We mentioned in 2021 that the ’90s are again, child, as a result of somebody was making an RTS primarily based on Stargate SG-1. As we speak they’re actually again, as a result of that recreation, formally generally known as Stargate: Timekeepers, is now dwell—and for these of you who aren’t certain whether or not real-time Stargate technique goes to be your bag, a demo is obtainable too.
Stargate: Timekeepers is in truth a “real-time ways recreation,” a minor however significant distinction. As an alternative of harvesting sources, constructing bases, churning out armies, and grinding your enemies to mud, you may lead a brand new staff of SG-1 specialists behind enemy strains, the place you may “use your characters’ distinctive abilities, craft the right plan, and defeat the Goa’uld menace.”
Considerably unusually, Stargate: Timekeepers is launching in two components: Season 1 half 1 is dwell now, whereas half 2 is slated to observe later this yr. It should function a complete of 14 “narrative-rich missions” selecting up the story from the top of season 7 of the tv present, starting with the battle of Antarctica after which transferring into fights towards the Goa’uld oppressors alongside the Jaffa Resistance, a strike towards Moloc, and ultimately an alliance with the Unas. Yeah, they’re overlaying a whole lot of bases right here.
Stealth options prominently within the recreation, and that is led to a blended response on Steam. Reviewers who dig stealth-based gameplay appear to love it, however some who had been hoping for a extra straight-up struggle are disenchanted. “Do not come into this anticipating it to be a tactical recreation or a technique recreation such as you’d count on,” one detrimental reviewer wrote. “Sure it does have some inkling of technique and ways. However the entire level of this recreation is stealth. You might be severely punished for attempting to struggle your method by way of as you might be all the time at an enormous drawback and are punished for even trying to really struggle.”
I would say that is in tune with the SG-1 tv present, which to be clear I used to be a giant fan of again within the day: A small gang of free-wheeling troopers and scientists half-assing their method throughout the galaxy, attempting to keep away from being squashed by overwhelming enemy forces.
(Allow us to not neglect that it is also the present that offered the breakthrough for God of Battle actor and Sport Awards favourite Christopher Choose.)
Whether or not that is sufficient to hold the sport to any diploma of success is one other matter fully. SG-1 ran for 10 seasons and spawned a few spinoffs that had been fairly good in their very own proper, which is not any imply feat, nevertheless it’s not precisely probably the most in-demand license ever. However that is likely to be one of many causes we have got a brand new Stargate recreation to play within the first place: It is accessible.
Developer Slitherine has gone a bit hog-wild with licenses like this in recent times: Alongside Stargate: Timekeepers, it is also acquired the real-time ways recreation Terminator: Darkish Destiny – Defiance coming in February, and it had a success with Starship Troopers: Terran Command, one other RTS that got here out in 2022. However it’s a technique that may repay: If there’s one Robocop: Rogue Metropolis proved, it is that there is nonetheless area for mid-tier licensed video games to seek out success amidst all of the Star Wars and Harry Potters on the market.
Stargate: Timekeepers is obtainable now on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Video games Retailer. The demo, nevertheless, is at present solely up on Steam.
