Looking for a Good Open-ended Strategy game....

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by Radtgaeb

My title says it all. I'm just looking for a good Open-Ended strategy game. Something Like the TW series. I've gotten a little bored with Rome and Medieval 2...

I originally wanted an Open-ended Napoleonic strategy game, but can't find one that people seem to be crazy about. I tried out both Cossacks 2 and Imperial Glory. I don't want a scripted campaign, I want something I can shape into my own...is there such a game? Is there a naval game that is like this? I looked at Pacific Storm, but once again, I'm thrown in between people that say it rocks and people that say it sucks. I've also looked at distant guns, but I'm in the dark as to how it actually is. I dug out my old Age of Sail 2, and quickly realised why I put it up (very fun, but the water rendering hurts my eyes)...so yeah, any suggestions?

Since you seem to like the Napoleonic era, are you aware of the "Napoleonic Total War" mods? http://lordz.thelordz.co.uk/ There are versions for Medieval Total War and Rome: Total War. The version based on RTW has gorgeous graphics but no campaign mode, which is criminal IMO. The MTW version has a very enjoyable, fully functional single player campaign but by now the graphics are a bit dated. I am hoping that the team either adds a campaign to the RTW-based game or produces one based on Medieval 2.

[NefariousKoel]

Hmm..

open-ended naval strategy...

I hear War In the Pacific is a huge one controlling the whole Pacific theater. I've not tried it since my attention span is lacking. Hell, I still haven't finished up the precursor Uncommon Valor. Time intensive.
http://www.matrixgames.com/games/screens.asp?gid=294


As for other open-ended strategy games, they seem few and far between. For an easy-going yet enjoyable empire building series I can recommend Spartan (Ancient Greece) and it's predecessor Chariots of War (Really Ancients). Neither too extremely intricate but it'll keep you thinking on what you should do next running the kingdom. Kinda relaxing and a nice change after the hard-core ones but they still have diplomacy, trade, and all the usual trappings of running your own kingdom. Bargain priced with a no-hassle digital download option at Matrix.

http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=312
http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=341

[Radtgaeb]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Right now I'm looking into Europa Universalis 3 and HoI2. I played the HoI 2 demo last night, and it really is a bit complicated. I'm sure with time and training though...it'll be a bit easier.

I've strayed away from Distant Guns right now because of the price. $65 is a bit too much for me, especiall via online credit card purchase, which would mean me going to a convenient store, purchasing a prepaid Visa and then burning it all up. Heck, I don't even pay that much for my 360 Games (used video stores).

I played the demo for Pacific Storm. It was okay, nothing to get too excited about. Allies, on the other hand, I hear is great, but is it scheduled for an American release? I've only seen it on British sites...

[CCIP]

I wouldn't call Distant Guns all that open-ended (and I love the game) :hmm:


As for HoI 2 - of course, there's a bit of a learning curve involved, but it's totally worth it! Lots of depth, lots of ways you can 'change history' there, lots of time to sink into it (a real black hole, that one )