Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients Introduction:
Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients marks the third installment in the Hegemony video game series, a creation of the Canadian game studio Longbow Games. This game was unleashed on the Windows platform on August 25, 2015.
In Hegemony III, players experience a unique blend of historical grand strategy and real-time tactical battles on a dynamically zoomable map. What sets it apart from other strategy games is the player's ability to seamlessly switch between a 2D strategic map and a 3D tactical map while the game unfolds in real time, with the option to pause. The core gameplay revolves around resource management, emphasizing the establishment of supply chains connecting resource hubs to infrastructure and armies. On the tactical level, players command various unit types and secure victories through unit selection, stances, and positioning.
Gameplay:
The game's historical backdrop is the 5th century BC, a period when Rome was just one of several city-states on the Italian peninsula. Players can choose to lead factions like Rome, the Etruscans, Gauls in the north, or Greeks in the south. Success hinges on adept resource management, army building, and the expansion of a faction's influence. This expansion includes city development, technological advancements, and diplomatic interactions with other factions, aided by an introductory tutorial campaign.
There are 28 factions available, divided into six cultural groups, with an additional five factions from the Sicilian cultural group introduced in The Eagle King expansion. Factions come with unique cultural bonuses, unit types, and researchable technologies as the game progresses. Examples of playable factions include Rome, Veii, the Sabines, the Marsians, the Lucanians, and the Venetians.
The game's campaign mode guides players through specific historical scenarios, featuring optional tasks and events. As of early 2021, the game offers the Pyrrhus of Epirus campaign (part of The Eagle King DLC), where players assume the role of King Pyrrhus of Epirus, tasked with defending a coalition of Greek city-states in southern Italy (Magna Graecia) from the expansionist Roman Republic. Various in-game choices enable players to follow historical events or craft their own narrative.
Final Words:
Hegemony III includes a map editor, allowing players to create custom maps and facilitate further modifications. Whether crafting fantasy or realistic maps using NASA satellite imagery, players can leverage a range of software tools. The game also fully supports the Steam workshop, providing ample opportunities for players to develop and share their own game modifications.