"State of War: High Definition" (often abbreviated as SoW HD) is a remastered version of the original 2002 real-time strategy (RTS) game "State of War". Here's a breakdown of what it is and its key aspects:
- Original Game: "State of War" was a budget RTS game developed by Cypron Studios and released in 2002. It featured conventional RTS mechanics: base building, resource gathering (ore, energy), unit production, and combat.
- Setting: It took place in a near-future sci-fi world, focusing on conflict between various factions (like the Global Federation and the Alliance).
- Reception: The original game received mixed to negative reviews. While it had some interesting ideas and a large number of units, it was often criticized for its dated graphics, AI issues, repetitive gameplay, lack of polish, and derivative nature (heavily inspired by games like Command & Conquer).
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The "High Definition" Remaster (2010):
- Developer/Publisher: DreamCatcher Interactive (under their budget label SilverStar) handled the remastering and publishing.
- Key Improvements:
- Graphics: Units, structures, and terrain were redrawn at a higher resolution and with more detail. The visual fidelity was significantly improved over the original 2002 version, making it look much sharper on modern displays (hence "High Definition").
- UI: The user interface was updated for clarity and better usability.
- Performance: Optimizations were made to run smoother on newer systems of the time.
- Content: It primarily remastered the original "State of War" campaign and skirmish modes. It did not include the expansion pack "State of War: Arid Waters" or its campaign. Crucially, multiplayer functionality was removed in this remaster.
- Platform: Released exclusively for PC (Windows).
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Gameplay & Features (Based on Original Remastered):
- Classic RTS Loop: Build a base, harvest resources (Ore, Energy), construct buildings, train units, research technologies, and engage in tactical combat.
- Factions: Primarily featured the Global Federation (GOF) and the Alliance, each with distinct units and structures.
- Unit Variety: Offered a large number of unit types (infantry, vehicles, aircraft, ships, structures) compared to many budget RTS titles of its era.
- Campaign: Followed the story of the original game, focusing on the conflict between GOF and Alliance.
- Skirmish: Allowed players to fight AI opponents on various maps.
- Simplified Mechanics: Generally considered less complex than mainstream RTS giants like StarCraft or Command & Conquer: Generals. Focus was more on massed unit tactics.
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Reception of the HD Version:
- The remaster received slightly more positive reviews than the original, primarily due to the visual upgrade making it more palatable.
- However, it was still seen as a niche, budget title. Reviews acknowledged the improved graphics but noted that the core gameplay, AI, and design flaws of the original remained largely unchanged. It was often described as "good for what it is" – a budget RTS remaster – but not a competitor to major RTS franchises.
- The removal of multiplayer was a significant downside for many.
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Availability:
- Physical: Released on budget CD/DVD.
- Digital: It was available on platforms like Direct2Drive and potentially others at the time. As of now, it's not widely available on major modern digital storefronts like Steam or GOG. Finding a legitimate copy might require searching on second-hand markets or obscure digital archives.
In Summary:
"State of War: High Definition" is a visual remaster of the 2002 budget RTS game "State of War." Its main selling point was the significant graphical upgrade to HD resolution. It retained the core gameplay, campaign, and skirmish modes of the original but removed multiplayer. While it looked much better than the 2002 version, it was still fundamentally the same game with its inherent design limitations and received mixed reviews, best appreciated by fans of budget RTS or those curious about a remastered niche title. Finding it today can be challenging.
