Ara: History Untold is shaping up to be one of the most exciting strategy games of 2024, blending elements of traditional 4X gameplay with modern mechanics that set it apart. Here are the five of its most remarkable features that make it a game worth exploring.
1. The Living World: A Dynamic and Vibrant Experience
The game introduces an incredibly immersive living world that feels rich and full of life. Ara: History Untold offers a visually stunning map, with everything from vibrant forests to snow-capped mountains. Wildlife plays a crucial role, requiring players to clear dangerous animals like wolves from areas they want to settle, offering resources like fur as rewards. The presence of individual citizens performing daily tasks further enhances the sense of ruling a thriving empire.
2. Simultaneous Turns: A Fresh Approach to Strategy
One of the most controversial yet exciting features of Ara: History Untold is its simultaneous turns system. Unlike traditional turn-based games, all player moves are resolved at the same time, making combat and strategy more dynamic and unpredictable. This approach offers a more challenging experience, requiring players to anticipate opponents’ actions and adapt on the fly, adding a level of intensity rarely seen in similar strategy games.
3. In-Depth Crafting System: Endless Possibilities
The crafting system in Ara: History Untold is one of the most in-depth ever seen in this genre. Players have access to a wide variety of resources to create goods, equipment, and improvements. This allows for a highly customizable experience, enabling players to decide whether to focus on generating wealth, providing education, or preparing for war. This comprehensive system offers endless possibilities, making each playthrough unique.
4. The Prestige System: Unique Paths to Victory
Unlike other strategy games with predetermined victory conditions, Ara: History Untold introduces a Prestige system as the key to winning. Victory goes to the player who amasses the most prestige across seven categories: Commerce, Culture, Government, Industry, Military, Religion, and Science. This feature allows for greater flexibility, letting players pivot their strategies mid-game and explore multiple paths to success. As an added challenge, the lowest-ranking civilizations are eliminated at the end of each act, adding pressure to stay ahead.
5. Blending 4X Strategy with City-Building Mechanics
The game uniquely combines traditional 4X strategy gameplay with city-building elements, offering a more detailed and intricate experience. Players will encounter economic mechanics reminiscent of city builders, providing a richer and more nuanced gameplay experience. With maps accommodating up to 36 nations, this feature ensures that every session is a complex and engaging endeavor, setting Ara: History Untold apart from other titles in the genre.
Why Ara: History Untold Could Be the Ultimate Strategy Game of 2024
With experienced developers from the team behind Civilization V at the helm, Ara: History Untold has the potential to redefine the strategy game genre. Its combination of innovative mechanics, long-term support, and the promise of a complex, ever-evolving world make it a game that could captivate players for years to come. Releasing on September 24th, 2024, it’s poised to be a must-play for any strategy enthusiast.
