The Ares Project, an upcoming release from Z-Man Games, represents an attempt by designers Geoff and Brian Engelstein to create a board game equivalent of real time computer strategy games like Age of Empire, Starcraft, and Warcraft. While The Ares Project does have multi-player capabilities, the card-based game is primarily a two-player affair that can be played in 30-45 minutes. The game alternates between quick-playing normal turns and dramatic battles.

 

There are three areas in the 2-player game, a player’s base, his opponent’s base, and the Frontier. The object of the game is for a player to build up his forces and destroy his (or her) opponent’s base.  Control of the frontier can be helpful, though it’s not always necessary. The game’s four factions provide many different options for constructing both attack forces and defenses. Player screens allow for planning and preparing in secrecy—another way in which The Ares Project mimics the methods of real time strategy games. 

 

Conflict is handled by a “battle line” mechanic in which opposing forces are arrayed against each other and fire. The most powerful blows can be delivered against the opposing forces arrayed directly in front, but players can train their fire on any of their opponent’s forces, though more distant targets are harder to hit. This coupled with the different capabilities of various units allows for lots of strategic maneuvering.