What you need to know
- Ara: History Untold is a 4X historical grand strategy game from Oxide Games and Xbox Game Studios.
- While an excellent entry to the strategy genre at release, I did voice a myriad of complaints in my review.
- Ara: History Untold’s first major update, the Invisible Hand Update, is nearly here and adds a ton of new features and quality-of-life improvements.
- I went hands-on with the update early, and Oxide Games has directly addressed or improved upon many of my criticisms.
As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the realm of grand strategy games, I can confidently say that my initial apprehensions about Ara: History Untold have been alleviated with the Invisible Hand Update. Having critically reviewed the game upon its release, I must admit that Oxide Games has shown remarkable responsiveness to player feedback and a commitment to continuous improvement.
One of Xbox’s latest intriguing releases isn’t currently playable on Xbox systems (at this time). Ara: History Untold is a fresh 4X historical grand strategy franchise that squares off directly with the iconic Civilization series, and it has quickly made a name for itself as an engaging, user-friendly choice within the genre on Windows PC.
I did voice a variety of criticisms in my Ara: History Untold review, but I felt confident that many would eventually be smoothed over with post-launch updates. Oxide Games was apparently eager to prove me right, as Ara: History Untold’s first major update is almost here and I’ve gone hands-on — spoiler, the Invisible Hand update brings huge feature and quality-of-life improvements, and sets the stage for bigger additions in the future.
Welcome improvements to an already-great game
As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been thoroughly impressed with History Untold since its launch, but what really sets Oxide Games apart is their dedication to enhancing the game post-launch. They’re delivering free content updates, quality improvements, and DLC to keep us engaged. The latest update, version 1.1, is nicknamed “Invisible Hand,” and it brings a slew of new features and modifications that address some concerns I raised during my initial review.
The star attraction of this latest release is the introduction of the revamped National Economy dashboard. Previously in Ara: History Untold, players found themselves needing to meticulously manage the production of all supplies and amenities, a task that grew monotonous as your nation expanded. However, with this update, players gain access to a streamlined menu displaying all crafting enhancements, allowing for effortless assignment of tasks and queuing of builds for everything. Additionally, players can now establish fundamental policies that will autonomously maintain your improvements to generate specific supplies as required.
The policies are a little on the limited side, but even this simple implementation is miles better than hunting down one of dozens of crafting improvements to move queues around or add more of a supply that you need for basically everything. Oxide Games also added some new amenities to Ara: History Untold to go alongside this update, giving players even more flexibility when planning their strategy.
In addition to addressing issues in Ara: History Untold, Oxide Games has strengthened battle scenarios and unit control. For instance, the 3D Battle Viewer now provides a more comprehensive breakdown of an army’s makeup and unit interactions, although it appears somewhat rough around the edges currently. Oxide assures that this feature is under continuous refinement, with enhancements to come in terms of improved naval battles, a deeper understanding of how terrain influences different units, and additional features as they work on overall combat improvements.
Now, you have the option to advance your units as technology progresses, meaning you won’t need to dissolve your valuable and seasoned troops just because your country’s tech level has improved.
In summary: The popular game Ara: History Untold is enhancing its tutorial and welcome features. While I previously commended the game for its comprehensive and user-friendly tooltips, I also mentioned that there was potential to make locating specific information less challenging. Now, players will benefit from a “Sovereign Advisor” in the Advisor section, offering contextual tips to facilitate progress. Furthermore, Oxide Games is dedicated to expanding this advisor’s reach across the game and optimizing its helpfulness even more.
After trying out several rounds with the recent update to explore these new elements, it’s clear that Ara: History Untold is heading in a positive trajectory. The adjustments made align perfectly with my expectations from the game, and the revamped National Economy interface is particularly noteworthy. However, there’s much more to the Invisible Hand update than just these improvements.
Besides the aspects that particularly caught my attention, Oxide is now moving forward with Phase 1 of its four-phase modding roadmap for Ara: History Untold. This latest update allows players to modify files and incorporate them into their gameplay. In due course, they will also introduce in-game mod management, followed by sharing options for player-created mods, and ultimately, smooth integration of these mods within the game itself. These improvements aim to make Ara: History Untold more approachable for casual gamers. The implementation of modding is expected to contribute significantly to the longevity of this game, making it even more exciting to see the first set of features roll out swiftly.
1 Version of History Untold introduces another leader into the mix. John A. Macdonald is a significant figure in Canada’s past, and his unique qualities enhance government and military production, prioritize defense over expansion, and stimulate early development through additional housing, furs, and lumber. While I usually lean towards leaders who emphasize culture, religion, or science, John A. Macdonald appears to be a versatile choice for multiple gameplay strategies.
Lastly, Oxide Games is responding to community suggestions by introducing a new map modeled after the Earth, perfectly reflecting our familiar continents, all while maintaining an optimal gaming experience.
I’ve always been fond of Ara: History Untold, but its latest post-launch update has made it even more appealing to me. Oxide Games has hinted at upcoming diplomatic improvements, as well as features like supply and trade routes, a built-in map editor, and additional content. If you’ve been hesitant about Ara: History Untold or wanted an excuse to revisit the game, the Invisible Hand update is scheduled to launch on Nov. 14, 2024 for Windows PC via Steam, the Microsoft Store, and PC Game Pass.
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2024-11-13 17:09