Should I try this game if I'm new to RTS?

[big poo's brother]

Or get Sup Com FA? Age of Empires 2? I want a RTS game that you can control units on air, land and water. Multiplayer and singleplayer would be appreciated.

[SwahiliMonster]

If you care about multiplayer more than single player, go with AOE2. The multiplayer is infinitely better, though ultimately more difficult and complex. Much more multi tasking than C&C.

That said, both are great games and I recommend both.

[rekuzar]

I'd say just start with Starcraft 2. It is free after all and has a lot of QoL Features you will be missing here. It also got an excellent AI you can train against in various difficulty levels.

This game here is good for nostalgia but the genre had so much progress over the years, there is no need to start back in 1995.

[Rabcor]

Originally posted by koko:

Or get Sup Com FA? Age of Empires 2? I want a RTS game that you can control units on air, land and water. Multiplayer and singleplayer would be appreciated.

I mean the answer is kinda... yes to all?

RTS is not a very complicated genre, it's a bit more complicated than FPS maybe, but it's not really more complicated than RPGs... I mean it can get more complicated, but those are usually so called grand strategy games, and those are also typically turn based rather than real time so technically not really RTS at all.

Out of the games you mentioned, the most complicated is probably AoE2; the most innovative is Supcom FA (a legendary game really, it's only shortcoming is that it's engine can't keep up with the massive armies you're gonna want to create in it) and the most simple would be this.

But look at the graphics in here a bit, I mean this is basicallly a game from a time where what's now called pixel art, was the norm in video game graphics, if that doesn't bother you, then you should totally get this. Command & Conquer as a series is probably the best introduction to RTS games you'll get, doesn't matter really if you go for the original C&C, Tiberian Sun, Red Alert, Red Alert 2 or even Generals (surprisingly; generals was a pretty great game). The quality goes slightly downhill for C&C 3 and Red Alert 3 and afterwards, so maybe stick to games from before then if you want to enter this genre through C&C.

I suppose you could also try planetary annihilation, that one's good (it's like a successor of sup com sorta)

There's also no reason to dismiss Supreme Commander 2 btw, sure it didn't live up to it's predecessor quite, but it's still a great RTS.

And lets not forget starcraft, I mean starcraft is pretty much the most popular RTS out there, it's formula is very similar to that of Command & Conquer too (to the point where I'd actually say Starcraft is basically a copycat of C&C, it's basically C&C with more interesting factions and better lore. A well made game for sure, but ripoff nonetheless)

[Jasan Quinn]

By modern gaming standards, C&C has a lot of rough edges and seemingly stupid design choices, especially the original (Red Alert is better). However, at the core this is a solid, playable game. It's a little on the hard side, but it's a fair kind of difficulty. You're expected to try each map several times, gaining information from your failures and coming up with a winning strategy next time.

There are definitely more newbie friendly RTS games, and more user friendly ones, but if you can learn to love its foibles this game will make a man out of you.

If you do want something easier and / or more modern, I'd go with Starcraft 2.

[Knavery]

I'd skip this game if you didn't play the original. Most people that are buying this remaster played the originals. This is a nostalgia thing for most of us, and is why we really enjoy it. As far as 2020 standards, it's not a great RTS. The two things that really put it above modern RTS games is map design and difficulty. Beyond that, the systems are archaic and take some getting used to.

Jasan is right though... SC2 is a good choice. It's a great game.

[Soondead]

I don't know where else you would get this much high quality RTS for just $20 -- the amount of well-made missions you get means you're pretty sure to find your favorite. The cutscene animations look very dated and the game is (faithfully) missing a few features that become standard after C&C was originally released, but it works very well without them.

[Bernhardvd22]

Ashes of the singularity Escalation

[Sobrio]

Red Alert 3 is well balanced in ground/water/air combat. Most of units can trasnform and switch between ground , air, or water mode.

[I am Goyim]

this game is clumsy and basic with sht path findings an crappy map designs on multiplayer. just go play starcraft 2 since its free an its the most competitive rts out.

[TheBogKarp]

Originally posted by koko:

Or get Sup Com FA? Age of Empires 2? I want a RTS game that you can control units on air, land and water. Multiplayer and singleplayer would be appreciated.

honestly Star Craft 1 would be a better starting point lots air and ground all the rts bells and whistles just no water stuff and SC1 story is amaze balls if you get into it!

[metal_hamster]

Don't play it because it's too simple? There's some strange people here. By all means, start with the first C&C game. It is simple and is exactly the reason why you should start here. It's a great game with great aesthetics, music, videos and story. They don't make games like this now. RTS games became too complicated.

[Radical Russian]

Originally posted by koko:

Nah, I actually prefer complex games and high skill caps.

Then Supcom FA is your best bet. Play it on FAF (forged alliance forever). It's a lobby who almost everybody who still plays FA uses. And the game receives community patches there as well after all these years.

C&C is fun and all, but FA is definitely more complex, and will hit all you want on air, ground and naval.

[MANFACE!]

An old gem i can recommend: Earth 2150
It has all sorts of units, you can even put your units together how you like, what chassis and weapons they have.
Multiplayer could work but i am not sure.
Just be sure to set it up right before you start it, otherwise it might not work or crash.

Supreme commander 2 works nice too. Same goes for command & conquer 3: Kanes Wrath.
Last but not least: 8-bit armies. Basicly command and conquer in a voxel artstyle, makes fun.

[Udon Solo]

I dont recommend to buy this game yet until they work on patches and updates.

You can try OpenRA first, since it is free, more balanced, improved and less bugs.

[Alio]

This is what many consider the first "real" RTS game alongside Starcraft.

I would recommend C&C Remastered>Starcraft Remastered>Age of Empires 1+2 Definitive Edition>C&C Red Alert 2>C&C 3>C&C Red Alert 3>Company of Heroes>Company of Heroes 2.

If you played these games in that order you would get a very good experience of the evolution of RTS games in the last 25 years. They all work well on modern machines also.

If you're looking for a great RTS to start with that has modern improvements, a good place to start would be Company of Heroes 1+2 IMO. Those game really revolutionized the genre by scaling things down for beginners/intermediate RTS gamers while leaving room to grow and master complex scenarios.