RTS PC game

[kcdusk]

Anyone recommend a good real time strategy PC game, even if its a year or two old?

[leonpoi]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

Anyone recommend a good real time strategy PC game, even if its a year or two old?

No, not really, if what you mean is a tw2000-style or small-squad tactics style rts. For turn based I'd recommend Ja2 Gold with the 1.13 mod. I have been getting into the combat mission series which is also not really real time. Not much help there I'm sorry to say

[Cdnwolf]

Look up something called Google Earth Wars...

http://gewar.net/war/index.php

[Targan]

I recently bought the Company of Heroes Anthology pack (Company of Heroes, CoH Opposing Fronts and CoH Tales of Valor). It is an RTS in which you can control various types of US, British or German units in WWII campaigns in France. Its been fun so far.

[Krejcik]

Hearts of Iron 2 is by far the best RTS ever. It's about 2 years old.

theirs a new HOI 3 out but I haven't played it (has not been ported to mac yet...)

[Caradhras]

Not quite an RTS, but Arma 2 I am playing atm is close. It is a 4 man US marine recon squad and it's virtue is an all out effort for realism. Downside (tho not for me, this is good imo) of this if you get shot, you are down or dead...no health bar Medics can patch up non-fatal wounds if they can get to you in time.

Later levels (I am approx 11 of 15 through the campaign atm), has you controlling troops, APCs and Armour. Driving a BMP cross country to capture an enemy village watching out for AT infantry is good fun. The array of weapons and vehicles is impressive, I havent got to use helicopters yet but they are in there. The computer AI is good, it wont frontal assault it will try to flank. If you are in a building, the troops dont run in to be bodies stacked at the door like many others. They surround and wait.

To come I think is the command and control of units, like a proper RTS, but not really tested this.

If you want to play around with weapons and armour (modern) with max realism without getting dirty, this is the game for you - but it is hard!

[Caradhras]

Oh afterthought - I bought the latest (2007! ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpoon_(series) from Matrix games (couldnt find it anywhere else). Was more out of nostagia than anything else, but what an excellent naval RTS - again 'realism' over graphics etc. It will get some play once I done with Arma 2.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Caradhras

Not quite an RTS, but Arma 2 I am playing atm is close. It is a 4 man US marine recon squad and it's virtue is an all out effort for realism.

I bought ArmA 2 recently but I'm still learning how to play it. Visually it is very impressive but there is a steep learning curve.

[MajorPo]

I think Total Annihilation is one of the best RTS games ever published for the PC. There are a huge number of mods and improvements out there for it too. Hours of fun, though not very twilighty

[Fusilier]

Originally Posted by Krejcik

Hearts of Iron 2 is by far the best RTS ever. It's about 2 years old.

I'll second this... its a great strategy game. Good mods for it too.

[Kellhound]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet the RTS World in Conflict.
Very T2K and released two years ago. It has a recent expansion, but haven't played it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_in_conflict

[kcdusk]

World in conflict looks interesting. But i am leaning towards a WWII setting.

Thanks for all the ideas though, its helped allot in terms of narrowing my search down.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

World in conflict looks interesting. But i am leaning towards a WWII setting.

Then I can definitely recommend the Company of Heroes Anthology pack.

[Caradhras]

I have the Company of Heroes anthology sat in its packing waiting for me to finish with Arma 2.

Arma 2 is VERY frustrating - some bugs, controls can take some learning but overall I have found it worthwhile. You cant stand in the open or you are toast, even shooting from cover you had better move or you will get hit by something or outflanked. I found a useful tactic was being a spotter and ordering my team (or vehicles you have later) to take out targets.

[Slappy]

The Combat mission series is by far the best I've ever played if you're looking for aWWII game. It is not true real time, but the wego turn system works very well. Both sides plot moves for 60 seconds and the results are evaluated simultaneously.