Battle Aces, developed by Uncapped Games is currently in beta access and represents an innovative approach to the real-time strategy (RTS) genre. Given its simplicity, the game will quickly "infect" you to click again on the matchmaking queue. It is so simple in mechanics and beautiful in animations that it will simply "call" you to play again. With its deck building approach, it creates depth in gameplay, allowing you to experiment with various tactics and approaches to overcoming your enemies.
Concept and Gameplay
Battle Aces places players in the role of commanders of futuristic drones, where every decision can affect the outcome of the battle. Different unit "decks" allow players to customize their armies to specific tactical challenges posed by enemy forces. This strategic component is crucial, as players must carefully choose between units for attack, defense, or support, depending on the situation on the battlefield. If you add to that mix that the 2v2 mode literally means your bases spawn next to each other and both of you must overcome the other two opponents, things can get quite complicated. Whenever I tried to play the 2v2 mode, it was very difficult to balance tactics. Should I build support units or attacking units? Should I send them to the enemy base or hold the middle? It seems like things would be considerably easier to organize if there were some kind of coherent communication - but that is lacking. This is also an additional layer that makes this game interesting and forces you to constantly engage and think about what steps the opponent might take (or the two of them).
Visual Design and Technical Performance
Highly polished visual effects and animations make the game a total eye candy, and the gameplay feels cozy and cheerful, making it even more accessible and tempting "for more." The robots, or units, available in the game are really well designed and fit nicely together. Here and there, there is some strange unit that seems like it came out of Starcraft, but it does not disrupt the immersion of gameplay.
Adaptability and Strategy
The great adaptability of unit composition allows players to develop complex strategies. The ability to combine different types of units to create balanced or specialized armies gives players the freedom to experiment with various tactical approaches, making the game extremely dynamic. Currently, the in-game shop has the option to unlock units, so as you progress through the game, you will be able to spice up your deck with stronger and more serious units - but this will also make your gameplay more dynamic. Certain rules do exist, such as having a slot for each unit type, and you can choose which unit of that type you want to have. Some of them are categorized into multiple categories, so it's not a strictly enforced game where you can only have 1 unit of a certain type. I think that's even part of the charm of this tactical component in the game.
In any case, the strategy seems chaotic, very fast (somewhat reminiscent of the Starcraft Zerg fight style), but that's exactly why it's fun. Matches last relatively short, so we can say that each match is “bite-sized” even when you're losing - it's not as frustrating as in, for example, LOL or DOTA2, where you suffer for 30 minutes until opponents finally reach your base, even though the game was over in the first 7 minutes.
Social Aspect and Multiplayer
As mentioned earlier, the game has 1v1 and 2v2 modes. The entire focus of the game is on progressing through ranks in each season, and it is very clear that the ultimate goal of the game is to become some kind of eSport. The community currently seems very active in beta, as I have never waited longer than 3 minutes for a 2v2 match, and for 1v1 it has never been above 1 minute.
Multiplayer is, of course, the heart of this game, although there is also a “vs AI” mode. This mode is intended for trying out new deck combinations so that you don't ruin the fun for other players while experimenting with various combinations of your deck.
Since the game has no chat, strategizing is somewhat difficult, but this keeps toxicity to an absolute minimum, which I really like because it opens the door for younger players whose parents do not allow them to play games known for having toxic communities (and those are mostly MOBAs).
Seasonal Content and Constant Innovation
Every season, it seems, will bring new units, challenges, and rewards, giving players a reason to return regularly. This constant innovation keeps the game fresh and exciting, encouraging players to adapt their strategies to the new elements introduced.
Currently, the game has only one map that resembles something we are used to, but it is slightly different to make things more interesting and “faster,” and definitely harder as the clash reaches its peak.
UI Elements
Despite its complexity, Battle Aces manages to be accessible to new players thanks to the simplicity of accessing the game through a very intuitive and highly simplified UX. The whole point is, as it should be in the world of RTS, that all the most important keybindings are on the keyboard with just 5-6 keys. The tutorial itself is extremely simple and quick. If you are a fan of RTS games, you will even enjoy the tutorial as it lasts only 5 minutes and has no tedious “click here” actions (or they can be tolerated due to its fast-paced nature). Newcomers to the genre will quickly and easily grasp the mechanics and basics.
Conclusion
Battle Aces represents a significant advancement in the RTS genre, successfully combining deep strategic gameplay with accessibility and impressive graphics. Its ability to attract a wide range of players, from experienced strategists to those just entering the world of video games, makes it an exceptional addition to any gaming collection. The game is definitely recommended for every experienced, as well as less experienced, RTS genre lover with a MOBA spirit. You will definitely want to click on the “2v2” or “1v1” matchmaking button a few more times than you initially planned.
The development studio Uncapped Games has given us access to beta testing. At the time of writing this review, the release date of the full version of the game is not known.
