Empires Apart

Empires Apart is a real-time strategy (RTS) game heavily inspired by classic titles like Age of Empires II. It features six unique civilizations, each with distinct mechanics, offering varied gameplay experiences. The game aims to rekindle the old-school RTS spirit with modern touches such as quality-of-life improvements in UI and faster-paced matches. Multiplayer is the main focus, with ranked 1v1 modes and casual skirmishes, though the player base remains small. Developers are a small team but active in patching and community engagement.

However, the game suffers from significant issues at launch, including poor optimization leading to severe performance drops and crashes, especially in multiplayer and larger matches. The AI is rudimentary and unchallenging, pathfinding is clunky, and the absence of a single-player campaign disappoints many. Many players feel the game was released prematurely without sufficient polish or content. Despite its potential and charm, the game struggles to maintain a stable player base and requires further development and fixes to fulfill its promise.

Highlights

Players praise Empires Apart for its unique civilizations with distinct playstyles, which add depth and diversity to gameplay. The fast-paced RTS mechanics and multiplayer focus appeal to competitive fans. The art style, featuring low-poly but charming graphics, is appreciated for clarity and visual appeal. Quality-of-life UI improvements, such as automated farm reseeding and better control group visualizations, are noted positively. The soundtrack and sound design receive compliments for enhancing immersion. The developers' active communication and commitment to updates inspire hope for the game's future.

Overall, the game captures the nostalgic feel of classic RTS while introducing thoughtful modern touches.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the game's poor performance and optimization, with frequent crashes, severe FPS drops, and lag especially in multiplayer and larger matches. The AI is weak and buggy, often behaving illogically or getting stuck. Pathfinding issues frustrate players as units get stuck or move inefficiently. The lack of a single-player campaign and limited content in survival and challenge modes disappoint many. The small player base leads to long queue times and imbalance in matchmaking. UI and control schemes receive mixed reactions, with some finding them unintuitive. Additionally, the game's release without an early access label despite clear unfinished elements leaves players feeling the game is incomplete. Some also note that the game feels like a barebones Age of Empires clone without enough innovation.