Praetorians(HD Remaster)....

Praetorians; a game from 2003 and one I picked up at the time. I was way more into RTS games then than I am now. A game that was more strategic as you start with a set force and it's only reinforced in certain maps at certain times if at all. A game that's easy to loose without you knowing you've already lost(unless you already know the maps).  So in that regard it's more hardcore. Punishing but only in a Hitman failure is educational.kind of way.

There's a certain charm to the game/story/graphics in looking back at it now but I'm sure there's a degree of nostalgia. The later levels are a 'challenge' from what I do recall. A game I've waffled about before and not only due to it getting a remastered version(here and here).

As I said I can still play the original game from disk(yes physical media!) even on a Win 10 pc today as well as use my old saves. While I also said I'd not pick up the HD remastered version unless it was on sale. I'm not even sure I have it on any wish-list anywhere anymore; With the reasoning that I've seen and done it and can do it again with the OG disk/saves. However it was given free on Games with gold for Xbox last month.

I didn't even think the remaster would be on Xbox. So of course I claimed and installed it. It's a surprise to play on the platform. It looks great and plys just like the original. Maybe not as intuitive with a controller as with a mouse and keyboard but it works well(some games ported are less so, like Bomber crew, at least for me, which I waffled about here and here). A game I was happy to start to get into but one I've put down and not hopped back into. If I'd no history(pun?) with the game I'd probably say I was pleasantly surprised and see where it all went and played out. A playable game but one I know has a difficulty curve that bites later on so not for the faint of heart.

So my nostalgia is high and very forgiving. For me back in the day, the game was a bridge between the RTS's of C&C style games and the revelation of joy that was and is Rome Total War, remaster of it and all. 

If you do get to play the game:

Use sunscreen scouts.

Use unit's in groups(quick numbers).

Use scouts.

Unit's have weak/strong points against different enemy units; So use the right unit against it's preferred foe. 

Use scouts.

Have unit's support each other in attack and defence. Hold the line and keep formation.

Use scouts.

Elevation matters a lot, done't be like you know who....

Use scouts. 

Line of sight matters; Your archers can kill your own as well as the enemy.

&

Use scouts.