8-Bit Hordes

While each element of this game had it’s ups and downs, I was still able to get sucked right into the battles on every stage. Even when battles dragged towards the one-hour mark, the rhythm of construction and conquest was compelling. The catchy music and the destructible environments meant that each fight was fun, even when it was frustrating. Though there were some flaws and stumbling points, I can still easily recommend 8-Bit Hordes to anyone looking for a simpler stroll through RTS territory.

8-Bit Armies is an enjoyable RTS that will appeal to genre newbies and fans of the old Command and Conquer games but it could do with a bit more variation and the lack of a story takes away from the game's personality a bit.

Playing 8-Bit Hordes then is a bit like walking a tightrope with boredom on one side and frustration on the other. There are occasional moments when the game offers an exciting balance. But most of the time it fails to watch its step.

The second game is a trilogy but not necessarily an improvement. Sure, the campaign has been expanded upon and the troop management aspect works like a charm. At the same time input registration is flaky and the selection wheel can really get on your nerves for not being accurate enough. The online part of the game is already extinct and that is worrisome to the game's lifespan.

8-Bit Hordes is by no means a bad game, but perhaps an example of a missed opportunity. It doesn't reach a place as either a nostalgic throwback to previous strategy titles or as a beginner's game in the RTS genre, lacking the deep elements that keep those things afloat. That said, it still has its moments, and those after a relaxed strategy game might find something here.

8-Bit Hordes is a pleasantly diverting and fast-paced “blast”-style throwback to the heyday of the RTS, with plenty of charm. It’s also easy to pick up and play. But its major lack of depth will turn off hardcore strategy fans, and several annoyances detract from what would otherwise be a polished product.

8-Bit Hordes has attention grabbing visuals but little else on offer. This is Real Time Strategy by the numbers and entirely forgettable, though other developers would do well to remember and adopt the 8-Bit series control scheme. In that regard at least, Hordes might have some of its own ideas pilfered, rather than liberally borrowing everyone else’s.