Post by Matt on Nov 16, 2014 12:03:03 GMT -5
Please feel free to share your first impressions with Ultimate Generals: Gettysburg
For me, this game just feels like being a kid in a candy shop. A new and bigger Gettysburg! almost completely carrying over the ideas Sid Meier had to a new and modern level, evading some glitches the old game had forever like column charging/running and forward retreating. Even the old problem of gamey arty stacking seems solved.
UGG (as this already seems the new acronym separating Ultimate Gamers from Sid Meier aka SMG) offers contemporary graphics, only lacking the option to scroll down to soldier level like Bull Run did, but this isn't necessary for the tactical play, so again the game carries over Sid Meier's ideas of keeping it simple. This also was done with interface and controls. Both are as simple as in old Gettysburg! and most players of this game should learn controls in a day.
The AI is classy, very adaptive and does make many reasonably moves, so it's getting increasingly harder to beat in complex battles, especially when showing it's ability to strike back with regrouped brigades. So particularly when pushing with the Rebels, you have to keep an eye on your losses or you won't have enough men later to exploit your gains. The dynamic change in chain of scenarios is leading to increasingly good defensive ground for the Union as you push them south.
However, me and other experienced online players did win both campaigns in first efforts around 4 hours each. This does not say AI is doing a bad job as most late online players of SM Gettysburg! have been extremely dedicated to the game and it was hard to survive without good skills. Looking at the steam record, surprisingly few players managed to win the campaign yet, so there is a difference in audience here. Likely the game has attracted many new players to the ACW genre.
Still waiting to see a multiplayer game, but I already heard good things so far. However, this will be the decisive point for the former online playing community to rally around the game - or not. My guess is there will be a revival for some of us, or for many. If not for most...
To sum it up, with a little bit of caution: I think SMG finally has found a true heir, after 16 long years.
For me, this game just feels like being a kid in a candy shop. A new and bigger Gettysburg! almost completely carrying over the ideas Sid Meier had to a new and modern level, evading some glitches the old game had forever like column charging/running and forward retreating. Even the old problem of gamey arty stacking seems solved.
UGG (as this already seems the new acronym separating Ultimate Gamers from Sid Meier aka SMG) offers contemporary graphics, only lacking the option to scroll down to soldier level like Bull Run did, but this isn't necessary for the tactical play, so again the game carries over Sid Meier's ideas of keeping it simple. This also was done with interface and controls. Both are as simple as in old Gettysburg! and most players of this game should learn controls in a day.
The AI is classy, very adaptive and does make many reasonably moves, so it's getting increasingly harder to beat in complex battles, especially when showing it's ability to strike back with regrouped brigades. So particularly when pushing with the Rebels, you have to keep an eye on your losses or you won't have enough men later to exploit your gains. The dynamic change in chain of scenarios is leading to increasingly good defensive ground for the Union as you push them south.
However, me and other experienced online players did win both campaigns in first efforts around 4 hours each. This does not say AI is doing a bad job as most late online players of SM Gettysburg! have been extremely dedicated to the game and it was hard to survive without good skills. Looking at the steam record, surprisingly few players managed to win the campaign yet, so there is a difference in audience here. Likely the game has attracted many new players to the ACW genre.
Still waiting to see a multiplayer game, but I already heard good things so far. However, this will be the decisive point for the former online playing community to rally around the game - or not. My guess is there will be a revival for some of us, or for many. If not for most...
To sum it up, with a little bit of caution: I think SMG finally has found a true heir, after 16 long years.
