I like the original Majesty more.

I was also going to mention Stronghold, but yeah, I'd stick with the original and Crusader. Stronghold 2 updated a lot of stuff and got more involved but too often it was more "frustration" and less "fun." If I'm yelling at my computer screen when I'm simply trying to get piles of crap cleaned up, something is a little off. :-)

It's back? I didn't realize that it was already added back to the catalog after it's removal in October.

Ha! That is why I tend not to play games like that. I used to play some of the Stronghold games and I realized it was too much like being at work. Not that I really know what thats like. I'm a bum. I digress.

I'll second this one. Pretty customizable too. There are different AI difficulties 1-9 (I believe 7+ is where the game is meant to be played) AND different AI types (http://www.arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AI_War_-_AI_Opponent_Types) looks like maybe over 2 dozen and they also have their own difficulty, easier, moderate, harder and then there is some technologist thing.

A lot of other settings to. You can mod the AI a bit more, forget how exactly. I know there is one where if you kill one AI (you fight two AIs at once) the other will send a huge wave to you.

You can also change threat level rules. The AI gets stronger throughout the game as you increase a threat meter which is increased by destroying things, decreased by destroying other things, and increases at set intervals. You can change by how much.

I think it is more of a 4X game though. All real time still. Has coop too, I think up to 8 people. No competitive because the AI works differently than the human players. It's not like other RTS where the player and computer use the same stuff. http://www.arcengames.com/w/index.php/aiwar-features is the official site. Also available on steam which gives CD-keys that let work on that site's version (requires only offline cd-key activation).




I've hear a lot of goods things about Sins of a Solar Empire too. Personally didn't care for it, but a lot of people like it. Has more diplomatic shit if you care about that. The game allows multiplayer too, competitive and coop (by just agreeing to be allied to the person).

sounds interesting. And the System requirements are pretty low :D

I'm not looking to get into any Co-op, but I'll definitely check it out.

The other thing about AI War is that you have to play more of a guerrilla style campaign. AI responses are partly fueled by your aggression. So if you take on the AI in 3 or 4 different sectors at once, it absolutely will crush you like an insect. You need to be smart and strategize. But you also need to be able to quickly change your plans if, for example, you run in to an AI that likes to let you take one world and then sweep in on you from the flanks...and you fall for it. :)

Original Homeworld.

SC2's campaign is also excellent. The dialogue for the cutscenes is poor IMO but the mission design is spectacular.

I think I forgot to mention. The games are long. Few hours for a single game. You might be able to toy with the settings to make it quicker, such as a little planets are possible, but playing with the recommended planets 80 takes a long time. There is also some type of survival mode which you can set the time for if you are looking for something like 30 minute games. Not too sure how well that mode is though.

If you don't want a long game you might be better off with something else.

I don't mind a long game, I just hope I have the patience to learn it.

Spring is not like TA only because it has similar unit stats. Such engines are also not ripe enough.

Homeworld 1+2 (best lore for a singleplayer campaign in a rts game imho)
Men of war or Faces of war if you love the WW2 is the best game
Dawn of war 1 in you like 40k setting
starcraft and brood war
Warcraft 3 plus exp

A very large list can be found here:

http://www.gamespot.com/reviews.html?platform=5&category=Real-Time+Strategy&mode=all&sort=score&dlx_type=all&sortdir=asc&official=all

Dawn of Discovery is also worth mentioning. Maybe it's the best Anno. It's more of a real-time empire management game.

Another vote for Homeworld games and Company of Heroes.

Also worth mentioning:
Age of Mythology,
Wargame: European Escalation.