Arena Wars

Arena Wars is an action and real-time strategy game released by Tri Synergy and Ascaron Entertainment in 2004.

Arena Wars
Developer(s)	exDream
Publisher(s)	Ascaron Entertainment, Tri Synergy
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release	GER: July 16, 2004 UK: September 10, 2004 NA: September 21, 2004 FRA: October 8, 2004
Genre(s)	Action, real-time strategy

Gameplay

The game is notable for combining strategy and shooter elements in gameplay. The limited unit choices (6) and specials (one for each unit) make the game extremely balanced. There are no resources needed to build units, as every player has exactly 1000 credits. Building units uses credits, but a player that loses a unit regains the money instantly and can rebuild it (or another unit), penalized only by the time taken to rebuild. Players also do not construct buildings, but use buildings located at fixed positions on the map. Players win the game by completing one of three objectives, depending on the game type:

• Capture the Flag - stealing the flag from an opposing base
• Bombing Run - carrying a bomb into an opposing base
• Double Domination - controlling "domination zones" for a period of time

As opposing players have equal options, high-level strategy, fast decision making, and precise micromanagement are key factors for success.

Development

Arena Wars was the first commercial game to utilize the .NET Framework;^[1] however, it used a managed OpenGL wrapper rather than the XNA Framework/Direct3D API.^[2]

Remake

Arena Wars Reloaded, developed br exDream and published by Ascaron Entertainment, was released on June 22, 2007 for PC and combines elements of real-time strategy and action elements, like its predecessor. The game carries many of the original overall game structure with improvements in graphics and a more stable game engine.^[3]

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	77/100[4]

Review scores

Publication	Score
1Up.com	B[5]
Computer Gaming World	[6]
GamesMaster	58%[7]
GameSpot	7.5/10[8]
GameSpy	[9]
GameZone	8.4/10[10]
Jeuxvideo.com	14/20[11]
PC Format	78%[12]
PC Gamer (US)	76%[13]
PC Zone	68%[14]

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[4]

References

1. Nitschke, Benjamin. Professional XNA Game Programming For Xbox 360 and Windows
2. "Arena Wars". The ZBuffer. December 2, 2004. Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
3. "Arena Wars Reloaded". Game Pressure. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
4. "Arena Wars for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
5. Durham Jr., Joel (October 28, 2004). "Arena Wars". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
6. Edwards, Tom (December 25, 2004). "Arena Wars" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 246. Ziff Davis. p. 92. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
7. "Review: Arena Wars". GamesMaster. Future plc. December 2004.
8. Osborne, Scott (September 29, 2004). "Arena Wars Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
9. Tsotsos, Alex (October 6, 2004). "GameSpy: Arena Wars". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
10. Aceinet (October 11, 2004). "Arena Wars - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
11. Romendil (October 18, 2004). "Test: Arena Wars". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
12. "Arena Wars". PC Format. No. 168. Future plc. December 2004. p. 94.
13. "Arena Wars". PC Gamer. Vol. 11, no. 13. Imagine Media. December 25, 2004. p. 94.
14. "Review: Arena Wars". PC Zone. Future plc. December 2004.

External links

• Arena Wars at MobyGames