WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.240 --> 00:00:03.453 - What do you want? 2 00:00:04.293 --> 00:00:06.960 (pensive music) 3 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:11.750 - [Eric] Hi, it's Eric from kotaku.com. 4 00:00:11.750 --> 00:00:14.300 I spent some time over the weekend with "Dune: Spice Wars", 5 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:16.190 which released an early access last week, 6 00:00:16.190 --> 00:00:17.967 after two years in development. 7 00:00:17.967 --> 00:00:20.230 "Spice wars" comes to us from the French developer, 8 00:00:20.230 --> 00:00:23.418 Shiro Games, who previously made Northgard and Evoland. 9 00:00:23.418 --> 00:00:25.560 Set in Frank Herbert's Dune Universe, 10 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:28.010 on the pivotal desert world of Arrakis, 11 00:00:28.010 --> 00:00:30.170 Spice Wars follows the Forex template 12 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:33.660 of explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. 13 00:00:33.660 --> 00:00:35.760 The game has big strategy shoes to fill, 14 00:00:35.760 --> 00:00:39.050 as Westwood's 1992 Dune 2 is considered 15 00:00:39.050 --> 00:00:42.730 by many to be the godfather of the RTS genre. 16 00:00:42.730 --> 00:00:47.453 - The house that produces the most spice will control Dune. 17 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:50.830 - [Eric] In the early game I found water 18 00:00:50.830 --> 00:00:52.600 to be the most important resource. 19 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:54.840 Not a big surprise since we're on a desert planet 20 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:57.360 but still you need water to maintain armies 21 00:00:57.360 --> 00:01:00.200 for exterminating enemies and expanding villages. 22 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:02.630 Those are two Xs outta four, right there. 23 00:01:02.630 --> 00:01:05.520 I first started a campaign as the loathsome Harkonnen, 24 00:01:05.520 --> 00:01:07.990 before realizing I'd foolishly parked my boys 25 00:01:07.990 --> 00:01:09.040 out in the deep desert 26 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:10.810 where they grew terribly thirsty 27 00:01:10.810 --> 00:01:13.780 before switching over to the noble house of Atreides. 28 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:16.060 Their ability to peacefully annex villages 29 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:19.330 using influence jived more with my play style. 30 00:01:19.330 --> 00:01:21.310 Combat plays out civilization style 31 00:01:21.310 --> 00:01:23.320 with each unit acting as a small squad 32 00:01:23.320 --> 00:01:24.920 on the Over World map. 33 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:27.020 Soon enough, my wholesome Atreides armies 34 00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:28.996 had carved out a sizable chunk of Arrakis, 35 00:01:28.996 --> 00:01:31.890 bringing me into conflict with smugglers and raiders, 36 00:01:31.890 --> 00:01:33.580 that'll materialize outta the dunes 37 00:01:33.580 --> 00:01:35.580 to liberate your villages. 38 00:01:35.580 --> 00:01:38.740 While I dug the overall Forex flow of Spice Wars, 39 00:01:38.740 --> 00:01:40.810 some mechanics fell flat for me, 40 00:01:40.810 --> 00:01:43.420 like voting for resolutions in the Landsraad. 41 00:01:43.420 --> 00:01:45.090 I just never understood what I needed to do 42 00:01:45.090 --> 00:01:48.800 in order to feel sufficiently explained through tutorials. 43 00:01:48.800 --> 00:01:51.370 Also, maybe this is because I was in the early stages 44 00:01:51.370 --> 00:01:54.070 of my campaigns, but the fearsome sand worms 45 00:01:54.070 --> 00:01:56.790 of Arrakis felt too easy to avoid. 46 00:01:56.790 --> 00:01:58.860 Pull your harvesters away for a short time, 47 00:01:58.860 --> 00:02:00.230 and you're safe. 48 00:02:00.230 --> 00:02:02.740 All in all, I'm intrigued by what "Dune: Spice Wars" 49 00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:04.330 has to offer but certain elements 50 00:02:04.330 --> 00:02:07.210 are definitely feeling early access right now. 51 00:02:07.210 --> 00:02:08.090 Let's hear from you. 52 00:02:08.090 --> 00:02:09.810 How have you been finding "Dune - Spice Wars" 53 00:02:09.810 --> 00:02:11.263 take on Forks gameplay? 54 00:02:12.770 --> 00:02:14.653 - How is Arrakis treating you? 55 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:18.013 - [Eric] Let us know in the comments below.