The real-time strategy genre is far from dead, but it's not exactly the cutting edge of the PC scene, at least not to the extent it was in the 90s. This was the decade that was defined by people as Command and Conquer, Starcraft, Warcraftand Total destructionand while some of these IPs have persisted in one form or another, many others have fallen into obscurity, specifically –Dark Reign— is especially ripe for a comeback.
Absorbed in the shadow of much more popular and prolific ones Command and Conquer, Dark Reign takes many of the greatest strengths of the RTS genre. Its structure-building mechanics, while imperfect, are quite satisfying and contain a surprising amount of quality-of-life features that, coupled with some great AI, help it stand the test of time. Dark Reign holds, in other words. Perhaps publisher Activision simply didn't feel the IP was worth the long-term investment, or perhaps the cultural shift away from the RTS genre in the 2000s made it seem dated, but Dark Reign they deserve better.
The best RTS games to play if you like Starcraft
Many StarCraft fans will soon find themselves looking for something similar to play. Here are the best games to scratch that itch.
Dark Reign presents a promising sci-fi world worth revisiting
There are two games in the game Dark Reign franchise:
- Dark Reign: The Future of War (1997)
- Dark Reign 2 (2000)
The first game I will simply call Dark Reignfollows a member of a far-future civilization called the Tograns, which has been largely destroyed due to conflict between two warring factions, the Empire and the Freedom Rangers. Even the Togran home planet, Strata-7, was destroyed. However, just before its destruction, a famous scientist named Alpheus Togra launched a time travel device into space, giving the remaining Tograns a chance to turn back time and change the course of history.
Place 9 games in the grid.
Start
In order to be deemed worthy of taking up this item, the player must complete a series of simulated missions that make up the majority of Dark Reignsingle player campaign. These simulations recreate key battles between the Guardians of Liberty and the Empire, and the player can switch sides at will before each fight. After winning all the simulated battles, the player character goes back in time and defeats both factions, stopping the destruction of Strata-7.
AND Dark Reign extension of the so-called Rise of the Shadowhand continues to cover the complications arising from the Togran revival and is technically the latest entry in the series' chronology.
Dark Reign 2a prequel, it offers more context for the events that led to the devastating war between the Empire and the Freedom Rangers. The game takes place on a 26th century Earth that has been ravaged by ecological collapse and civil unrest. Called the Jovian Detention Authority (JDA) at this point, the Empire oversees a massive authoritarian government spanning several dome cities. The citizens of these cities must submit to the JDA's absolute authority or be banished to the inhospitable environment behind the domes. Those who choose to defy the JDA are called the Sprawlers, a faction that eventually morphs into the Freedom Rangers. Despite adding this valuable world-building content, Dark Reign 2 is widely considered a commercial failure.
The dark reign's revenge can be sweet and simple
It is likely that low income from Dark Reign 2 is the main reason we never saw a Dark Reign 3or a Dark Reign a remake for that matter. And while rights holder Activision can focus more on its big-budget cash cows, the breadth and diversity of the modern gaming audience could absolutely support a smaller project like the new Dark Reign.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Dark Reign games never emphasize cutscenes, fancy graphics, or cutting-edge technology. While one would imagine that newer Dark Reign would be modernized in many ways, it would not be necessary to change these basic aspects of the series: Dark Reign it's special because of its world building that doesn't necessarily cost a premium to maintain and develop. Thus, Dark Reign could be modest in terms of innovation and scale and serve as a project with lower investment and appeal to a more focused demographic.
