In the ever-evolving world of strategy gaming, Ara: History Untold emerges as a fresh contender, challenging the established norms of the genre. Developed by Oxide Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, this turn-based strategy game offers a unique blend of historical authenticity and complex gameplay mechanics. In this review, let’s delve into what makes this game a noteworthy addition to the strategy gaming landscape.

Gameplay and Historical Immersion

Ara: History Untold offers a deep, immersive experience that blends strategic gameplay with historical storytelling. Players guide their civilizations through various eras, making decisions that have far-reaching consequences. What sets this game apart is its integration of real historical events alongside in-game occurrences. When players encounter significant moments in their empire’s development, the game cleverly displays corresponding real-world historical events and their outcomes.

This feature not only enhances the educational value of the game but also provides players with a reference point for decision-making. It creates a unique learning experience where players can better understand the potential impacts of their choices by drawing parallels with actual historical events. This approach transforms Ara: History Untold from a mere strategy game into an interactive history lesson, appealing to both strategy enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Leader Selection

The game offers an impressive roster of 41 leaders for players to choose from at the start of their journey. Each leader is tied to a specific civilization and comes with unique traits and 4-5 bonuses, allowing players to tailor their initial strategy. The selection spans a vast timeline, from Julius Caesar in 100 BC to George Washington in the 18th century, covering diverse historical periods and cultures.

This variety not only adds to the game’s replayability but also allows players to explore different historical perspectives. The choice of leader significantly influences the early game strategy, as their unique bonuses can guide players towards certain development paths, be it military expansion, cultural growth, or technological advancement. This system encourages players to experiment with different leadership styles and civilizations, providing a fresh experience with each playthrough.

Diplomacy System

The diplomacy system in Ara: History Untold is a cornerstone of the gameplay, seemingly more intricate than in similar titles. As players’ scouts discover other nations, a web of diplomatic relations unfolds. The game offers various methods to interact with other civilizations, including gifting goods, opening borders, and engaging in trade. Successfully building friendly relationships can lead to technology exchanges and alliances, mirroring the complexities of real-world international relations. However, the system is not without risks.

Mismanaged relationships can result in sudden wars, emphasizing the need for a strong military as a deterrent. The game also incorporates interactions with small tribes, which can be persuaded to join the player’s empire, adding another layer to population growth strategies. While the depth of the diplomacy system is engaging, it can sometimes be confusing, with sudden shifts in relationships occurring without clear explanations. This complexity adds to the game’s challenge but may also lead to occasional frustration for players.

Technology Tree

The technology tree in Ara: History Untold strikes a balance between simplicity and strategic depth. Unlike some competitors, the game presents a more streamlined approach, clearly listing available skills and unlockables for each era. Players are informed about the number of technologies required to progress to the next era, but interestingly, these requirements are often fewer than the total available technologies. This design creates a crucial decision point: should players advance quickly to the next era, potentially gaining an edge in progression, or learn all available technologies to ensure a well-rounded civilization?

The consequence of advancing without learning all technologies is permanent – unlearned technologies from previous eras become inaccessible. This system introduces an element of strategic trade-off, forcing players to weigh the benefits of rapid advancement against comprehensive development. It ensures that each playthrough can lead to different technological paths, significantly enhancing the game’s replayability and strategic depth.

Visuals and Map Design

Ara: History Untold impresses with its visual fidelity and innovative map design. The game boasts exquisite graphics with intricate terrain designs and rich variations in scenery. Each civilization and city is crafted with attention to historical detail, creating a strong sense of authenticity that aligns with the game’s artistic style. The map design deviates from the traditional hexagonal grid system seen in many strategy games.

Instead, it employs a more complex and flexible irregular terrain system that conforms to real-world geographical variations. When players capture new territories, these are divided into sub-regions based on resource distribution and terrain advantages.

This design not only enhances realism but also introduces new strategic considerations. Players must make nuanced decisions based on terrain characteristics, weighing the benefits of resource-rich areas against defensively advantageous positions.

The irregular map structure makes terrain control increasingly important, with each territorial decision potentially having long-term impacts on empire development. This approach to map design adds a layer of complexity and strategic depth that sets Ara: History Untold apart from its counterparts in the genre.

User Experience and Learning Curve

While Ara: History Untold features complex mechanics, it excels in user experience design. The interface is clean and intuitive, presenting information clearly to help new players quickly understand the game’s systems. A comprehensive tutorial system guides newcomers through core mechanics and basic operations, effectively reducing the initial learning curve.

As the game progresses, players encounter more intricate systems related to the technology tree, diplomacy, and map strategies. However, the game provides sufficient tools and guidance to help players navigate these complexities.

This approach allows for a sense of accomplishment as players gradually master the game’s nuances, rather than feeling overwhelmed. For experienced strategy gamers, the depth of gameplay offers an engaging challenge, while new players can gradually acclimate to the game’s intricacies through the well-designed onboarding process.

Strategic Depth and Gameplay Variety

One of Ara: History Untold’s strongest aspects is the variety of strategic choices it offers players. The game allows for multiple paths to victory, catering to different playstyles. Players can focus on rapid technological advancement, pushing their civilizations into future eras quickly. Alternatively, they can emphasize cultural development, expanding their empire’s influence through soft power. The game introduces a prestige system that adds another layer of strategy and pressure.

Divided into three acts, each containing four eras, the game eliminates nations with low prestige rankings at the end of each act. This system forces players to balance their overall development with prestige-generating activities, such as completing specific tasks or constructing certain buildings. The option to enter a Golden Age, which boosts prestige gains, adds another strategic consideration.

This multifaceted approach to gameplay ensures that each playthrough can unfold differently, greatly enhancing the game’s replayability. Whether focusing on diplomatic finesse, cultural dominance, military might, or technological superiority, Ara: History Untold offers a rich tapestry of strategies to explore.

Conclusion / Verdict

Ara: History Untold emerges as a compelling addition to the turn-based strategy genre, offering a fresh take on historical simulation. Its strengths lie in its nuanced approach to historical storytelling, innovative map design, and complex systems of diplomacy and technological advancement. The game successfully balances educational value with engaging gameplay, making it appealing to both history enthusiasts and strategy game veterans.

However, the game is not without its challenges. The complexity of the diplomacy system, while adding depth, can sometimes lead to confusion with unexplained shifts in relationships. The learning curve, especially in later stages, may be steep for newcomers to the genre.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Ara: History Untold’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The game offers remarkable replay value through its diverse leader selection, multiple paths to victory, and the prestige system that keeps players engaged throughout the game’s three acts. The strategic depth, combined with the freedom to approach empire-building in various ways, ensures that each playthrough can offer a unique experience.

For players seeking a rich, historically-grounded strategy game that goes beyond simple conquest, Ara: History Untold delivers. In the landscape of historical strategy games, Ara: History Untold stands out as a title that respects its players’ intelligence while providing an engaging and visually impressive experience.

Reviewed on PC, Provided by Xbox