Age of Darkness: Final Stand | Early Access PC Review
Strategy RTS games are one of PC gaming’s favorite pastimes. Over the years, however, the genre has seemingly stalled in popularity as new ideas and IPs became few and far between. With new technology called “SwarmTech,” could PlaySide’s Age of Darkness revive the genre and appeal to modern audiences?
Age of Darkness throws you into a medieval fantasy world engulfed by chaos. Navigate your Heroes through treacherous landscapes, battling mythical creatures and rival factions to restore order to the realm. Can you and your Heroes survive the difficulty of the Darkness?
A Light In The Dark
Age of Darkness’ narrative is an enthralling story of power, betrayal, and the struggle for survival. A mysterious prophecy foretells the return of an ancient evil that threatens to plunge the world into eternal darkness. As the chosen hero, players embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the prophecy and confront the looming threat. The storytelling is rich and engaging, and puts you on the edge of your gaming chair right off the bat.
Soon you encounter different factions, which introduce their own motivations, histories, and conflicts, spinning a web of complexity that is astounding. The choices players make significantly impact the unfolding story, leading to multiple branching paths and endings. Morally gray decision-making abounds, adding a unique realism to the storytelling. Age of Darkness successfully delivers a narrative-driven gaming experience that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeper level.
A New Breed Of Deadly
At first, Age of Darkness feels to be just another run-of-the-mill RTS. This is simply done to allow you to learn the ropes of the controls and unit structure, however, before things get dark and dangerous. Which brings me to a point that needs to be delivered: Age of Darkness is HARD. It does inform you of this right out of the gate as you begin your campaign, but even so, I was not ready for how challenging this game becomes the farther into the darkness you go.
It uses a new technology, known as “SwarmTech,” that allows it to render more than 70,000 enemy units on the screen at once. Yes, you read that correctly, and it is quite impressive to see, although equally difficult to overcome. Hero and unit abilities are built around handling swarms like this, but I’ve never experienced an RTS which involved “panic-pausing” around every corner.
The combat system is a standout feature, striking a delicate balance between urgency and depth. Your Heroes and units are equipped with an array of weapons and powerful spells, and an intricate skill tree offers diverse customization options. The dynamic day-night cycle introduces a layer of complexity, as the world transforms with the setting sun, bringing forth more formidable adversaries and opportunities for resource gathering. Faction-based quests add depth, allowing players to align with different groups, each with its own unique narrative and alliances.
Age of Darkness excels in providing a satisfying sense of progression and challenge, offering a gameplay experience that caters to seasoned RTS and RPG enthusiasts. However, that could be considered a slight negative as well, as any newcomers to the RTS genre will be chewed up and spit back out by the hordes of enemies in a matter of moments.
Beauty In The Dark
The environments that you command your units across in Age of Darkness are masterfully crafted. Dark and sinister forests, desolate ruins, and other meticulously crafted environments meld with hauntingly beautiful sounds to envelop the player completely within the deadly world in Age of Darkness. Character designs are intricate, and the attention to detail is evident in the armor and weapon customization options. Lighting effects, particularly during the night cycle, contribute to the game’s atmospheric experience, casting eerie glows from torches and magical spells. Even the weather enhances the visual enjoyment, with rainstorms and fog adding an extra layer of realism to the landscapes.
Final Verdict
Age of Darkness’ RTS experience blends strategy, role-playing, and adventure. Its story is one of the best I’ve experienced in quite some time, and its deep and challenging gameplay is captivating. The excellently-designed visuals bring the dark fantasy world to life, and the hordes that the SwarmTech system allows for are something unseen in any RTS that I can recall. However, the steep learning curve and extreme difficulty may deter casual players. If you’re a fan of the RTS genre, though, Age of Darkness is definitely one you need to look into.
To hear me talk more about Age of Darkness: Final Stand, be sure to listen to the April 26th, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:19:55 time stamp.
This review is based on an Early Access PC copy of Age of Darkness: Final Stand provided by PlaySide Studios for coverage purposes. It is exclusive to this platform.
