Art of War: Red Tides

Art of War: Red Tides is a unique real-time strategy game blending elements of RTS and autobattler genres, praised for its simple yet deep gameplay mechanics. Players summon troops in waves, focusing on strategic unit composition and commander skills to outmaneuver opponents in quick matches lasting around 10-15 minutes. The game supports 1v1 and 3v3 modes, encouraging teamwork and tactical coordination. Despite its beta status, the game boasts solid graphics optimized for low to medium-end PCs, with an art style reminiscent of classic RTS titles like StarCraft.

Players appreciate the addictiveness, strategic depth, and the absence of pay-to-win mechanics, making it accessible and enjoyable for casual and hardcore players alike. However, the game is currently on hold post-beta, causing frustration due to lack of updates and delayed release. Overall, it holds great potential if developers address balance, AI, and content expansion before full launch.

Highlights

Players highly praise the game's engaging strategic gameplay, especially the balance of simplicity and depth in troop deployment and commander skills. The fast-paced matches of about 10-15 minutes make it ideal for quick sessions. The graphics are well-received for their clarity and style, suitable for a wide range of hardware. The game’s inspiration from classic RTS games like StarCraft and flash games such as Age of War adds nostalgic appeal. Community and multiplayer modes, particularly 3v3, are highlighted for their cooperative and competitive fun. The absence of pay-to-win elements is also a major positive noted by players.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the game's lack of content variety at launch, with calls for more factions, units, and abilities to enrich gameplay. Some players note unit imbalance and AI weaknesses, such as poor targeting and idle behavior. The short map size and bottleneck issues sometimes cause frustrating gameplay moments. Language localization is incomplete, with untranslated texts affecting immersion. The game's current hiatus after beta and slow developer communication have led to player frustration and waning interest. Additionally, some feel the ranking and banning systems need refinement to improve competitive play.