The Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre can be intimidating. With many items and systems that constantly need actions and attention, it can be overwhelming for those coming into the genre for the first time. Uncapped Games, a studio created by former Starcraft developers, set out to try to make the genre more approachable and accessible for players. Their goal is to reach out to those who are hesitant to try out the genre while also maintaining balance by staying true to RTS fans.
At its core, Battle Aces is designed to be a fast-paced RTS that allows players to always be in the action. Unlike traditional RTS games that require players to constantly worry about farming resources or building their base, Battle Aces has automated all of those more tedious elements. This allows players to expand their bases and upgrade units with the touch of a button, leaving only the main concerns of making units and engaging in combat.
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Another component Battle Aces wanted to focus on is defined match length to keep pace. All matches are limited to 10 minutes, which means that players don’t have to worry about getting stuck in a match for a terribly long time if they struggle at the beginning. Scouting and map placement also play a role in refining the playtime. Players will always start at the bottom left corner of the map, and the opponents in the upper right corner.
This predictability alleviates the need to spend the first part of a match scouting to find your opponent’s base. Players will still need to scout if they want to see what units their opponents have, but they will be able to know where all their bases, including any expansions, are located at all times.
Moving past the set-up and into combat, players select units for their Unit Deck before each match of Battle Aces. A Unit Deck is comprised of 8 units, including 2 Core (Tier 1), 1 Foundry/Starforge (Tier 2), 2 Advanced Foundry/Starforge (Tier 3), and 2 “Fill.” These units will be available to the players during each match and range from basic ground units to anti-air to much beefier units with abilities. These units unlock as players complete challenges and continue to play Battle Aces.
This Unit Deck is where the strategy begins, as your deck alone heading into a match can put you either ahead or behind. The good news is while you won’t be able to see your opponent’s Unit Deck beforehand, you can, during the match, see what their Unit Deck is and make adjustments or change strategies during the match.
There are a variety of units, so building your deck and trying out different ones will be a big part of Battle Aces. This Unit Deck select style also allows players to check out each unit—both basic and advanced—without having to worry about building and researching upgrades to be able to access them.
With this simplicity, Uncapped Games is hoping to alleviate some of the common pain points that players have had over the years with RTS as a genre. Battle Aces’ aim is to bring in a new audience an usher them into the genre. Whether it is the fast-paced games with tons of action or the ability to access a variety of units without the hassle, Battle Aces is setting itself up to be an approachable RTS for everyone. This doesn’t mean things will be easy as Battle Aces does seem to have the “easy to play, hard to master” as Unit Deck composition and fighting strategies play a huge role.
I am not entirely sure how veteran and/or traditional RTS players will feel about Battle Aces. However, from the standpoint of trying to make Battle Aces a very accessible and approachable real-time strategy game for anyone, Uncapped Games is doing a great job. The game’s combat and pace are enjoyable because you can always toss them out with short matches and try again if things go wrong.
Battle Aces does not have a release date; however, it will be having a closed beta in June 2024. Players can sign up at PlayBattleAces.com to join.
