Armies of Exigo E3 2004 Impressions

There have been years when it seems like developers will do anything to make their real-time strategy game seem unconventional, but the first thing EA will admit about Armies of Exigo is that it's a traditional RTS. With a fantasy theme, three races, and a style and camera view reminiscent of Warcraft III, the game will seem familiar to veteran strategy gamers. But its in the execution that Armies of Exigo sets its own personality apart, particularly in its two-level combat system and with its attractive 3D characters and spell effects.

Multiple map levels have appeared in a number of lesser-known real-time strategy games, but Budapest developer Black Hole seems to have integrated the concept more tightly into the interface and gameplay. Here both the aboveground and subterranean levels get their own minimap, one in each of the lower corners of the screen. And the three resources (wood, gold, and gems) are scattered throughout both levels--with tree roots providing the otherwise unlikely underground wood--so you're not forced to spread your bases between them if you don't want to.

The three factions--humans, beasts, and the fallen--have strengths that play to one level or the other. The humans look and act as you'd expect, but with the addition of miners that can dig tunnels to the subterranean level. The beasts--a nomadic alliance composed of orcs, ogres, and the like--have a huge demon unit that can teleport around the map or between the levels. (This demon was the most impressive unit we saw in a brief demo, between its fiery body and ability to spawn numerous small demon fighters.) The fallen--with a mix of insect units and death magic casters--will gain a special sight bonus in the darkness.

The subterranean level may add some complexity, but it should also bring some new tactical options. The scattered natural openings in the earth can serve as choke points, but each faction has a way of building an alternative route, so it's impractical to turtle behind static defenses. It's a real option to feign a frontal assault while the main force approaches from a tunnel to the rear. And there are specific spells that work between the levels, such as a gas cloud that floats from below up to the surface and an earthquake spell that can destroy underground buildings from the surface.

Each faction has two leaders that play a key part in the single-player story that unfolds over a total of 36 levels, but it's the ordinary units that gain experience and level up. While human and beast units get stronger only if they survive battles, the fallen have a collective level pool that can be used to magically upgrade units. This goes well with their theme of necromancy, such as with the dark priestess, who can revive the dead as skeletons.

We'll have more on Armies of Exigo closer to its release at the end of the year.