TFC: The Fertile Crescent

It is definitely NOT relaxing, as during the third mission I got terribly wrecked (on the second lowest difficulty), just when I built up a decent economy and wanted to get into defense and military production. Yet, it is a good game and catches the ancient age vibe and economy, kind of like an indie Ages of Empires. It's a tad too hard for me, nevertheless I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Really nice low spec with a lovely aesthetic RTS that nicely portrays an era of history that could use more exploration. The stone-copper and bronze ages are really neat to explore, and I could see the formula of this RTS evolving to include more expansive unit rosters and factions in future instalments. The game is intuitive, any season RTS player could probably jump into this game and understand the resource mechanics and gameplay loop.
Unit roster does have a nice diversity to it; and the beautiful thing about this game is that it does emulate the early siege warfare on a conceptual level that occurred in Ancient Mesopotamia and Mid-East. Methods like setting up towers to surround a settlement with stationed troops to block traffic and flow of goods and people or to setup defences similarly in your own sprawling city state... the fact that food in this game is vital to continued survival and is a resource that is consumed over time in greater and greater quantities the more units one has. Meaning that a portion of the population must be gathering food, or the faction needing some means of resources to trade for food imports... which is a temporary solution at best given exchange rates. There is genuine strategies of attrition you can conduct on opponents, and the startling realism that a pixel style game like this can evoke is really nice.
Food is generated from farms infinitely with varying degrees of efficiency, can be foraged and hunted... the only thing that is really missing from this game is husbandry with rearing animals- and the choice to dig up fertile land for clay or to farm it is a very nice touch too in terms of environmental decision making. Do you unearth the clay that keeps the moist, rich soils vibrant and healthy for your buildings? Or do you build farms over it to have good soil to grow your crops in?
Trees don't regenerate, far as I've seen- meaning wood may become an eventually limited commodity. Same as metal. During a given game though most maps are quite reasonable in resource allocation- but it all requires expansion and while one can be defensive... the game is very cat and mouse with the deployment of forces.
Civilians aren't pushovers either though if they become militia- though using your working people in battle will always be a significant risk to your workforce economy, which can be devastating if you field a large army and several farmers died.
There's a lot of little nuances that tribute themselves well to history; and make decent little nods to the realities of each empire- especially with research options. The game balances itself largely to symmetrical faction designs (which is alright since a lot of these cultures did have similar army compositions to more or less degrees) with unique aesthetics, with Bronze age era technologies having some exclusivity between the current three choices of Egypt, Assyria and Babylon.
If they ever develop DLC or future game installments utilizing their formula, a game featuring the Hittites and Hyksos/Heka Khasut, Phoenicians and Greeks, Persians and others could become potential. I could well see them expanding unit roster but keeping this food economy angle is really compelling and is something I really enjoy seeing in an RTS.
I found this game's price affordable and its something that if you're wanting a game for a lower spec machine or you enjoy the retro style or the history niche, its a really charming little RTS that is easy enough to get into. Visuals, music and the general vibe of this game is nice.

This game is great. Very much in the style of the classic era of RTS games and clearly takes a lot of inspiration from Age of Empires. This game changes up the traditional formula with it's food economy, which requires constant upkeep as your pop grows. You will need a LOT of villagers to sustain your army- get to farming!
The campaign is basically an extended tutorial, which slowly introduces all the game mechanics. Expect to spend about 5-6 hours. Once they've layered in all the different features, there is surprising depth to the gameplay. Both the skirmish mode and horde modes are fun to play. I do wish there were more than four different map types though.
If you like old school RTS games, I definitely recommend.

Fun game:
The Good
+ Feels fresh, like playing AOE1 all over again.
+ Love the art style, I'm a sucker for good pixel art
+ Food economy is a good direction different but similar enough to other RTS, makes it stand out.
+ Tech Tree is unique, though there is room for more tech which would be cool to see.
+ Controls like most RTS of its style, doesn't do anything crazy which is nice to have familiarity
Could be Improved:
- Unit types are sometimes hard to tell apart, at least in the early game. I really don't know how to fix this within the art style.
- Deathballs of single type units possible, maybe up the damages from counter units could solve this.
- With only three "higher" civilizations to play with it feels like there should be more relevancy to the civilization type. There are a few building like the gardens with Babylon, but not really any special units.
- Healing units of some kind, I know all units heal over time but when your army is half dead there is almost no reason to try to save units, you death spiral at this point vs any competent opponent.
- Resources are quite low, this is sort of a half good half bad thing. I've yet to fully clear a map of resources but there is no way to get bricks if the marshes run out, even through the marketplace.
Suggestions:
= Though the game is set near the dawn of civilization, and the first campaign follows your tribes rise to power, there were a lot of other civilizations around at the time that could be implemented. Such as Elam, Media, Urartu, Archaic Greece, Arameans, Arabs, Scythia, Persia, Cimmeria, Mushki, Neo-Hittites.
= I think the tech tree could benefit from an expansion, not only in the literal tech tree but also in things like the granary, outpost, and resource camp. Maybe small upgrades like “5% to wood chopping”, unlike the major 30% buffs Techs give.

As long as this game is being played on the lowest difficulty (!), it sure is relaxing with that cute pixel graphics and cool, fitting soundtrack.
If you're not an experienced RTS player, prepare yourself for some tough work.

A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.
Ariel Durant
The Fertile Crescent is a RTS game in the vein of age of empires where you advance and attempt to conquer your opponents. However while having some similarities to age of empires, the Fertile Crescent had plenty of unique mechanics.
To start the food mechanic is ironically one of the most standalone idea but the most realistic. Since food security has been the main push of human development until the 20th century, having a game where you need to ensure food is a very nice change.
Another great idea they implemented is how you advance, you can essentially become one of the great powers of the ancient world to tailor and adapt your strategy how you see fit.
With a campaign and a couple game modes. If you like RTS games , for a couple of $ the Fertile Crescent is very much worth it.

Overall I like the game. Only issue I see is the AI loves to throw villagers at you to attack or defend with them or gather in areas it not safe. The AI is just crippling itself by doing this. Hopefully that can be fixed at one point.