Armies of Exigo

Armies of Exigo is a real-time strategy game developed by Black Hole Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, released during the golden age of RTS titles. At first glance, many compared it directly to Warcraft III due to its 3D visuals, fantasy factions, and mission structure. However, the game carved its own identity with one unique mechanic: the dual-layer battlefield.

The world of Exigo is divided into two realms – the surface and the underground. Armies can fight on the surface while enemy units might simultaneously invade from below, forcing players to defend on two fronts. This “two-world” system added a significant tactical dimension, demanding careful resource management and troop distribution.

There are three main factions:

• Empire – traditional human knights, mages, and siege units.

• Beasts – a brutal, savage race of monstrous creatures.

• Fallen – corrupted beings with necromantic powers.

The campaign offers a rich storyline with cinematic cutscenes, guiding the player through each faction’s perspective. The pacing is varied, with missions that mix large-scale battles, defensive strongholds, and underground assaults.

From a technical standpoint, the graphics were impressive for 2004, with detailed 3D models, dynamic lighting, and destructible environments. Animations were fluid, though not as polished as Blizzard’s RTS titles. The soundtrack was orchestral and immersive, enhancing the epic tone of battles.

Gameplay, while engaging, sometimes felt overwhelming. The two-layer battlefield could be exciting but also confusing, especially for newcomers to the RTS genre. Balancing armies across two maps required constant micromanagement. Multiplayer was solid but never reached the popularity of contemporaries like Warcraft III or Age of Empires II.