Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War - PC Games

The lowdown:
In most real-time strategy games you're just an anonymous controlling force, but here you're actually a real general out on the field, ordering your soldiers around and facing the same dangers they do. All the civilisations have historically accurate units including footmen, archers, siege equipment and specialised forces unique to each faction. Naval combat also plays a more important role than usual with massive sea battles featuring completely customisable ships. If you prefer to take a more peaceful route through the game though you can recruit scientists and artisans to improve your cities and resources, but this is primarily a battle game so don't skimp on the defences.

Most exciting moment:
The new hero mode is great as you get to take direct control over your hero unit, from a third person perspective. Each of the eight different heroes has their own unique abilities and weapons, with Achilles being good with a sword but slower and less agile than the fast but weak Nebuchadnezzar.

Since you ask:
Developer Stainless Steel Studios actually went bust just before work on this game was completed. Everyone involved in the project though, including publisher Midway, resolved to finish the work on the title and ensure the game got released.

The bottom line:
The historical RTS finally gets a kick up the ages with some genuinely new ideas.
Harrison Dent