Ara: History Untold Attempts a Great Escape from 'Almost-Great' Purgatory – Are We Finally Trading Spreadsheets for Splendour?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Stardock and Oxide Games are rolling out a 'Revolutions' 2.0 update for *Ara: History Untold*, aiming to fix initial criticisms with new culture mechanics, a sneaky 'Agitator' unit, promised smarter AI, and crucially, a significant reduction in micromanagement, all inspired by player feedback. It sounds like a proper attempt to rescue the 'almost-great' strategy title from spreadsheet purgatory.
Right, so remember *Ara: History Untold*? The historical strategy game that landed with a bit of a thud, promising grand empire-building but often delivering... well, a bit of a spreadsheet simulator? Yeah, well, it's getting a major overhaul, and dare I say, it sounds like they might have actually listened to us. This intriguing tidbit about *Ara*'s upcoming 'Revolutions' 2.0 update comes courtesy of the ever-vigilant Edwin Evans-Thirlwell over at Rock Paper Shotgun (cheers, mate!).
See, when *Ara* first dropped, it felt a bit like a wizard's spell that almost worked. The intention was there, the ambition was clear, but the execution sometimes left you staring at a flickering, half-formed reality. Critics, including Sin from RPS, were pretty blunt, summing it up as 'empire-building re-envisaged as managing elaborate production chains, then re-re-envisaged as another 4X with repetitive micromanagement and weak, bland AI.' Ouch. Sounds a bit like accidentally summoning a horde of Goblins when you were aiming for a dragon, doesn't it?
But here's the exciting bit: developers Oxide Games and publishers Stardock aren't just shrugging their shoulders. Oh no, they're attempting what sounds like a proper magical rebirth, heavily inspired by player feedback. And if there's one thing I love more than a genuinely innovative indie game, it's a big studio actually paying attention to the folks playing their creations. So, what's in this 'Revolutions' update that's got me all curious and cautiously optimistic?
First up, and this is a big one for any strategy game worth its salt, are the **new Culture mechanics**. Imagine claiming territory without firing a single bloody shot. Sounds a bit like showing up to a barbarian rave in a tailored suit and confidently declaring yourself the new DJ, doesn't it? Apparently, you'll be able to expand your borders simply by being, well, *fancier* and more refined than those 'yokels across the border.' This new 'quality of life' category will generate Influence, a fresh currency you can spend on cultural traits and expansion. It’s a bit like *Civilization*'s cultural victories or even *Sins of a Solar Empire*’s influence mechanics – a welcome alternative to always reaching for the biggest stick.
And if your neighbours remain stubbornly unimpressed by your dazzling cultural prowess, there's a charmingly chaotic Plan B: the new **Agitator unit**. These little mischief-makers can be sent into foreign parts to foment rebellion. 'Ideological subversion,' they call it, and it sounds wonderfully sneaky. Brad Wardell, Stardock CEO and Oxide co-founder, reckons these new assimilation methods are partly designed to liven up the lategame, once the map's all exposed and everyone's dug in. Because let's be fair, the lategame in many 4X titles can sometimes feel like watching paint dry, only with more turns.
Beyond the cultural shenanigans, we're looking at some welcome improvements to the nitty-gritty. There are **new military units specific to each civ** – think Japanese Samurai and Mongol Horse Archers – which should inject a bit more flavour into the battlefield. **Leader characters are also getting a revamp**, sporting distinct traits and abilities, making them more than just pretty faces on a loading screen. And if you're a map nerd like me, the promise of more 'realistic natural resource clustering' for map generation, paired with revised trade rules, sounds like it could lead to some genuinely interesting strategic choices, rather than just random resource bingo.
Now, for the bit that will either make or break this rebirth: **the AI**. They’re boldly claiming it's ‘smarter’. And if I had a shilling for every time I heard *that* one, I’d probably own a small island somewhere. Still, one can dream, eh? The original review, as we mentioned, wasn't exactly showering the AI with praise, so this is a critical area. My gentle skepticism kicks in here, but I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised. A truly smart AI could elevate *Ara* from an 'almost-great' to a genuine contender.
But here's the bit that really caught my eye, the shimmering, magical artefact in the loot chest: **less micromanagement**. *Bloody hell*, yes please! No more fiddling with production queues like a mad wizard trying to untangle a spaghetti spell. They're swapping out the old system for 'smarter stockpile and priority controls,' which *could* mean we finally get to focus on actually conquering the world, instead of just managing its daily chores. This, my friends, is where the rubber meets the road. If they can truly free players to focus on high-level strategy, then *Ara* might just achieve the grand vision it originally promised.
On the technical side, they're not just twiddling their thumbs either. The update boasts 'a sharper, scalable UI built for modern displays, with new accessibility and customization options,' plus 'major engine optimizations [that] deliver faster turns, smoother framerates, and reduced CPU usage.' Faster turns and smoother framerates? That's music to any strategy gamer's ears, like the satisfying *thunk* of a perfectly cast spell.
All in all, the 'Revolutions' update for *Ara: History Untold* sounds like a serious attempt to address its initial shortcomings and really lean into the potential of its core design. It’s out on September 24th, but if you’re itching to get your hands on it sooner, there's a beta version available now – head over to Steam for more details, where Brad Wardell has also posted some rather lengthy reflections on strategy game AI (always a rabbit hole worth diving into for the curious!).
Will these changes be enough to transform *Ara* from an almost-great experiment into a truly captivating historical epic? Only time, and a good few hours of playing, will tell. But for now, my curiosity is piqued, and my wizard's hat is off to Oxide and Stardock for listening to the community and giving it a bloody good go. Here's hoping it's a triumph, not another accidental portal to a dimension of endless spreadsheets.
Tags: Strategy Game, 4X, PC Gaming, Game Update, Historical Gaming
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun