Been playing some
Ashes of the Singularity Escalation testing the new 2.2 beta patch that rebalances everything, the AI is much harder...I have been getting my arse handed to me, but now they have replays so I can see how the AI pulled it off...what I appreciate is that when I work on that strategy, they'll change to counter my new strategy. The action is fun, and watching the battles is just fucking amazing. I know a lotta folks think of this as a benchmark masked as a game, but I disagree. More now than ever, and with the future looking brighter for AotSE with upcoming naval units, tier 4 units, Steamworks integration, it is only going to get better. That all being said, this game loads my systems more than any other game I play...which makes it a great OC stability tester too! I feel that Stardock and Oxide Games have a great direction moving forward with this one and there's a lot to do already with a lot more coming. Bring it!
Frankly anyone that's a fan of RTS and large-scale battles should take a serious look at this one. If you tried it before and having in recent months, it might be a great time to check it out again. Seems to scale better with systems too, can get it to play smooth on systems in my sig with medium-high, and my main rig and Acer Predator 15 laptop with high-ultra settings all at 1080P. The adjustments made to textures, details, shading, effects have all made the game absolutely stunning to look at. I love to pause mid-battle and take screenshots...just amazing. The camera is easy to use, pan, tilt and zoom with as well...especially since they added WASD panning support months ago.
I've been all over the place with 4X games lately as well...floating between
Gal Civ 3 in anticipation for the Crusades DLC and
Stellaris in anticipation of this week's Utopia and 1.5 patch releases. Both are big news for both games, and I won't get into either here. They both have pro's and con's. Where they disappoint the most is combat for me. Gal Civ 3, I really like the empire development and exploration phases...I have the least amount of time invested to this one, but it sure is entertaining and looks amazing. I'm normally not a TBS fan, but this one does it well. I do like the little touches and attention to detail they brought to the game...and Crusades' changes to GC3 are going to be huge...the economy change, addition of civilions as a mechanic, even the changes in the 2.0 release now have been helpful to enjoying the game more (I think at least...I bought it on the 2.0 release sale). Stellaris is fun in bites, and churns along....but never keeps me hooked. Even with the combat mods, I still am frustrated by the hands off feeling of combat. Not being instanced like GC3 helps its setting though...but there needs to be some major balance changes which the 1.5 patch should address. Neither really does much to focus on their combat issues...but if GC3 can add more tactical control and fix its horrid camera in the battle instances and Stellaris can add some better fleet options, controls and tactics, both could really shine without adding too much to detract from users that don't necessarily care to get involved with combat.
I will say I feel GC3 and Stellaris do a fine job making you an emperor and should only get better with time. StarDock and Paradox are known for DLC, long-term support and constantly improving games so I feel my investments here are sound and I've already gotten my money's worth of fun out of each so far and have a long ways yet to go. I am just hoping that sooner than later issues are fixed so I can maintain an interest in these games longer...for now I play till I get tired of the unfixed BS or balance issues and move onto something else.
When I want combat I have been going to Ashes, when I still want a 4X empire building experience with more combat I'm playing the currently early access title
Dawn of Andromeda (think Sins of a Solar Empire + Stellaris Lite + better UI) and
Polaris Sector (best instanced tactical combat around IMHO).
Dawn of Andromeda offers a more standard RTS feel to the 4X genre, and offers simple yet strategic planetary development. Combat feels a lot like SoaSE. The galaxy view and graphics quality reminds me of a warm Stellaris. Plays smooth, looks great, excellent UI, constant patching and communication from the devs. I'm very happy with this one. I play it at a faster pace than I do many other 4X games, and it does a great job of handling that. Upcoming additions should add even more to see, find, exploit, and master. If you don't like EA, keep an eye on this one anyways. I play through this one, give my feedback to the dev. It is fun and a little more casual, kind of like Stars in Shadow is a more casual 4X TBS. Great fun and presentation that's only getting better!
Polaris Sector has been out over a year now and is still getting updates and free content. The graphics are definitely showing their indie-side but are enjoyable and get the job done. The research system is unique and about to get a major update to add even more to it to make tuning your research more effective and important. Combat is instanced and is very tactical. Planetary development is standard 4X, and the AI does a great job with it. The time control and auto-pause features are some of the best in the genre for real-time 4X. This game has had a lot of development time, and has a very old school feel to it that really works very well for it. This also means it can run on about anything that is probably 7-8yrs old or newer...maybe even older. This is one of those games that I'll start at a decent hour and then all of a sudden it is 3AM...SHIT! I gotta work, but dammit that Klackon empire cannot be allowed to infringe on my border, that next battlefleet is almost there. Let's do it!
$34 on GoG 
