Screenshots of the game look like book art, and Exigo has the gameplay to match.

If you’re looking for something to tickle your RTS fancy before the release of The Battle for Middle Earth, then you should check the Single Player Demo of Armies of Exigo.

These days all RTS games have a “gimmick”, and in Exigo you fight both above and below ground. Concurrently attacking / defending against the AI on two different maps sounds more like a hassle than a perk, but in execution the demo’s second plane adds story depth rather than strategic frustration. After the enemy base is defeated, your army plunges deep underground for a dungeon crawl to unlock your next unit type. Thing is - it’s the same map so the entire story arch is seamless.

The action and adventure mix well as your troops explore their way through the woods. The game’s art is excellent ( smells of high production values ) and overall the combat feels right. The special attacks of some units are much more dynamic than we’re used to — an ogre of Exigo isn’t entirely unlike the troll of Battle for Middle Earth.

I’ve read very little about Armies of Exigo (Games from Europe just don’t get as much press as they should). Overall the game sounded o-kay and bit cookie-cutter, but after playing for a few hours I’m a fan. The style of the game has something that doesn’t last through the screenshots — it feels like you’re fighting your way though an adventure more than most RTS maps.

A disabled save option is all the demo has going against it. I highly recommend the download to anyone looking for something new in the RTS genre.

Even the loading screen is a wonderful piece of gaming art

Downloads:
    Fileplanet
    3D Gamers
    Action Trip
    Gamespot

Previews:
    Gamespot
    IGN