Dark Future: Blood Red States
TL;DR :
Overall, it’s a decent game with great visuals and works well as a “play for a couple hours at a sitting” arcade game. If you pay attention to the developing story, it gets a lot more interesting. Take the time to read everything; it’s worth it, and begs you to stick around for the next chapter. Some of the mission types are a little ugly and grinding, some are great, but in general it’s more fun than not.
Full Review:
I have about 28 hours of playtime during the Beta weekend in addition to the hours playing the release version, so this review takes some of that into account as well.
– Real player with 59.8 hrs in game
Read More: Best Real-Time Strategy Games.
Based on a board game from the 80s, Dark Future: Blood Red States is a tactical car combat strategy game set in the near future in an American wasteland ruled by a number of warring factions with armoured cars with big guns. The game consists of multiple seasons, with each season seeing you assume a new role fighting for or against these factions. With each season, you have a choice of missions to undertake, be it Escort missions, where you have to escort a vehicle a certain distance, or to just kill as many opponents as you can.
– Real player with 53.6 hrs in game
ROMBIE
I’ve been playing phr00t’s games since 3079 (great game in its own right!) and I think this is the best combination of the exploration, kill, loot, upgrade cycle which characterize his rpg-type games.
The loot/repair upgrade system in this game is addicting and definitely doesn’t dole out the good drops like before making the rewards and choices more meaningful. The environment is more streamlined and part of the gameplay, I always felt cover was just a dive or dash away and maintaining jet energy has real consequences with the acid river always below. The shooting feels nice and the new combat mechanic of hitting critical areas on enemies makes even the toughest ROMBIES victim to a carefully planned shot! I really like the cryptocoin economy even though it hasn’t worked out for me yet, it’s awesome making investments and hoping they come through! The standard credits economy is also very well balanced and there are always things to buy as having a surplus of money means you can move faster between areas. The story and writing in general are quite barebones and not as engaging to me as in 5089 but I do like how this game has a few set pieces and story parts. The sound is a step up from previous titles and the soundtrack is great as always.
– Real player with 62.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Real-Time Sci-fi Games.
A phr00t FPS where you can be a head-sniping ninja robot frankenstein who jetpacks across a long series of bleak abstract floating islands filled with infinitely re-spawning modular machines which you harvest for upgrades by leading them into quiet corners and shooting them in the head with projectile-based (not hitscan) self-recharging energy weapons.
@erradical:
Robot mugging simulator.
Accurate.
ROMBIE is a ‘real’ shooter, in the sense that aim is a huge part of combat. All the guns shoot slow-moving projectiles which force you to lead your targets a lot more than in your typical “modern” Battlefield-style shooter, and enemies in the game will be far more reliable at shooting you than you, them (which is why you gotta get up close). ROMBIE starts out tough and continues to be dangerous throughout. You’ll be doing a lot of shooting and fleeing (..or cloaking).
– Real player with 39.1 hrs in game
BattleGroupVR
BattleGroup VR
BattleGroup VR is my opening argument in the case of why VR is an amazing platform for RTS. Commanding from the bridge is immersive, and having the crew around you is a great way to let the story play out without cutscenes. And I think the developer is solo.
Pros
- VR. This game is built around a clever use of VR. IRL: Stand in a room and use controllers. In Game: Stand on a platform on the bridge of your flagship and interact with holographic controls. It’s very cool.
– Real player with 24.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Real-Time Strategy Games.
After playing Stellaris, Sins of a Solar Empire, Empire at War, and Battlefleet Gothic, this outdoes all of them in getting you in the battle. Besides the fact combat is actually 3D, sitting in the bridge, getting reports from your commanders about their statuses, watching a barrage of lasers and missiles fire from your ship as it descends on the enemy fleet, it’s fun and looks great.
Pros
-The ship designs are original and pretty good looking
-As someone who can’t have more than 2 people in Blade and Sorcery, this game has never slowed down
– Real player with 19.0 hrs in game