STAR WARS™ Galactic Battlegrounds Saga
- March 1, 2016
- Ensemble Studios
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Saga" is a real-time strategy game set in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to command armies from six different factions during the Clone Wars era. The game includes a standalone campaign featuring 14 missions based on "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones," as well as multiplayer battles and skirmishes. In the game, players must manage resources and technology to deploy vast armies, including various units such as Jedi, Droids, and Kat tanks.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A nostalgic blend of Age of Empires II gameplay with a Star Wars theme, providing hours of fun.
- Diverse factions with unique units and abilities, enhancing replayability and strategy.
- The scenario editor allows for creative gameplay, enabling players to design their own battles and campaigns.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes, especially during larger battles, which can be frustrating.
- Multiplayer functionality is broken, requiring third-party software for online play, which detracts from the experience.
- Graphics and mechanics feel dated, lacking modern features and optimizations, making it less appealing to new players.
- graphics169 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its age as a 2001 release, with many users expressing a desire for a graphical upgrade or remake. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the visuals acceptable for gameplay, others note that the low resolution and clunky animations can detract from the experience. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not meet modern standards, the gameplay remains enjoyable for fans of the genre.
“From the excellent tactical RTS gameplay to the charming graphics that still stir up so many emotions in me, to things as simple as the green hue of nova crystals or the beautiful purple shade of ore crystals, this game is just pure nostalgia to me.”
“The visuals of the battleground are very charming and a perfect representation of the Star Wars look and feel, but then in the style of Age of Empires which is familiar to almost anyone.”
“Even the graphics hold up because of the art style they used back then.”
“The graphics are dated, but it plays fine for me.”
“The graphics and UI are painful.”
“My eyes hurt from trying to comprehend the bad graphics as to what they're supposed to represent.”
- gameplay125 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds" is largely based on the classic mechanics of "Age of Empires II," offering a familiar real-time strategy experience with some unique Star Wars-themed elements. While the core mechanics are solid and enjoyable, players have noted issues such as slow pacing, clunky controls, and unit pathfinding problems that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its outdated graphics and some balance concerns, the game remains fun and nostalgic for fans of both the RTS genre and the Star Wars universe, especially when enhanced by mods like "Expanding Fronts."
“Take the awesome gameplay of Age of Empires II, combine it with the universe of Star Wars, build some new mechanics on top of that and you get this awesome game.”
“The gameplay feels very rewarding as you start off small but gradually gain more resources, buildings, workers, troops, and vehicles (land, sea, and air).”
“Overall in Star Wars Age of Empires, there is enough content to make you stick around and the gameplay is excellent.”
“After 65 hours of play on Steam, I can safely say that my rose-tinted spectacles have been thoroughly broken by issues with gameplay that I've encountered.”
“Was hoping for a decent Star Wars RTS with sprite graphics; unfortunately, the base gameplay mechanics are slow, and that killed it for me.”
“The controls are clunky and don't let you do anything remotely complicated; the gameplay is glacially slow, and it just doesn't really work.”
- story105 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story spans multiple factions and eras, offering a mix of original narratives and adaptations of the Star Wars saga, with campaigns that can take up to 80 hours to complete. While the missions are generally fun and varied, some players criticize the storytelling for being simplistic and poorly designed, with a lack of engaging cutscenes and a reliance on repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game provides a nostalgic RTS experience with a solid foundation in the Star Wars universe, despite some flaws in execution.
“While there is an extensive campaign vaguely following movie franchise plot points (original and prequel trilogy) but also entirely made-up stories, all voiced and scripted, you can also play randomly generated matches against bots, multiplayer via LAN, and it also has a map editor.”
“The intricate and multi-hour campaign missions hearken back to a golden era of RTS storytelling.”
“The replay value of this Star Wars themed real-time strategy game is through the roof, with unique campaign missions for iconic characters, extremely solid multiple standard game configurations, and potential for online play.”
“I was a bit disappointed at how bare-bones the storytelling is, with the cutscenes having no music, atmosphere, or barely any narration, but the scenarios themselves are pretty fun and varied.”
“The campaign feels just plain and dull and totally not story-driven.”
“However, it has barely anything to do with the storyline... it's mostly filler/non-canon.”
- music46 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive Star Wars themes, featuring iconic tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. However, players have noted issues with the soundtrack's repetition and occasional failure to play during extended sessions, leading to a lack of audio variety. Community patches are available to address these concerns, adding more music and improving overall sound compatibility.
“The soundtrack is amazing, and the game actually still runs really well for me.”
“The soundtrack to the saga is a very pleasant old school blend of calming ambient moments and a lot of familiar ditties from Star Wars, not just the copyright-free approximations that sound awful.”
“Even though it's an old game, it's still the best because it's based off of the Star Wars trilogy and it has great music, gameplay, etc. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves Star Wars and a good strategy game.”
“If you play a match that goes on for hours, you will suddenly realize that there is no music anymore.”
“Just turn the music off unless you want to hear 'Duel of the Fates' on an endless loop until you go insane.”
“- The soundtrack stops playing shortly into a game session and is only restored by exiting and re-launching.”
- stability22 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent bugs and glitches, particularly on newer systems. While some players have managed to run the game smoothly with community support, others experience significant issues such as crashes and unreliable performance. Overall, the game is described as "a little buggy" but still enjoyable, especially for fans of the genre.
“The game runs great, and while the graphics may look ancient, it is generally fun to play.”
“Runs great on my ASUS ROG laptop with Intel i7 and NVIDIA 860M.”
“These same updates seem to have also broken the random functions, and created occasional glitches when clicking the mouse or hotkeys...”
“Unfortunately though this port is buggy and doesn't even launch for me.”
“That's what should be on the steam store not this buggy mess of a lazy re-upload.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its engaging gameplay, customizable campaigns, and various game modes, including sandbox and skirmish options. Players appreciate the unique missions featuring iconic characters and the potential for online play, which significantly enhances the replay value. However, some users note that certain aspects may limit replayability for specific players.
“But if you are looking for a retro Star Wars game with endless replay value, then for $6 this is a steal.”
“Also, the ability to make your own campaigns adds a ton of replay value, though you will need to use Game Ranger if you want to play multiplayer.”
“Each little story can take several hours to play, and with so many different ways to win, it has tons of replay value.”
“The replay value of this Star Wars themed real-time strategy game is through the roof with unique campaign missions for iconic characters, extremely solid multiple standard game configurations, and potential for online play.”
“The sandbox mode in the game gives you a lot of replay value because you can create your own custom setups.”
“Other than that, it's a nice game, but the things I listed make its replayability very limited.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some users experiencing crashes and performance issues, particularly on modern systems, while others report smooth gameplay on upgraded hardware. There are calls for a remaster to improve graphics and overall optimization, though some players have found mods that help address performance problems. Overall, many hope for future updates to enhance the game's optimization further.
“Still runs smoothly on upgraded computer systems.”
“There is a 'mod' that can fix performance issues and change the resolution to your native resolution!”
“Game seems to be more optimized now and doesn't crash.”
“Not optimized, crashes before it will even start.”
“The reason for this recommendation against buying at the present time is that this game is horribly optimized for modern systems.”
“Will change once it's better optimized if at all possible.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find resource collection enjoyable and not overly tedious, others feel that certain campaigns require excessive grinding, making them feel frustratingly difficult. The management of multiple resources can become monotonous, especially when resources are scarce, but utilizing upgrades can help alleviate some of the grind. Overall, the experience varies significantly between missions, with some being straightforward and others feeling nearly impossible.
“With advanced turrets arranged in massive rows so thick not even a cockroach could pass through, I was prepared for my absolute, if not tedious, victory.”
“The campaigns are good though some are extremely grindy and spend a lot of time watching artillery shoot many enemy turrets before you advance with a small amount of units you can rebuild.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Managing 5 different resources is tedious especially when nova is scarce.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for appearing as a cynical cash grab, lacking polish and depth. However, it is noted that "Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds Saga" does not include microtransactions or loot boxes, and the developers are committed to the project out of passion rather than profit.
“Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds Saga doesn't have microtransactions or loot boxes.”
“The developers do all of this out of their own passion without any form of monetization or donation.”
“This lack of polish is throughout the game, making it seem like a cynical cash grab.”
“The game is a blatant cash grab that's best left in the past.”
“If this doesn't sell you, then this will: Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds Saga doesn't have microtransactions or loot boxes.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, feeling frustration and heartbreak when faced with technical challenges, such as workers failing to complete tasks. This emotional investment is further highlighted by the impact of losing progress, which can lead to genuine feelings of sadness, ultimately driving players to continue engaging with the game despite these setbacks.
“I have made a habit of saving often, but it's just heartbreaking when you have made good progress and the game closes out.”
“I cried, then I purchased and installed.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently described as hilarious, effectively enhancing the overall experience while also functioning well as a game. Players appreciate the comedic elements, noting that they contribute positively to gameplay.
“Hilarious.”
“It exists and it's hilarious, but actually works incredibly well as a game.”
“Starting up looks funny, but it's all good.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while it features enjoyable scenarios and detailed elements like music and textures that enhance the experience, some players find the storytelling and cutscenes lacking in depth and ambiance. Additionally, the game's age leads to technical issues, such as random crashes on modern machines, which can detract from the overall immersion.
“Classic Star Wars game, great atmosphere.”
“Lots of effort has been put into the details such as music, sounds, textures, scenery, buildings, and atmosphere.”
“I was a bit disappointed at how bare-bones the storytelling is, with the cutscenes having no music, atmosphere, or barely any narration. However, the scenarios themselves are pretty fun and varied.”
“The atmosphere feels lacking, as the environments don't evoke any real sense of immersion or emotion.”
