Stormgate is a love letter to the golden era of real-time strategy games but sometimes stumbles under the weight of its nostalgia. Though it does bring back memories of the classics from Blizzard, namely StarCraft and Warcraft, it needs to improve in carving an individual identity. It will seem very familiar and solid to dedicated RTS players, while new entrants will find it entrenched too much in the past. Let’s check out this Stormgate Review for more!
Pros:
- +Nostalgic Blizzard vibes
- +Evocative and varied factions
- +Solid RTS mechanics
Cons:
- -Overly referential to classic titles
- -Pacing can be slow
- -Visual and audio design lacks polish
A Familiar Battlefield
Stormgate has been one of the most highly anticipated RTS titles released within the last few years. Frost Giant Studios is staffed with veterans of such legendary titles as Warcraft 3 and StarCraft II. So, many expected the game to rekindle the flames for the RTS genre. Now that it’s finally here, players can dive into a world that feels like stepping back into the early 2000s with a few modern twists.
The setting and story are familiar to gamers. The single-player campaign, which introduces us to the human Vanguard faction led by battle-hardened Amara, is something old mixed with new. Amara’s quest to defeat the Infernal Host is a demonic force laying waste to humanity. While animated and voiced like most others, somehow, it seems incapable of breaking new ground. It feels more like a remix of past stories rather than something innovative.
Gameplay
Where Stormgate shines is in its gameplay. The RTS mechanics are fine-tuned to blend the best elements of both Starcraft II and Warcraft 3. You will build bases, manage resources, and lead armies into battle with the same strategic depth that made those games timeless.
Finally, the factions – Vanguard, Infernal Host, and Celestial Armada, each offer unique play styles that many veterans of the genre will find familiar. Vanguard does efficient, no-nonsense units that are very good at controlling maps. The Infernal Host is all about swamping opponents with lesser behemoths, where the strength comes from operating in their territory. The Celestial Armada brings in a more mobile approach and rapid base laying but with weaker offensive units.
This familiarity is a double-edged sword, however. To anyone who hasn’t played an RTS before, Stormgate will be overwhelming. Veterans will appreciate the comfort of its well-trodden mechanics; conversely, they will yearn for something more revolutionary. In general, the game’s pacing is deliberate, and the battles will often unfold very slowly. Manwillple’s news won’t be up if they look for faster, more dynamic gameplay.
Multiplayer: A Double-Edged Sword
Stormgate looks to build its legacy in the multiplayer mode. Co-op missions, clearly inspired by StarCraft II, make for a familiar yet engaging experience: players choose commanders, each with unique abilities and hero units that inject a bit of personality into a battlefield.
The competitive multiplayer is well done, focusing on strategic depth and map control. However, in this mode, Stormgate’s adherence to its forbears most comes to the fore. Little innovation is done to the gameplay; although polished, much of it often feels like a reskin of the classics. To die-hard RTS fans, this may be sufficient, but for those looking for something new, Stormgate might not give what they want.
Visuals and Audio: A Mixed Bag
Visually, Stormgate tries to be bright and vibrant to contest the feel of Blizzard’s best, but it needs to catch up. It’s not an unattractive game, but its terrain textures feel flat, and its maps sterile. Buildings in each faction can look similar, making it hard to distinguish different buildings, although the global build menu helps here.
Stormgate’s sound design is where It stumbles the most. It’s often mumbling, and unit voiceovers could be clearer, lacking the clarity or energy one would want from a game of this nature. Combat sounds are underwhelming: firearms lack punch, and spells don’t precisely sizzle, detracting from the general immersion and leaving the game unfinished in parts.
Summary
Stormgate does know its audience and it celebrates an RTS genre full of nods toward the classics that shaped it. For fans of StarCraft and Warcraft, this would be a reassuring return to form a very sound RTS experience striking all the right chords. At the same time, it is a game fighting for identity outside these influences.
Sure, it’s fun and engaging, but it often feels too much like a greatest hits collection rather than some bold new entry into the genre. If you’re looking for something that will whisk you back to the halcyon days of RTS, Stormgate will deliver.
But if you’re hoping for something that will push things forward, you can’t help but feel a pang for something more. Liked this review? Click here for more reviews, game guides and more!
