Imperial Glory
Encyclopedia
Imperial Glory is a real-time tactics
game
, developed by Pyro Studios
and published by Eidos
, that was released to the public in May 2005. The Mac OS X
version of the game was released in November 2006 by Feral Interactive
.
Imperial Glory is set in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic era
, between 1789 and 1815, and allows the player to choose one of the great empires of the age–Great Britain
, France
, Austria
, Russia
or Prussia
–on their quest of conquering Europe
, North Africa
and the Middle East
. The game is very similar to the Total War series: it consists of a 2-D
strategic campaign resembling Medieval: Total War
and fully 3-D
land and naval battles in the manner of Empire: Total War
, which was released in 2009. However, unlike the Total War series up to Medieval II: Total War, naval battles are playable.
. The principle units (infantry, cavalry, artillery) are identical to those in the Total War series.
Infantry in Imperial Glory are represented as militia
, line infantry, grenadiers, riflemen and the player's country's elite force (e.g. British Black Watch
). Cavalry consists of dragoons, hussars, lancers and an elite cavalry type (such as Life Guards
for Britain), and it is possible to find such contemporary pieces of artillery as 6-pounder cannons and howitzers.
In the campaign phase of the game, units are moved around the map by assigning them to a commander. Commanders bear the ranks
of captain, colonel, general or field marshal. Each can command a certain number of units and be promoted to a higher rank by winning encounters with enemy units.
During naval battles, players can engage the enemy with various ships: sloops, frigates or ships of the line
.
, including several alliance options. Many different kinds of buildings can be constructed, which can be fortified
, and which give certain advantages to the player, including providing a basis for recruitment
of units. Effort applied to research leads to the development of new types of units to be recruited and different buildings that may be built. Trade route
s can be set up as well, either to trade with other nations or establish internal commerce
.
, which lowers the opportunity to involve soldiers in hand-to-hand combat (players may order them to commence bayonet charge). Hence, the tactics have to be adjusted to this new setting. The game offers a variety of unit formations, enabling players to engage in combat operations with greater efficiency.
reported that the "system's biggest problem is that it doesn't model morale. This means that your men basically turn into mindless automatons, and not very smart ones, either" and rounded off the review with "[Imperial Glory] shows a lot of untapped promise and potential, but it also possesses raw edges and missed opportunities. This is still an enjoyable game, though, so long as you're willing to overlook the flaws."
Real-time tactics
Real-time tactics or RTT is a subgenre of tactical wargames played in real-time simulating the considerations and circumstances of operational warfare and military tactics...
game
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
, developed by Pyro Studios
Pyro Studios
Pyro Studios is a video game developer based in Madrid , that was founded in 1996 with the purpose of developing quality video games. A consequence of this commitment was the development of Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, which was released in 1998...
and published by Eidos
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
, that was released to the public in May 2005. The Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
version of the game was released in November 2006 by Feral Interactive
Feral Interactive
Feral Interactive is a publishing company founded in 1999 that publishes games and other software that did not fit in with the release programs of the large established publishers. It publishes Macintosh games and has relationships with publishers such as Electronic Arts, Eidos Interactive,...
.
Imperial Glory is set in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic era
Napoleonic Era
The Napoleonic Era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative Assembly, and the third being the Directory...
, between 1789 and 1815, and allows the player to choose one of the great empires of the age–Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
or Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
–on their quest of conquering Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The game is very similar to the Total War series: it consists of a 2-D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
strategic campaign resembling Medieval: Total War
Medieval: Total War
Medieval: Total War is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics computer game developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Activision. Set in the Middle Ages, it is the second game in the Total War series, following on from the 2000 title Shogun: Total War...
and fully 3-D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
land and naval battles in the manner of Empire: Total War
Empire: Total War
Empire: Total War is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics computer game developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Sega. The fifth instalment in the Total War series, the game was released in North America on 3 March 2009, and in the rest of the world the following day...
, which was released in 2009. However, unlike the Total War series up to Medieval II: Total War, naval battles are playable.
Units
The basic units available to the player are the same, regardless of the nation the player controls, namely, infantry, cavalry and artillery. By seizing appropriate provinces, a player may deploy other units, such as Arabian camel cavalryCamel cavalry
Camel cavalry, or camelry, is a generic designation for armed forces using camels as a means of transportation. Sometimes warriors or soldiers of this type also fought from camel-back with spears, bows or rifles....
. The principle units (infantry, cavalry, artillery) are identical to those in the Total War series.
Infantry in Imperial Glory are represented as militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, line infantry, grenadiers, riflemen and the player's country's elite force (e.g. British Black Watch
42nd Regiment of Foot
The 42nd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally the 43rd Highlanders they were renumbered the 42nd in 1748.- Early history :...
). Cavalry consists of dragoons, hussars, lancers and an elite cavalry type (such as Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
for Britain), and it is possible to find such contemporary pieces of artillery as 6-pounder cannons and howitzers.
In the campaign phase of the game, units are moved around the map by assigning them to a commander. Commanders bear the ranks
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of captain, colonel, general or field marshal. Each can command a certain number of units and be promoted to a higher rank by winning encounters with enemy units.
During naval battles, players can engage the enemy with various ships: sloops, frigates or ships of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
.
Peaceful activities
Aside from fighting, players may engage in DiplomacyDiplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, including several alliance options. Many different kinds of buildings can be constructed, which can be fortified
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
, and which give certain advantages to the player, including providing a basis for recruitment
Military recruitment
Military recruitment is the act of requesting people, usually male adults, to join a military voluntarily. Involuntary military recruitment is known as conscription. Many countries that have abolished conscription use military recruiters to persuade people to join, often at an early age. To...
of units. Effort applied to research leads to the development of new types of units to be recruited and different buildings that may be built. Trade route
Trade route
A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. Allowing goods to reach distant markets, a single trade route contains long distance arteries which may further be connected to several smaller networks of commercial...
s can be set up as well, either to trade with other nations or establish internal commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
.
Tactics
Unlike the Total War series of games (except Empire: Total War and Napoleon: Total War), the main weapon of the infantry is the musketMusket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
, which lowers the opportunity to involve soldiers in hand-to-hand combat (players may order them to commence bayonet charge). Hence, the tactics have to be adjusted to this new setting. The game offers a variety of unit formations, enabling players to engage in combat operations with greater efficiency.
Reception
Imperial Glory was generally received as a fair game with great potential, but with rough edges. GamespyGameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
reported that the "system's biggest problem is that it doesn't model morale. This means that your men basically turn into mindless automatons, and not very smart ones, either" and rounded off the review with "[Imperial Glory] shows a lot of untapped promise and potential, but it also possesses raw edges and missed opportunities. This is still an enjoyable game, though, so long as you're willing to overlook the flaws."
External links
- Official Game site
- Windows Product Page
- Mac Product Page
- http://www.feralinteractive.com/game/imperialgloryImperial Glory at Feral InteractiveFeral InteractiveFeral Interactive is a publishing company founded in 1999 that publishes games and other software that did not fit in with the release programs of the large established publishers. It publishes Macintosh games and has relationships with publishers such as Electronic Arts, Eidos Interactive,...
] - IgFansite.com