Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation

1. Remrrg

   Nov 12, 2016

   10

   I liked the first game, even though the game had a few flaws, but the added strategic view and new units completely change the game. To keepI liked the first game, even though the game had a few flaws, but the added strategic view and new units completely change the game. To keep it short the game addresses some of the problems that plagued the first game. If you love strategy games then this game is for you!… Expand

   • 4 of 6 users found this helpful
2. shimbalama

   Sep 10, 2017

   10

   This is the best RTS on the market. Easy to learn but hard to master the constant balances patches make it better and better. It takes a whileThis is the best RTS on the market. Easy to learn but hard to master the constant balances patches make it better and better. It takes a while to get your first multiplayer win but you'll get there!… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
4. Fred123

   Sep 10, 2017

   10

   Such a good game! The new RTS is here and its amazing. Hope to see you online soon as thats where it really comes alive. Regular balanceSuch a good game! The new RTS is here and its amazing. Hope to see you online soon as thats where it really comes alive. Regular balance patches and upcoming new units keep making it better and better.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
5. Lightjolly

   May 13, 2020

   8

   Probably the best follow up to the Supreme Commander Sub Genre. It's not as deep but far better than SUP COM 2 and Planetary Annihilation

   • 0 of 1 users found this helpful
6. Captain_Chaos

   Aug 13, 2020

   8

   I obtained Ashes of the Singularity as a free giveaway from the Humble Store, and was glad I did. I had my eye on it already as a fan of bothI obtained Ashes of the Singularity as a free giveaway from the Humble Store, and was glad I did. I had my eye on it already as a fan of both classic real-time strategy and of one of the developer's previous titles, Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion.
   
   A word to the wise, Ashes has the potential to be extremely taxing on your system. I experience regular frame drops during heavy battles of 20 fps or more, though not to a unplayable degree. I have heard the game referred to as "Ashes of the Benchmark."
   
   Ashes may be more grounded then Sins, both literally and figuratively, but in its own way is no less grand in scale. Ashes is an old school, build your base and then roll over dudes with a big army kind of RTS, with the basic components taken to their logical extreme. There is seemingly no upper limit to your population size, and battles can comprise hundreds if not thousands of individual units. The smallest available units are classified as "frigates", and others range in size all the way up to powerful dreadnoughts and juggernauts that gain experience levels as the capital ships in Sins do. You can zoom the map out far enough to see a strategic view of its entirety, as in Supreme Commander, and can issue commands to potentially every unit on the map if you desire.
   
   Units have simplistic strengths and weaknesses, using the more "modern" model of tactical rock-paper-scissors. In practice, building a mixed force of all available unit types is suitable for any engagement in the campaign.
   
   Resource gathering occurs passively, requiring only that you build extractors and generators. Metal and Radioactives are used for units and structures, with the most basic of such requiring only metal, while Quanta is used to increase your population cap, use targeted support powers, and purchase passive upgrades for your entire force, with no need for dedicated research structures. Additionally, the PHC faction use Quanta to increase their available resource storage, the Substrate have no such requirement.
   
   As in most RTSs, the resources near your initial base are usually limited and you must acquire more. However, in Ashes, all resource deposits are tied to a network of generators that are protected by weak "creeps" and must first be captured by your forces before you can benefit from the nearby deposits. Additionally, if enemies are able to capture your generators, you lose the income from any that would be cut off from your core structure, the Nexus.
   
   In addition to the ability to loop production queues at your unit factories, Ashes possesses a unique army formation mechanic: Simply select a group of units and press V to have them form up on each other. No manual formation management is required, units will automatically sort themselves into an appropriate layout, with dreadnoughts front and center, and non combat vessels in the rear, with the expendable frigates screening the outer edge to take fire for the more valuable cruisers. Perhaps most importantly, you can reinforce your armies directly, queuing up new units while you have the army selected, and this will automatically task available factories to produce the units requested. Additionally, if you have specific cruiser as part of that army for the PHC or use a certain support power for the Substrate, new units can teleport directly from the factories to the army's vicinity and join their formation, enabling you to advance more aggressively then in other games.
   
   Ashes is easier to control then the scale of the battles might otherwise suggest, and the enemy AI is smarter then you might suspect, in particular making good use of radar intelligence and sending strike forces where it knows your armies aren't. It's a successful fusing of mechanics from various older games with not a lot missing, though I personally would have liked a "follow cam" button. If I could complain about anything, it would be the forgettable soundtrack and the somewhat disjointed nature of the narrative. More particularly, the hotkey system in Ashes is a tad odd, requiring that you cycle through production options with tab before hitting a corresponding letter key on the left side of the keyboard. In multiplayer I'm sure this could potentially be an issue for some, but in the campaign, any potential human error on your end can be assuaged somewhat by adjusting the game speed, and issuing orders while the game is paused.
   
   Overall however Ashes feels like a logical step forward in the evolution of the 90s RTS, a genre that has felt underutilized of late if you haven't known where to look. A solid title.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
7. Renovatia

   Jun 24, 2022

   6

   This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. VERY MINOR SPOILER INCLUDED:
   
   This update is for 2022.
   
   Th RTS game is about conquering regions and when done so, you can mine for either metal and radioactives, which you will need to build your buildings, vehicles and static defenses.
   
   I just played out four campaigns, including Escalation and Genesis. And it's all the same. The campaign tries to force you into expanding. You can't turtle your way towards victory.
   
   Unit-development and whatnot is what you've seen before as well: short range units to tank and low-armor long range units to deal damage. Furthermore some units are only useful against very big ships, others are not at all. Later updates and expansions brought in more units.
   
   I didn't like is the lack of micro; I.e. you still have to combine into a blob and then send them forward to attack. This game isn't suitable for micro somehow and the campaign maps feel cramped. You're also often fighting on two fronts because - again - the game forces you to keep expanding.
   
   You can improve your armor, weapons and building-strength infinitely - theoretically. At each step you'll pay more for it though. Over time you'll save something called Quanta. This will be invested to upgrade your units and buildings.
   
   The game also has the usual "one-clicks", a message from "above", such as sending a reign of bombardments into an area. This too requires Quanta.
   
   All in all, from a single player perspective, it's still about good old macro-management, being all over the map fast and I'm a little bit done with that. Though the game offers an air of freshness, it's only a minor breeze. Would I pay €50 for the gold edition (includes all the add-ons)? No. The game is too boring for me though I gave it a good shot by playing all these campaigns.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. L1ttl3Sp0ng3

   Jan 8, 2022

   0

   Terrible control to win 10. Does not respond, must be clicked multiple times. You can't skip the boring and annoying soundtrack. The size ofTerrible control to win 10. Does not respond, must be clicked multiple times. You can't skip the boring and annoying soundtrack. The size of the download game is awful.… Expand

   • 0 of 1 users found this helpful

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