Ancient Wars: Sparta

Set during the turbulent era of 500-450 BC, Ancient Wars: Sparta is a real-time strategy game that immerses players in the conflicts between Spartans, Persians, and Egyptians across Asia Minor, Europe, and North Africa. Featuring a 27-mission single-player campaign spanning all three factions, the game emphasizes large-scale tactical battles with formation controls, unit customization for weapons and armor, and a unique mechanic where soldiers salvage weapons from fallen foes. Players can also acquire new technologies by conquering rival civilizations to enhance their military capabilities.

Ancient Wars: Sparta: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction

Ancient Wars: Sparta is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that transports players to the ancient world, specifically the period between 500-450 BC. Developed by World Forge and published by Playlogic, the game offers a unique blend of historical events and strategic gameplay. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of Ancient Wars: Sparta, covering its development history, narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, reception, and legacy.

Development History & Context

Studio and Creators’ Vision

Ancient Wars: Sparta was developed by World Forge, a Russian studio, and published by Playlogic. The game was announced in February 2005 as Sparta: Ancient Wars, with the intention of being the first in a series of historical RTS games under the Ancient Wars banner. The developers aimed to create a game that adhered closely to historical facts, avoiding fantasy elements like magic or gods. The game’s engine, the Ancient Wars Engine (AWE), was specifically designed for Sparta and featured advanced graphics capabilities, including DirectX 9, vertex shading, self-shadowing, dynamic lighting, and a custom physics engine.

Technological Constraints and Gaming Landscape

The game was developed during a time when the RTS genre was becoming increasingly competitive, with titles like Medieval II: Total War, Supreme Commander, and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars setting high standards. Ancient Wars: Sparta aimed to differentiate itself through its historical accuracy and innovative gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to customize units and collect enemy weapons.

Legal Issues

The game’s development was marred by legal issues between World Forge and Playlogic. World Forge accused Playlogic of failing to provide the agreed-upon funding during development, leading to a lawsuit. The District Court of Amsterdam ultimately ruled that Playlogic owned the copyright for the game, and World Forge was forbidden to distribute the game outside the former Soviet Union territory.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

Ancient Wars: Sparta features three separate campaigns, each focusing on a different ancient civilization: the Spartans, the Egyptians, and the Persians. The campaigns are loosely connected and depict historical events such as the Egyptian uprising against Persian rule, the Second Persian invasion of Greece, and Sparta’s resistance to Persia.

• Spartan Campaign: The story begins with Leonidas leading a small force to Thermopylae to defend against the Persian invasion. The campaign explores Leonidas’ early days as king, his struggles with rebellion, and his eventual sacrifice at the Battle of Thermopylae. Pausanias, Leonidas’ nephew, takes over the leadership and leads the Greeks to victory at the Battles of Salamis and Plataea.

• Egyptian Campaign: The campaign follows Inaros, a young chieftain who trains soldiers for the Persian army. After his lover Meritaton is kidnapped by the Persian commander Megabyzus, Inaros leads a rebellion against Persian rule. With the help of the Spartans and Libyans, Inaros defeats Megabyzus and reunites with Meritaton.

• Persian Campaign: The campaign begins with the first Persian invasion of Greece, led by King Darius. After Darius’ death, his son Xerxes becomes king and continues the invasion. The campaign explores Xerxes’ struggles with rebellion, his victories in India, and his eventual defeat at the Battles of Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea.

Themes and Dialogue

The game’s narrative explores themes of leadership, rebellion, and the consequences of war. The dialogue and voice acting, however, were criticized for being uninspired and poorly executed. Despite this, the game’s historical setting and fictionalized depictions of real events provide a rich backdrop for the strategic gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

Ancient Wars: Sparta is a real-time strategy game where players control one of three ancient civilizations: the Spartans, the Egyptians, or the Persians. The primary goal is to build a strong army and defeat the opponent by destroying their settlement or killing a specific unit. The game features three types of resources: gold, wood, and food, which are used to construct buildings, research new technologies, and equip warriors.

Combat and Character Progression

The game features three basic types of infantry: Light, Medium, and Heavy. Players can customize their units by equipping them with different weapons and armor. Units can be trained at barracks or archery ranges, and their equipment can be researched and manufactured. Players can also collect weapons from defeated enemies and use them to equip their own army.

Combat is influenced by the player’s chosen stance: Aggressive, Defensive, Hold the ground, or Passive. Players can also choose from three formations: line, column, and free formation. Heroes play a significant role in combat, with special abilities that can be acquired as they level up.

UI and Innovative Systems

The game’s UI is straightforward, with a point-and-click interface for controlling units and buildings. The ability to customize units and collect enemy weapons adds a layer of strategy and depth to the gameplay. However, the game’s slow pace and extensive micromanagement were criticized for making the gameplay feel tedious at times.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Ancient Wars: Sparta is set in the Eastern Mediterranean during the years 485-479 BC. The game features three distinct civilizations, each with its own unique buildings, units, and economic models. The Spartans, Egyptians, and Persians each have their strengths and weaknesses, adding variety to the gameplay.

Visual Direction and Sound Design

The game’s graphics were praised for their detail and realism, with large vistas when zoomed out and high levels of detail when zoomed in. The sound design, however, was criticized for being repetitive and lacking in variety. The voice acting was particularly singled out for its poor execution, with critics noting that the dialogue was often uninspired and poorly delivered.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Ancient Wars: Sparta received mixed reviews upon its release. Critics praised the game’s graphics and the ability to customize units, but criticized its slow pace, uninspired dialogue, and lack of innovation. The game’s aggregate score on Metacritic was 59 out of 100, based on twenty-one reviews.

Influence on Subsequent Games and the Industry

Despite its mixed reception, Ancient Wars: Sparta had a lasting impact on the RTS genre. Its innovative unit customization system and historical setting influenced subsequent games, and its legal battle between World Forge and Playlogic highlighted the challenges faced by developers in the gaming industry.

Conclusion

Ancient Wars: Sparta is a game that aimed to bring historical events to life through strategic gameplay. While it received mixed reviews and faced legal challenges during its development, it remains a notable entry in the RTS genre. Its innovative unit customization system and historical setting set it apart from other games of its time, and its legacy continues to influence the industry. Despite its flaws, Ancient Wars: Sparta is a game that deserves recognition for its ambitious vision and unique approach to the RTS genre.