Recommend an RTS?

[CFFJR]

I've never beaten a Real Time Strategy game. Played bits of a couple many years ago (Red Alert I think), but never came close to finishing.

I'd like to fix that this year by beating at least one.

So I'm looking for a recommendation please. What would be a good first rts? Keep in mind that this isn't a genre that has ever really caught me, so accessibility is important. It doesn't have to be easy or anything, but if its notoriously difficult or complex it might push me off. Just being honest.

If possible I'd like to see if folks can come to a consensus on what I should try, as opposed to choosing one myself. Simply because I can pick blindly without creating a thread, but I don't want to pick blind. I really don't know anything about this genre beyond resource gathering, unit building, and "fog of war", so quirks in a given game or series won't be apparent to me.

As for the questions of modern or retro and platform, I don't care. Whatever is good.

So, thoughts?

[dsheinem]

Starcraft

[alienjesus]

I think Command and Conquer is both very accessible, and still a ton of fun today.


However, a base building RTS like Starcraft or Command and Conquer is very different to an RTS like Rome: Total War. Which type are you looking for here?

[Exhuminator]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlezon ... eo_game%29

Aside from the name and presence of tanks, this game bears little resemblance to the original. Activision remade it into a hybrid of a tank simulation game, a first-person shooter and a real-time strategy game. Battlezone is played like any other real time strategy, but the main difference is that in Battlezone the player is controlling everything on the battlefield from the first person view.

Yes it's old with crappy graphics but this is still a fantastic RTS. An overlooked and utterly brilliant game.

[CFFJR]

Starcraft

The original over the sequel right? Just double checking.

I think Command and Conquer is both very accessible, and still a ton of fun today.


However, a base building RTS like Starcraft or Command and Conquer is very different to an RTS like Rome: Total War. Which type are you looking for here?

The very first one?

As for the type, um, to be honest I don't know. I wasn't aware there was such a distinction. Should I try both styles?

Yes it's old with crappy graphics but this is still a fantastic RTS. An overlooked and utterly brilliant game.

That looks pretty interesting, with the perspective change.

[Nemoide]

Warcraft II might be a good pick; it was my first RTS and I wasted quite a lot of time playing it on Battle.net back in the day. It's more advanced than the original Warcraft but is simpler than Warcraft III or Starcraft. That said, Starcraft isn't overwhelmingly more complicated, so you might want to give that a try too!

Also, if you're unfamiliar with the genre, you might like Brutal Legend which is an odd game in that it starts off with no RTS elements but by the end it's just RTS-central. I had fun with the single player campaign at least. It's definitely not PURE-RTS but that's part of why I liked it!

[Sano]

Check out Universe At War

[BoneSnapDeez]

I could be a butt and recommend Ys Strategy... but seriously, play Starcraft.

Herzog Zwei on Genesis is also solid.

[ExedExes]

My early RTS progression went Dune II > Warcraft I & II > Command & Conquer.

As it already has been mentioned, RTS is way beyond the old base-building days. There's more to consider.

[Xeogred]

No shame in Starcraft. Well polished, still looks, sounds, and plays great. I thought the story and world was cool too.

For whatever reason I've had no interest in the sequel though.

I want to throw Total Annihilation out there, but it's definitely a bit weirder and a bit overblown with the units.