnation of a well-overdone gameplay, it at least has the decency to offer interesting graphics.”
“I would not recommend this game, although it has fancy graphics and chilled music which I really enjoyed during the six minutes I played it.”
“The graphics are okay if hastily done, but the animations are fairly glitchy.”
“The visuals are cheap and the game is lackluster.”
“Graphics are worse than in ZX Spectrum games.”
“Graphics are just bad; there is no options menu (developers are lazy), bugs are everywhere in this, and the AI seems to get stuck on invisible paths.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story of "Rise of the Ancients" is praised for its rich lore and immersive storytelling, offering a captivating narrative that encourages perseverance through challenges. Players appreciate the ability to restart missions, reinforcing the theme that resilience can lead to success. However, some suggest that addressing technical glitches and enhancing visual variety could further enhance the overall experience.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Rise of the Ancients boasts a captivating narrative filled with rich lore and immersive storytelling.”
“Rich lore and immersive storytelling.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent technical glitches, buggy unit and tower placements, and unclear next-wave information, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to confusion about game mechanics. Players have reported instances of losing without explanation, particularly on level 3, indicating a need for improved clarity and stability in the game's design.
“Occasional technical glitches affecting gameplay.”
“Some players may encounter occasional technical glitches or bugs while playing Rise of the Ancients, which can disrupt immersion and hinder gameplay progress.”
“While its rich lore and immersive storytelling shine, addressing technical glitches and introducing more visual variety could further elevate the gaming experience for players.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighted by the inclusion of a comical skeleton character that can be unlocked after two hours of gameplay. This element adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“If you play for 2 hours, you can get a funny skeleton man in the points shop.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact, often feeling deeply moved and experiencing tears during pivotal moments in the game, particularly when the stakes become clear. This suggests that the narrative effectively resonates with players on a personal level.
“Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in "Rise of the Ancients" is highlighted by visually stunning environments and character designs, though some users note a limited visual variety in certain areas, which may affect the overall depth of character progression.
“Limited visual variety: While Rise of the Ancients features visually stunning environments and character designs, there may be a lack of visual variety in certain areas of the game.”
“Character development feels shallow: The characters lack depth and their growth throughout the game is minimal, making it hard to connect with them.”
“Predictable character arcs: The storylines for the characters are often predictable and fail to offer any surprising twists or meaningful evolution.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find that the game's replayability is high, with many elements encouraging multiple playthroughs, such as varied character choices, branching storylines, and unlockable content. This diversity keeps the experience fresh and engaging, prompting players to return for new experiences. Overall, the replay value is considered a strong point of the game.
“The replay value of this game is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay the game multiple times.”
“With various character builds and story paths, the replayability keeps me coming back for more.”
“The game lacks replay value; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the main storyline, I found no compelling reasons to replay the game.”
“The limited choices and predictable outcomes make replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
