This week has gone by in a hurry! While I have been rather busy with a lot of real-life stuff, I was also able to plug several hours into Star Wars Zero Company. I cannot wait to share with you my review of that one. I was even surprised by the reception you gave me on my first impression, as 25,000 of you have come to the website to read it. Thank you so much!
But let’s focus on the task at hand and go over the most important strategy and wargaming news of the last week and the up-and-coming weeks! There’s a new wargame called Steel Company that’s been making the rounds; Sins of a Solar Empire gets an expansion 20 years in the making; Ashes of the Singularity II will run an open multiplayer playtest, and a Crown of Hispania is a Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV grand-strategy game focusing on the Reconquista. All of that and much more in this week’s Strategy and Wargaming News.
Crown of Hispania Will Have You Fight The Glorious Reconquista
If there’s one era that’s been criminally underrepresented in historical games, it has got to be the history of the Iberian Peninsula. Crown of Hispania is a title that’s looking to right that wrong by deep-diving into a very specific time in the Peninsula’s history.
Taking place in the 11th century, a time when the Iberian Peninsula was split between the powerful muslim domain of Al-Andalus and several smaller Christian kingdoms, this was a time of turmoil and tensions between the two religions, as the constant attacks from Al-Mansur kept the Christians on the defensive.
The game is clearly inspired (it says on the Steam page) but Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV), but hopes to stand out by having a deeper population simulation, free army movement, and a lot more detailed being packed into every one of its 300 provinces. You already know me, and once this one comes out, I’ll be jumping straight into it and playing as Portucale! I’m also very curious to see how long the game will last, because the Steam Page mentions the Reconquista and a starting date of 1035. The whole thing lasted until the fall of Granada in 1492. If this game goes full Reconquista mode and covers the whole thing, chances are this might be a runner-up for my favorite grand-strategy game ever made!
Sins of a Solar Empire II: Harbinger Arrives
After nearly 20 years, the Eidolon has arrived in Sins of a Solar Empire! The new DLC called Sins of a Solar Empire II: Harbinger allows players to command the faction that has had the Vasari on the run for nearly 10,000 years. The Eidolon’s sole goal is to spread the corruption across the galaxy to empower themselves and their worlds. As worlds get corrupted by the Eidolon, they unlock powerful upgrades. This corruption also spreads to their units as well, and as they get more and more corrupted, their offensive power grows, but their compositions dwindle.
The Eidolon are a formidable threat with their null-powered weapons that are capable of negating shields and spreading corruption, cloaked ships, and psionic abilities. The DLC is already out, and it’s currently going for 20% off, costing $23.99.
Steel Company – New WW 2 Wargame Announced
A new tactical-scale wargame set in World War 2 and covering all the major theatres and powers has been announced. Called Steel Company, this one is heavily inspired by the much-beloved Matrix classic Steel Panthers. The game is set ot have hand-crafted scenarios, customizable randomly generated campaigns, a scenario editor, multiplayer, and a detailed combat model. If you want to know more details about it and the man working on it, read this interview with Chris.
Major Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance: Evolution DLC
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is one of the most underrated RTS games in recent memory, but fortunately, the game is still being updated and getting new content. Called Evolution, this upcoming narrative expansion (releases September 22nd) will keep progressing the story forward with 8 new missions, as players command the Resistance and Integrator forces against Legion in frozen Canada. Here are the highlights:
- 8 new missions comprising sabotage operations, defensive sieges, and assaults;
- New units for all factions and technologies;
- Human augmentation systems;
- New environments like frozen forests, mines, and Legion’s experimental facilities.
New Call To Arms – Poland DLC
The best World War 2 strategy game ever made is getting its 7th major content update! Called “First to Fight”, it will be focusing on Poland! Not a lot is known officially, but by looking at the trailer, it’s possible to foresee some of the missions players will be able to undertake, especially the encounter when the TKS tankettes destroyed two Panzer 35 (t) and a Panzer IV. At the tail end of the trailer, the appearance of a Sturmtiger and several partisan units indicates to me that we’ll also be playing a mission during the Warsaw Uprising.
Focus Entertainment Publisher Sale
Here’s a very quick Public Service Announcement. Focus Entertainment is running a publisher Sale. Aliens: Dark Descent is currently $9.99, and Space Marine 2 is $14.99.
