One of 2024’s “buggiest” Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the evolution of video games since the days of Pong and Pac-Man, I must say that Empire of the Ants is truly a marvel to behold. The photorealistic forest, meticulously crafted using Unreal Engine 5.4 and photogrammetry, leaves me awestruck every time I play. It’s like stepping into a real-life fairy tale, or perhaps a David Attenborough documentary, but with ants!


Typically, finding a game riddled with bugs doesn’t make for a pleasant experience. However, Empire of the Ants offers a unique perspective – a minuscule yet powerful one.

Managing the 103,683rd entity has shown me a surprising analogy – it’s like being an ant struggling to exist in this vast world, which includes an unexpected level of termite elimination.

In this setup, events unfold with breathtakingly lifelike images, incorporating real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay. You assist a character named 103,683rd, yes, that’s her actual name, as she carries out her mother the Queen’s responsibilities and aids her sister ants upon waking from winter slumber in their colony.

Empire of the Ants: What is it?

The 1991 French science fiction novel ‘Le Fourmis’ by Bernard Weber serves as the foundation for this work. This book tells two parallel stories about the lives of a human and an ant living within a colony in Paris. Translated to English, it is known as ‘Empire of the Ants’. The game derived from it, titled ‘Empire of the Ants’, focuses predominantly on one specific ant and revolves around real-time strategy.

One hundred thousand thirty-sixth ant belongs to a larger group that’s stirring after spending the winter hibernation in the Fontainebleau forest. With plenty of tasks ahead, this community must gather supplies, food, and other necessities while defending themselves against threats from termites and other adversaries.

The game “Empire of the Ants” was created by Tower Five, distributed by Microids, and constructed utilizing Unreal Engine version 5.4. To achieve an incredibly realistic aesthetic for the forest and its inhabitants, photogrammetry was employed throughout the development process.

Is Empire of the Ants playable on handheld consoles?

Currently, there’s no assurance that “Empire of the Ants” can be played on portable consoles such as Steam Deck or ROG Ally. The developers have indicated on Steam Forums that they will prioritize the Xbox, PC, and PlayStation launch of the game, and a handheld version may not be available until later due to this focus. While they didn’t rule out handhelds completely, it might take some time before we see an official release of a portable edition.

Empire of the Ants: Story and gameplay

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

The game “Empire of the Ants” is inspired by Bernard Werber’s novel of the same name, but it has been substantially altered for the game version. Bernard Werber collaborated with Microids and Tower Five on this book adaptation, but in the game, the concept of humans sharing lives with ants is no longer present. Instead, we follow the perspective of the 103,683rd character in a world within the Fontainebleau forest, rather than Paris as in the book. Despite this change of location, the forest setting offers unique challenges, dangers, and narrative possibilities.

103,683rd colony often encounters multiple challenges, ranging from locating resources and searching for lost members to offering aid to an ill-prepared sister colony facing a flood. The 103,683rd colony’s queen, their mother, is eagerly advocating for expansion, with high hopes that the 103,683rd will perform extensive termite eradication tasks on her behalf.

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

Engaging with the subject at hand, let me delve into the strategic aspects and gameplay of ‘Empire of the Ants’. At a glance, this game seems tailored for novices dabbling in strategy titles, offering an uncomplicated yet captivating experience. However, veterans of real-time strategy (RTS) games might find their tactical prowess somewhat restrained by the scope of ‘Empire of the Ants’.

In most combat scenarios, the primary objective often involves constructing and fortifying around the 103,683rd building, setting up defensive structures. Once a nest is ready, players are allowed to choose a force or “legion” for that base. However, each player can only control seven legions at once, which restricts the variety of units available for battle. It’s challenging to rationalize creating a legion of aphids, given their frailty and vulnerability to all enemy types, when one could instead have additional groups of seasoned warriors or stronger legions instead.

In the game “Empire of the Ants,” there’s a hierarchy for the legion units, and some units are better suited to combat others. However, due to the limited number of units in play and simplified mechanics, it seemed unnecessary to scrutinize enemy attacks. Instead, it was just as effective and more efficient to select all units and let them attack whatever termite mound or moving insect I wanted to destroy at that moment.

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

If you’re keen on dedicating all your playtime to Empire of the Ants, focused solely on ant wars, you might find it surprising to discover that the game features a substantial amount of exploration and jumping challenges. During your visits to hub cities between tasks, you encounter different Queens and worker ants for story updates. Occasionally, these missions require minimal strategy and more platform navigation skills.

The problem is that 103,683rd is a very small ant in a very big world. Navigating these wide-open areas with her and trying to cross flooded zones that are instant death with a rudimentary jump feature that provides no insight into where you’re going to land leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a notable shift in gameplay that slows down the overall flow of Empire of the Ants negatively.

Empire of the Ants: Audio and visuals

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

Restating in a simpler and more conversational manner: It’s hard to believe that the original version of Empire of the Ants, released by Microids back in the early 2000s, was criticized for its poor graphics. However, with Tower Five’s updated version using Unreal Engine 5.4 and photogrammetry to create a highly realistic forest and bugs, the visuals are truly breathtaking.

As a researcher delving into the captivating realm of Empire of the Ants, I find myself mesmerized by the intricate play of light filtering through the verdant canopy above, the tree bark offering a perfect blend of crevices that add to its charm. Nevertheless, it’s challenging not to notice the slight artificiality that permeates this world.

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements
One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

It’s quite obvious that the expenses for Empire of the Ants were mainly swallowed by licensing and the art department. The game’s music comprises separate tracks for each level, but these tunes tended to be quickly forgotten in the overall context. However, during missions with larger battles, the music would intensify as you approached the final boss, offering a refreshing change. Tower Five captured the sounds of real forests for the Fontainebleau, adding a touch of authenticity to the game.

Empire of the Ants: Final thoughts

One of 2024's "buggiest" Xbox games is a stunning showcase of photorealism with shallow RTS elements

The real-time strategy (RTS) genre offers ample room for games that are user-friendly, such as Empire of the Ants. However, players accustomed to traditional RTS games might find it unexpected when they launch this game and find themselves navigating through a flooded forest by jumping platforms, instead of the usual base-building and resource management, and searching for almost camouflaged ants in their environment.

As an analyst, I would say that the game “Empire of the Ants” includes a cross-platform multiplayer mode, which supports both 1v1 and 1v1v1 gameplay. This simplified real-time strategy (RTS) experience makes it an appealing option for beginners or those looking to casually explore the RTS genre. However, I would caution hardcore RTS enthusiasts that the level of strategy in this game might be more akin to rock-paper-scissors, making it less satisfying for dedicated players in this category.

Regarding multiplayer aspects, I believe Empire of the Ants could have thrived with integration into Xbox Game Pass, primarily to foster a larger player community. However, priced at $50, it might be challenging to attract players, despite its stunning visuals.

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2024-11-07 20:39