Supreme Ruler 2020 Gold
- July 9, 2009
- BattleGoat Studios
- 50h median play time
Get on Steam"Supreme Ruler 2020 Gold is a strategy game that simulates a global economic crisis causing political and military instability. As a leader, command sophisticated military forces, engage in diplomacy, and manage economics to restore order in this detailed and realistic world. The game includes Supreme Ruler 2020 and the Global Crisis expansion."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a deep and complex strategy experience, allowing players to manage various aspects of a nation including economy, military, and diplomacy.
- Many players find the game addictive and rewarding once they overcome the steep learning curve, enjoying the satisfaction of building and conquering.
- Despite its age, the game is praised for its detailed mechanics and the ability to play as any country, providing a unique geopolitical simulation.
- The game suffers from extremely slow pacing, making it frustrating for players who prefer quicker gameplay, with some actions taking an excessive amount of real time.
- Numerous bugs and AI issues detract from the experience, with units often behaving erratically and the AI failing to execute strategic plans effectively.
- The user interface is clunky and not intuitive, leading to confusion and difficulty in managing units and understanding game mechanics.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 88 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a steep learning curve due to numerous complex mechanics and a lack of comprehensive tutorials, making it difficult for new players to grasp the core systems without extensive research. While tactical unit management on the hex map is praised, many mechanics are criticized for being opaque or poorly designed, leading to frustration. Despite these challenges, players who invest time into understanding the game often find it rewarding, though significant issues with AI and performance detract from the overall experience.
“Once you become more or less adept at these mechanics, such as transporting units (along with figuring out transport weight limits), economic management, and diplomacy/warfare, you'll actually start to have fun...”
“And I'd say, give it a good shot... even after hundreds of hours, I still learned new things and some mechanics are stupendously deep.”
“The graphics and visual effects might be a little outdated, but the gameplay itself can be challenging and is spot-on.”
“There are tons of mechanics that come with a steep learning curve and there isn't much more than a basic tutorial.”
“Virtually every game mechanic is completely opaque, and zero effort is made to explain any of it.”
“However, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this game for a very simple reason: it's incomplete and has several hefty issues with elements that are vital to the gameplay (AI and performance), and thus borders on a scam; at the very least, it reflects poorly on Battlegoat's business ethics.”
- stability7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant glitches and buggy mechanics that hinder gameplay, while others note improvements over previous versions and commend its overall stability. However, many users express frustration over incomplete content and poor AI, suggesting that despite updates, the game still feels unfinished and prone to issues. Overall, while some find it stable, the presence of persistent bugs and clunky controls detracts from the experience for many players.
“The game is not buggy; it is one of the most stable titles on the market.”
“The performance is consistently smooth, making for a reliable gaming experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues, which speaks volumes about its stability.”
“It really sucks to spend hours and hours learning a complex game just for it to be broken due to stupid glitches.”
“The game did indeed receive several content updates and additional features but, sadly, Battlegoat abandoned the game before the addition and/or revision of several critical features, leaving the game with a stupid AI, pretty damn buggy and, worst of all, content incomplete.”
“It just seems like an alpha game; I want to like it but it's so buggy and a chore to play.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered rudimentary and outdated, which may deter players who prioritize visual quality. While some users express a desire for improved graphics in a potential future version, they acknowledge that the gameplay remains engaging and challenging despite the visual limitations. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a significant but not critical drawback.
“The graphics and visual effects might be a little outdated, but the gameplay itself can be challenging and is spot-on.”
“Probably the most underappreciated grand strategy game of all time, largely due to the relatively rudimentary graphics.”
“I wish the game creators would make a new 2020 gold version strictly based on the current setup, focusing on improving the graphics for land, water, and multiplayer, while keeping the core gameplay intact.”
“If graphics are a priority for you, then this is not the game for you.”
“Probably the most underappreciated grand strategy game of all time, largely due to the relatively rudimentary graphics.”
“The graphics and visual effects might be a little outdated, but the gameplay itself can be challenging and is spot-on.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, poor performance, and significant issues with AI, which detract from the overall gameplay experience. Many feel that the game is incomplete and lacks the necessary polish, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment as it becomes increasingly unstable over time. Overall, the optimization shortcomings reflect poorly on the developers and raise concerns about their commitment to delivering a finished product.
“The game has a lot of potential, but the optimization issues really hinder the overall experience, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay fully.”
“Despite its interesting mechanics, the frequent crashes and performance drops as the game progresses make it hard to stay engaged.”
“I appreciate the depth of the game, but the optimization needs significant improvement to ensure a stable and enjoyable experience.”
“Gave it a fair chance but sorry, there was loads of potential but it just falls short in terms of UI and the obvious lack of optimization and use of computer power.”
“However, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this game for a very simple reason: it's incomplete and has several hefty issues with elements that are vital to the gameplay (AI and performance), and thus borders on a scam; at the very least, it reflects poorly on BattleGoat's business ethics.”
“I played it a lot more than my record says, and there are few games that have crashed so often on me as this one (which is why I eventually stopped playing when you guys announced that you were moving on - it got to the point where it was simply not enjoyable because the game became more unstable and lost a lot of performance as the world progressed and units were built).”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story features a variety of engaging missions that provide a fun and immersive experience, with some missions inspired by popular themes or franchises.
“Great game with a lot of fun missions to play.”
“There are even missions based on the story.”
“There are even missions based off of the story.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks coherence.”
“Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is limited, featuring only a repetitive 3-minute track that loops throughout, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the tutorial offers minimal guidance, further diminishing the engagement with the game's audio elements.
“The tutorial explains very little, and there isn't much in terms of a soundtrack, with me hearing the same 3-minute track of music looped throughout the game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its extensive range of playable regions, including every country since 2008, U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and select European cities, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences.
“Pretty much every country in the world is playable from the year 2008 in the Shattered Worlds scenario, which is awesome. US states, Canadian provinces, and even certain European cities are also playable.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players feel that the extensive calculations required in the game significantly slow down the pace, leading to a frustrating grinding experience.
“All those calculations turn the game into a grinding halt.”
“The endless grinding feels more like a chore than a challenge.”
“I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize it was all for nothing.”
