Antz: A Bugs Life – The Game
Empire of Ants is a strategy-tactical adventure game developed by Tower Five and published by Microids, based on Bernard Werber’s novel. I had never heard of these books, but this French author is known for anthropomorphizing animals, which in this case its ants and honestly it’s pretty cool. I didn’t expect this game to be about base building and fighting hordes of termites, but I must say it was a pleasant surprise.
In Empire of Ants, players take on the role of the 103,683rd ant, tasked with guiding the colony towards prosperity. The game combines elements of strategy and adventure, requiring players to manage resources, form alliances with local wildlife, and engage in tactical battles. The story is way more engaging than I thought it was going to be, with a focus on the ant hierarchy and the challenges of navigating a world from an ant’s perspective. The narrative is well-paced, offering a mix of exploration, resource management, and combat.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
Players must gather food, water, and building materials to sustain and expand their colony. This involves exploring the environment, identifying resource nodes, and deploying worker ants to collect and transport these resources back to the colony. The game also introduces dynamic weather and environmental hazards, adding layers of complexity to resource management and planning. The game’s strategic elements are well-balanced, requiring players to think tactically about their moves and resource allocation. The combat system is what I have the biggest issue within Empire of Ants, players will create forces of Warrior Ants, Gunner Ants (who throw acid) and more. These units move like a battalion from a Total War game, but when you tell your large battalion of Warriors to attack the termites; sadly, what you get is just the front line of each side fighting.
It’s just kind of disappointing because everything in this game just looks absolutely amazing. From the environments to the individual ants, visually everything is just quite stunning. The world of Empire of Ants is a visual treat, with lush vegetation, intricately designed foliage, and a variety of fauna that make the forest feel alive. The game’s lighting effects, particularly the way sunlight filters through leaves and casts shadows, add to the realism and atmosphere. The attention to detail in the ant colony itself is also commendable, with tunnels and chambers that reflect the industrious nature of ants.
There are some issues though, nothing that makes the game any less enjoyable, I just wish that combat was more immersive. It would have been quite an epic spectacle to see all these insect’s fight. Despite these few issues though, the game’s visual fidelity remains a strong point, drawing players into the tiny yet vast world of ants. The use of scale and perspective effectively conveys the immense challenges faced by the colony, making every victory feel hard-earned and significant.
I didn’t see myself enjoying a game about some Ants in 2024, especially with how stacked this year has been with gaming releases; but here we are. Empire of Ants is a unique strategy game that offers players a fresh perspective on the insect world, the last game I personally played with ants was Sim-Ant. The game’s ability to blend realistic visuals with strategic gameplay creates a compelling and immersive experience. Even though I wasn’t able to test out the multiplayer options, I think that it will certainly help the longevity of Empire of Ants. Whether you’re managing resources, planning tactical maneuvers, or simply exploring the detailed environments, Empire of Ants offers a unique gaming experience but with this year already seeing big strategy games drop; I hope this one doesn’t get lost on the hill.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
