This or AoW4?

[strike478]

I need opinions.

[jonoliveira12]

This is MUCH better. In AoW4, everything blends together, specially at the moment.
You have to give Paradox games SEVERAL years, before they are in a better state than their predecessors.

Even then, I do not think AoW4 will ever be as good as Planetfall.

[Mythrix]

Personally I'm enjoying AoW4 more at the moment but I've only finished 2x games of each. AoW4 is very streamlined for a 4x game - something I'm appreciating. A full playthrough isn't such a huge commitment so you can try a few different strategies in different games. The unit customisation in both games is great but feels slightly more creative in AoW4 with more different 'tier' units rather than just customising the same few base units in AoW:P.

[Endvalley]

I REALLY want to love AOW4 more... but the tactical combat is nowhere near as fun as PF's. All the units feel very similar with most abilities just being stat changes... versus PF where your tier 1 soldier can have overwatch, grenades, stim heals, and phase through walls.

AOW4 may still get there with patches and dlc, so we'll see. But right now, PF is far superior to me. Praying to god that either AOW4 gets a lot better or Planetfall 2 is in the works.

[PeaceMaker]

Originally posted by strike478:

I need opinions.

I would say this although the women look better in AOW4, not so man-like butch which Planetfall suffers terribly from.

[jonoliveira12]

Originally posted by PeaceMaker:

Originally posted by strike478:

I need opinions.

I would say this although the women look better in AOW4, not so man-like butch which Planetfall suffers terribly from.

Unless you are talking about the Amazons (looking androgynous is THE WHOLE POINT of Amazons), PF's female models actually look MUCH better than AoW4's.

AoW4 female models look weirdly aged and haggard.

[Zechs1337]

I'm over here playing Planetfall again for the first time since 2020 because AoW4 gave me a taste but not a meal.

AoW4 has a lot of potential, but it needs a lot of polish. The campaign AI needs a lot of work, it needs some equivalent to galactic empire mode, it needs a lot more options to customize the biomes and setting of custom games (though I might apply that argument to Planetfall from what I've seen so far), and something needs to be done about the tech tree.

In a few patches I suspect it'll be great, right now it feels untested.

[~ Fabulous ~]

this is on sales

[utilityguy]

I'm really curious if that mouse symbol was on Op the moment they posted this thread, as that insinuates they bought this game.

[Ddraig Lleuad]

AoW4 if you want more depth in the strategic layer, this for more intricacy in the tactical combat.

AoW4 refines the sector system and has a lot more to do with developing your cities, the free city system, unit enchantments and race transformations.

Planetfall has a stronger emphasis on tactical battle depth, with the unit mod system and every unit from line infantry to endgame ultimates having at least one ability besides their regular attack.

Which of those is a better fit for you, only you can say.

[Vevvev]

Age of Wonders 4 is lacking the concept of ranged overwatch, but there's many things within Planetfall you'll find in AoW 4. Some of the stuff is no longer mods but racial modifications like void tech's walking through walls is now the astral major racial transformation that effects every single unit of the race.

The problem though comes down to the fact Planetfall is about individual unit customization and racial identity, whereas Age of Wonders 4 is more macro focused and it's about your societal identity.

For example when it comes to races In Planetfall the Dvar are space dwarves that prospect sectors, have incredibly hard to kill units, and focus on protection.
In Age of Wonders 4 you can make a dwarf race, but you'll never get that playstyle just by being a dwarf as it just is cosmetic. Age of Wonder 4's equivalent of the Dvar is the Industrialist society which are hard to kill, prospect sectors with scouts, focus on protection, etc, etc...

Additionally, in Planetfall your secret Technology can never change. In Age of Wonders 4 your equivalent of Secret Technology is your tomes of magic you pick up. However, you're not locked to a single affinity of magic like you're locked into a single secret tech in Planetfall.

Where in Planetfall a Xenoplague commander will always be Xenoplague, and a Promethean will always be Promethean, in Age of Wonders 4 I can start with a tome of Cryomancy, grab a tome of roots, later on grab a materium tome, etc.

Essentially Planetfall is more individualistic and rigid, whereas Age of Wonders 4 is more a sandbox. In Planetfall race and secret technology matter, but in Age of Wonders 4 your race is cosmetic with traits you can tinker with, and magic you can mix and match at will. The only thing that really truly is carved into stone in an Age of Wonders 4 match is your society type, which functions like Race does in Planetfall.

I like them both, but their concepts are completely different.

[Horizon]

The mod system in Planetfall looks more interesting and flexible, for me, than race transformations in AOW 4. Also, strategic level in PF also has some level of depth, because you have to plan colony regional extending and regions can be very different (landmarks, bad climate, danger zones, etc). Colonies also can be specialized or flexible configured by colonists distribution or even export food to other colonies. Additionally, NPC cities in PF much more individualistic (uniq army units and mods), if comparing it with AOW4 free cities.

AOW4 is a sandbox, as Vevvev said, with pros and cons of sandboxes. I think it will be a good game after 2-3 DLC, when Triumph fix all technical and gamedesign mistakes, and add some of new interesting mechanics.

[ArchAnge1LT]

i like that planetfall has set immutable thigns which makes it more meaningful and flavorful. AoW is a sandbox and while it has pros for that, i considered it just worse overall.

Aow4 only has initial steering, but late game it does not have a flavour, because everything in endgame can become everything. Not for my taste. I prefer having permanent characteristics that will last through the game.

[jonoliveira12]

Originally posted by ArchAnge1LT:

i like that planetfall has set immutable thigns which makes it more meaningful and flavorful. AoW is a sandbox and while it has pros for that, i considered it just worse overall.

Aow4 only has initial steering, but late game it does not have a flavour, because everything in endgame can become everything. Not for my taste. I prefer having permanent characteristics that will last through the game.

It is the character vs freedom debate, and I prefer my games to have character.
Too much freedom actually limits choice.

[garryphinfan]

this. i redownloaded after playing aow4.

[DayWalker]

Planetfall is better!