Over the past quarter-century, the challenge of successfully reviving the essence of 90’s-style real-time strategy (RTS) games has proven to be a formidable one. Despite numerous attempts to modernize the exhilarating elements of resource-gathering, base-building, and commanding miniature armies, it was last year that developer Slipgate Ironworks made a significant breakthrough with their title, Tempest Rising.
Reviving the RTS Genre
Tempest Rising emerges as a robust and confident RTS that not only captures the mechanics and pace of its predecessors but also pays homage to the gritty near-future aesthetic characteristic of the 1990s. Set in an alternate history where the world is reeling from the aftermath of World War III in 1997, players find themselves vying for control over a powerful resource known as Tempest. PC Gamer editor Rick Lane aptly described it as “exactly what the RTS needs right now,” awarding it a commendable score of 85, which speaks volumes about its reception and success, ultimately leading to the development of an expansion.
The base game allows players to choose between two factions, but the newly released Veti’s Wrath expansion introduces a captivating twist. Players can now command the Veti, a mysterious and ritualistic faction that emerged from the depths of the Earth to become a formidable presence in the original campaign. This expansion features a full-sized 11-mission campaign, where players guide the Veti in their quest to reclaim lost technologies, reunite their people, and assert dominance over the human factions that threaten their existence.
The Veti are far from being mere pacifists; their gameplay strategy revolves around a unique mechanic that transforms fallen enemies into mindless thralls. These thralls can either be sacrificed to enhance the combat capabilities of your troops or fed to Ascension Anchors, which serve to bolster your buildings. This aggressive resource generation approach creates a dynamic flow within the game, allowing players to deploy raiding parties or establish forward bases to capitalize on enemy troops at the edges of their territory.
Unlike other factions that extract Tempest clumsily from the battlefield, the Veti cultivate this enigmatic energy source by constructing Refinement Altars around it. This symbiotic relationship with Tempest, which predates humanity’s exploitative interest, unfolds as players delve deeper into their campaign.
The Veti’s arsenal includes some truly innovative units. For instance, flying Caretakers can establish build radii anywhere on the battlefield, emphasizing aggressive forward placement as a tactical advantage. Additionally, units like the Gorgon, an insectile mech capable of “blinking” across the battlefield, and the Phantom Artillery, which bombards from long distances by opening wormholes, add layers of strategy that set the Veti apart from their counterparts.
With the Veti’s Wrath expansion, Tempest Rising will be re-released as a Gold Edition, encompassing both the original game and the expansion. Notably, the Veti faction will also be made available as a free multiplayer option in the base game. Set to launch on September 29, this expansion marks a significant milestone in the revival of the RTS genre, inviting players to immerse themselves in a richly crafted homage to its golden age. For those eager to experience Tempest Rising, the base game is currently available on Steam, with the Veti’s Wrath expansion accessible through the same platform. Stay connected with the game’s updates by following Tempest Rising on X.
