The Gaming Grid

In 2003 Savage: The Battle for Newarth hit store shelves, one of the first real-time strategy shooter hybrids to be released as a retail product. Combining the thrill of first-person action with the strategic appeal of a top-down RTS, the game developed a cult following despite it’s meager sales numbers. Five years later the developers released Savage 2, and just like it’s predecessor (which became officially free to play in 2006) the sequel became freeware after a short stint on retail shelves. S2 Games offers free users full access to the game and relies on the subscription fees of paid users to keep the servers running (premium users pay for additional options like replays, extended stat tracking etc.)

Boot this game up and you’re treated to a surprisingly detailed world of dark fantasy, where steam-powered trebuchets share the battlefield with lumbering behemoths and demonic servitors. The graphics are comparable for a game released in 2008, and more importantly they’re optimized for smooth gameplay in multiplayer matches. The rest of the game is technically sound if a little uninspired, and generic fantasy scores will serenade you as you ravage enemy cities.

An experience system means every player starts out as the basic unit of either the Human or Beast side, and you can only progress your character by accomplishing objectives or destroying enemy players on the field. Humans tend to be a bit tougher and perform better at ranged, while the Beasts feature a number of useful stealth and mobility abilities that allow them to capitalize on their strengths in melee. With enough experience any player can rise above the battle and assume the role of commander, where they can direct the flow of battle from a birds-eye perspective.

But what does the commander do when all your units have minds of their own? Beyond allocating resources to upgrades and laying out construction orders for buildings (one of the most influential aspects of the battle) the commander can promote units on the field and suggest orders for individual players. I say “suggest” because there’s no impetus for player cooperation beyond an experience bonus for accomplishing objectives, leading to an interesting game dynamic where the commander is just as beholden to his team’s goodwill as they are to his allocation of their precious resources.

Savage 2 is a solid play experience with a classy combination of the RTS and action genres that was built around online multiplayer. Unfortunately most people aren’t ready to believe in the fantasy of a deeply strategic online game that’s entirely free to play, so the player base isn’t nearly as large as something like Quake Live. The only way to change that is to spread the word about unique experiences like this, so grab the client here and give it a shot.