If I said the words Ashes of the Singularity, some of you might be aware that it’s an upcoming RTS from the stables of Oxide Games and Stardock Entertainment. Others might not know what I’m referring to at all. And some might not care just because it’s a strategy.
There is a very good reason why every PC gamer should have at least one eye on Ashes. It’s a game that quickly became the go-to benchmark for DirectX 12, even in primitive builds. And as of it’s finally entered beta, with a string of crucial features.
Given the direction the RTS genre has taken over the last few years, the presence of any traditional, old-school strategy games will always be a welcome sight for diehards. (I’m still grinning that I’m wrong in how faithful Deserts of Kharak was to the original Homeworld games, despite my insistence that the developers would take a tack with more mass appeal.)
But Ashes of the Singularity is now starting to properly take shape as an actual game, instead of a view into our DirectX 12 future. To mark the launch of today’s beta, the Substrate faction has been added as a playable race, two more maps have been introduced and ranked multiplayer has been implemented.
There’s a new progression system as well and orbital abilities, but the interesting element is Ashes move beyond a benchmark and start to take shape as a fully fledged RTS experience. As it stands, the game already has over 20 maps, two factions, 7 difficulty settings and custom lobbies.
There’s a long way to go, and the single-player campaign could still end up like Grey Goo. But in a year and environment where the prospects for new RTS games are increasingly thin on the ground — largely thanks to the rise of MOBA, and the change in the market — Ashes is standing out.
Comments
14 responses to “The Game That’s More Known For Being A Benchmark Is Now In Beta”
I love good RTS games, and I just built a new PC 😀 (I was a console scrub)
Nothing wrong with playing consoles. I’ve got a decent rig, but also own a PS3 and PS4.
oh I know there’s nothing wrong with consoles, but this is my first proper attempt at PC gaming 🙂 up until now ive only ever dealt with consoles.
That’s awesome. Buy please don’t get into the whole ‘master race’ nonsense. After all, master racers can’t play games like Red Dead Redemption!
Must resist ….. assimilation…..
Resistance is futile….
This is an article about RTS games, which are inherently awful on consoles.
Sorry buddy, but PC’s have your consoles beat in this genre. Sure, PC’s might be relatively terrible for driving sims or fighting games, but for RTS’ the Master Race reigns supreme.
I was responding to the statement “I was a console scrub”. Not any particular genre of game. I have said nothing in favour (or not in favour) of RTS games on console. Owning a console doesn’t make you a ‘scrub’, just like owning a PC shouldn’t make you a wanker….
edit: weird double post shenanigans
@cardinal7477
Sorry, I heard the shots fired and I couldn’t resist! Just wanted to point out that for every console exclusive game that doesn’t get a PC release, there’s like 10 PC games that either can’t or shouldn’t be played on consoles.
I have had one single experience with RTS games on consoles (Red Alert on the Playstation – came with it’s own mouse and everything) – it was awful.
I just love great base building rts games. I’m no good at them online because I’m a base perfectionist and focus more on defence. I end up being owned by rushing players. Just got back into playing C&C generals, and still love the Dawn of War series too.
Man I just finished playing through the Dark Crusade campaign…. 3 times.
I also am in the middle of a Soulstorm run, but it’s not nearly as fun as DC. I mean.. all the mechanics are there (once I added the Persistent Bases mod), but it just isn’t as fun.
I have modded them at all, nor even looked for any mods. Are there decent mods for the series? What does the persistent bases mod do?
To be honest, I’ve only used the one.
In Dark Crusade, if you conquer a territory and are subsequently attacked in it, you kept all the buildings from the previous mission. I really dig this concept – it gives you an incentive to play the mission out, gain control of the map and finish out all the top-tech buildings, so that if you’re attacked again you can immediately start pumping out the best troops.
Fast forward to Soulstorm, and this concept was abandoned. Every mission you were forced to start from scratch – yes, it made defense missions more difficult, but what I found (playing as orcs) was that every single mission was just zerg-rushing the opponent down – often I wouldn’t even build a single Da Boyz Hut, and would just pump out 4-5 squads of Slugga Boyz from the HQ and run at the opponent. It worked, but it was so bloody boring.
Enter the persistent bases mod – it brought back the Dark Crusade feature, where your base from the conquest mission was available for your defense missions. I found it improved my enjoyment of Soulstorm immensely – I could play a more tech-focused race like the Tau and have it feel worthwhile.
I mean, Soulstorm is far from perfect, but that one mod brought it alot closer to being as fun as Dark Crusade. It still isn’t… but it’s closer.
Also, there are a bunch of mods for Soulstorm that I haven’t even looked at yet. Some make the game more difficult, I’m pretty sure there’s one in there that adds the Tyranids as a playable race, it looks like people have done alot with the game since it came out.