Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Armies of Exigo blends the familiar mechanics of a traditional real-time strategy with role-playing elements, offering a satisfying hybrid experience. Base building is intuitive yet deep, with players harvesting gold, wood, and gems to construct defenses, research upgrades, and expand their territory. Resource nodes are guarded and sometimes contested by the enemy, which keeps early skirmishes engaging and requires careful scouting.

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The hero units stand out as the centerpiece of every playthrough. Each hero gains experience through combat, unlocking new abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Though other units advance more slowly, the presence of a powerful hero encourages you to balance micromanagement of individual squads with macro-level resource planning. This push-and-pull between hero-driven tactics and broader army management is at the heart of Exigo’s gameplay.

One of Exigo’s signature features is the ability to form “supergroups,” where several traditional squads are assigned to a single control key. This streamlines large-scale engagements, allowing you to coordinate cavalry charges or synchronized assaults without endless hotkey juggling. Coupled with the branching subterranean passages you can explore, battles shift dynamically as you send troops above ground to pressure the enemy’s base while a second force tunnels beneath their walls for a surprise flank.

Each of the three factions offers a distinct strategic identity. The human alliance relies on sturdy infantry and versatile heroes, while their bestial foes emphasize brute strength and overwhelming numbers. The third faction, which enters later in the campaign, blends guerilla tactics and stealth, adding another layer of depth. Mastering the strengths and weaknesses of all three sides extends replay value beyond a single run.

Graphics

Visually, Armies of Exigo carries forward the vibrant, slightly stylized aesthetic of its RTS predecessors. Units are well-modeled and distinct, making it easy to keep track of your armies amid the chaos of battle. Environmental texture work—forests, villages, and rocky caverns—remains crisp, even by modern standards, and dynamic lighting effects heighten the drama of nighttime raids or underground skirmishes.

Spell and ability effects are particularly satisfying. From fiery meteor showers that scorch entire army formations to ethereal healing auras surrounding your hero squads, each visual flourish conveys both beauty and tactical importance. These effects are more than mere eye candy: they provide clear feedback on unit status and battlefield control, which helps you make split-second decisions under pressure.

Cinematic cutscenes punctuate key story beats, using a more detailed art style than in-game footage. While not on par with AAA modern titles, these sequences effectively drive home the stakes of the unfolding prophecy and add emotional weight to your hero’s journey. Even in motion, characters exhibit enough facial animation to feel alive, ensuring that the narrative never falls flat when transitioning from strategy to story.

Performance is smooth on most mid-range setups, with few frame-rate dips even during large-scale clashes. Adjustable graphics settings let you tailor detail levels to your hardware, ensuring you can enjoy sprawling battlefield vistas or dive into cramped tunnels without missing a beat.

Story

The narrative thrust of Armies of Exigo centers on a prophecy foretelling the return of a bestial force that was once vanquished by the elders of Men. Despite clear omens—skeletal warriors rising in the north and strange tremors beneath ancient temples—the council of elders dismisses these warnings as superstition. It falls to a young hero, newly appointed to the war council, to rally the realm’s defenses and heed the prophecy.

As you progress, you witness the tragic consequences of the elders’ hubris: entire villages razed by rampaging beasts, defensive lines shattered by subterranean assault, and alliances strained under the weight of inevitable conflict. The story unfolds over three acts, each focusing on one of the game’s playable factions. This structure enables you to experience the same events from different perspectives, shedding light on motivations and conflicts that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The introduction of the third faction midway through the campaign injects fresh intrigue. Their shadowy emergence and clandestine goals complicate the binary struggle between Men and beasts, adding political intrigue to the battlefield drama. Character interactions, whether through in-game dialogue or cutscenes, feel authentic; you’ll grow invested in the hero’s personal quest even as you juggle resource management and tactical planning.

While the overarching plot follows familiar fantasy tropes—prophecy, fallen kingdoms, chosen champions—it is executed with enough flair and pacing that it never feels stale. Side missions provide additional context and world-building, fleshing out the landscapes you fight over and the denizens who call them home.

Overall Experience

Armies of Exigo succeeds in carving out its own niche within the crowded RTS landscape by marrying base-building fundamentals with RPG-style hero progression. Whether you’re consolidating forces above ground or orchestrating multi-pronged assaults through underground tunnels, the game consistently offers meaningful choices and satisfying feedback. It’s a title that rewards both strategic planning and adaptive tactics.

Newcomers to real-time strategy will find a gentle learning curve, thanks to comprehensive tutorials and gradual introduction of advanced mechanics. Veteran players, meanwhile, can dive into skirmish and multiplayer modes to test their mettle in high-stakes duels or clan-vs-clan warfare. The diversity of factions and mission objectives ensures that no two playthroughs feel identical.

The only notable drawbacks lie in occasional pathfinding quirks when armies navigate cramped corridors, and a handful of dated UI elements that could benefit from a more modern polish. However, these minor issues are outweighed by the game’s robust design and engaging campaign. The community has also produced mods that tweak balance, add maps, and improve interface clarity, extending the title’s lifespan.

For fans of Warcraft III and hybrid RTS-RPG experiences, Armies of Exigo offers a rich, immersive world to conquer. Its combination of strategic depth, narrative flair, and polished presentation makes it a worthy addition to any strategy enthusiast’s library. If you’re looking for a challenging yet approachable RTS with memorable heroes and dynamic battlefields, this is a game well worth your time.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10