Info about R.U.S.E.™:

Official game description:
**R.U.S.E.** is back in its Definitive Edition, including all DLCs and Steam Deck support.
**R.U.S.E.** is a uniquely distinctive real-time strategy game where bluffing become your most powerful weapons to lead your nation to victory. Immerse yourself in World War II with the exclusive **IRISZOOM®** engine, which gives you an unparalleled view of the battlefield, from close-up inspection of individual units to a bird's-eye overview reminiscent of board gaming.
In **R.U.S.E.**, every battle is a battle of wits and perception. Deploy _**RUSE**_ cards to deceive your enemy, camouflage your troops, deploy decoys, or spy on your opponents.
_**RUSE**_ becomes a central gameplay element, delivering unprecedented strategic depth.
**Rich and Varied Single-Player Content**
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*   **Campaign:** Embody Major Joe Sheridan in an immersive adventure spanning from the deserts of North Africa to the plains of Western Europe. Each mission combines strategy, storytelling, and thrilling plot twists.
*   **Operations:** Take on independent tactical challenges designed to test your skills in extreme situations.
*   **Skirmish vs. AI:** Customize your matches to hone your skills or enjoy fast-paced, intense battles against reactive and versatile artificial intelligence.
**Multiplayer: Challenge the world**
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**R.U.S.E.** features 2 to 8-player matches on varied, customizable maps faithfully inspired by World War II theaters of operations. Choose your map, game mode, and player distribution (teams or free-for-all).
**Available Game Modes**
*   **Classic Mode:** All units available from the start, depending on your chosen era (1939, 1942, or 1945).
*   **Total War:** A progressive three-phase mode (1939, 1942, 1945) where new bases and units unlock at each stage.
*   **Nuclear Mode:** The race for the **atomic bomb**, the first to produce and deploy nuclear artillery wins the match.
*   **Ranked Mode:** Face strategists from around the world and climb the global leaderboard.
**Victory Conditions**
Victory is achieved by either destroying all enemy bases and units or accumulating more points than your opponent by the end of the time limit. You earn points for every enemy unit destroyed, rewarding tactical gameplay and daring maneuvers.
**RUSE: The Art of Bluffing**
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Bluffing lies at the heart of the strategic experience. _**RUSE**_ are special cards you can activate at any moment to influence enemy perception, reinforce your troops, or gain crucial intelligence. They provide unprecedented gameplay depth, transforming every engagement into a duel of wits and bluff.
_**RUSE**_ cards are divided into four major categories:
*   **Reveal** Information (decryption, espionage)
*   **Conceal** Information (radio silence, camouflage)
*   Create **Decoys** (dummy units, false offensives)
*   **Alter** Unit Behavior (blitz, terror)
By combining these cards, you'll orchestrate complex strategies and turn the tide of battle.  
**Factions: Unique Armies**
---------------------------
In **R.U.S.E**, each faction embodies a great power of World War II, bringing its own units, specificities, and playstyles. Choosing a faction means adopting a different strategic approach, tailored to your preferences and personality as a strategist.
*   **United States:** Versatility and industrial might.
*   **Germany:** Quality and firepower.
*   **France:** Resilience and defense.
*   **United Kingdom:** Air power and artillery.
*   **USSR:** Quantity and durability.
*   **Italy:** Speed and mobility.
**R.U.S.E.**: An intense strategic experience where _**RUSE**_ and adaptation make the difference.

Release date: Sep 9, 2010

Categories: Real-time Strategy, Bluffing Mechanics, Multiplayer, World War II, Faction Management, Tactical Gameplay, Base Building, Historical Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Mixed; summary: The reviews indicate several key themes related to the game's pricing and DLC. The most significant issues are the perceived high base price for an older game and problems related to DLC, including past high costs and availability. Historical pricing issues were also noted, but these have been addressed in the current version. Overall, the main concerns revolve around the cost and value proposition of the game and its additional content.
- Proton/Linux: score 75; verdict: Barely Playable; summary: The game experiences significant issues on Linux, including crashes and problems with launching. While there is a positive mention of compatibility with the Steam Deck, the overall experience on Linux seems to be problematic.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with Uplay integration and stability on Steam Deck and Linux platforms. Users frequently encounter bugs, crashes, and the need to deal with Uplay's microtransactions, which detract from the overall experience. However, there are also positive reports about the game's performance and support on Steam Deck when it functions correctly.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that while the game is valued at around $30 by serious RTS players, there is a strong sentiment that the game should be purchased on sale. Many users mention that the game is often available at significant discounts, sometimes as low as $5 or $10, which is considered a better price point, especially for an older game. The mention of a 75% discount being the norm for a decade-old game further supports the lower end of the price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several quotes indicating extensive playtime across different platforms. The quotes suggest that players have invested thousands of hours into the game, which implies a high level of engagement and replayability. However, specific metrics like game completion time, story completion time, session length, and endgame hours are not explicitly mentioned. The confidence level is moderate due to the lack of specific playtime metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game becomes fun and engaging primarily through its multiplayer mode, which offers a challenging yet rewarding experience. The campaign serves as a good tutorial, but the real enjoyment comes from playing with others.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Multiplayer proficiency
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Initial difficulty of multiplayer; Potential lack of active players; Toxic online community
  - Unlock drivers: Campaign as a tutorial; Rewarding multiplayer battles
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Cooperative scenarios; Skirmish mode
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and continued enjoyment of a beloved game.
    - Playstyle: Experienced and likely skilled, with a deep understanding of game mechanics and strategies.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: 古参兵; 将校
    - Reference games: Wargame; Steel Division
  - Beginner Strategist (sale)
    - Motivation: Learning and enjoying a new genre or game.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory and learning-focused, likely to stick to basic strategies and units.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: beginner; newcomer
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Solo Campaigner (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of single-player content and personal challenges.
    - Playstyle: Focused on single-player campaigns and skirmishes, often setting personal challenges and preferring AI opponents.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: solo player; campaign enthusiast
    - Reference games: Wargame; Steel Division
  - Story-Driven Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging with the game's campaign and strategic depth.
    - Playstyle: Focused on campaign progression and mastering strategic elements, often replaying missions for perfection.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story-driven; strategy enthusiast
    - Reference games: Wargame; Steel Division


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique and highly praised RTS game (weight 0.66): The game is frequently described as one of the best and most unique RTS games, particularly in the context of World War II. Players appreciate its depth, strategy, and classic RTS elements, making it a memorable and highly recommended experience.
- Good graphics and visuals (weight 0.36): The game is noted for its good graphics and visuals, which have held up well over the years. Players find the visuals appealing and captivating, even considering the game's age.
- Enjoyed playing with friends (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the multiplayer aspect of the game, finding it fun to play with friends, especially during LAN parties. The multiplayer features are highly praised.
- Deception as a weapon (weight 0.2): The game includes unique mechanics such as the RUSE system for deception tactics. Players appreciate the strategic layer of deception and the use of stratagems to deceive the enemy.
- Game's return to Steam (weight 0.14): Many players express happiness and satisfaction with the game's return to Steam. This has been a positive point for those who were waiting for its relisting.
- Best WW2 RTS game (weight 0.13): The game is often cited as the best WW2 RTS game, praised for its classic RTS elements and base-building mechanics. It is considered a must-have for RTS fans.
- Worth the price (weight 0.12): Players find the game to be worth the price, offering good value for money. It is seen as an affordable and worthwhile purchase.
- Nostalgic experience (weight 0.12): The game brings back fond memories and offers a nostalgic experience for many players. It is seen as a fun and memorable experience.
- Language support (weight 0.12): The game offers official support for multiple languages, including Chinese and Japanese. This feature is appreciated by a diverse player base.
- Unique factions and playstyles (weight 0.11): The game features multiple factions, each with their own playstyles, challenges, strengths, and weaknesses. This diversity adds depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Excellent campaign (weight 0.1): The game features a fairly lengthy and interesting campaign. Players find the campaign to be excellent and enjoyable.

Common complaints:
- Multiplayer and online issues (weight 0.25): Multiplayer has several issues, including desync problems, toxic players, and a declining community. Some players are stuck in menus or experience laggy games.
- Lack of content and customization (weight 0.25): Players feel there is a lack of single-player content, map editor, and unit customization. There are also mentions of limited maps and lack of naval units.
- High price for old game (weight 0.25): Many players feel that the game is overpriced given its age and lack of updates. The price tag of 30€ is considered too high for a 16-year-old title.
- Campaign criticisms (weight 0.2): The campaign is criticized for feeling clichéd, ending poorly, and not being particularly stellar. Some players find it dull and stupid.
- DLC issues and costs (weight 0.19): Players are dissatisfied with the high cost and availability of DLCs. Some DLCs are no longer available, and others are considered overpriced.
- Balancing and AI issues (weight 0.18): There are notable balancing flaws in the game, and the AI is often criticized for being predictable, not challenging, and sometimes illogical.
- Community and social issues (weight 0.17): The community can be harsh to newcomers, and there are issues with toxic players and experienced players dominating. Some players regret not being able to play with friends.
- Technical and compatibility issues (weight 0.16): There are various technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and compatibility problems with different platforms like Mac and Steam Deck.
- Lack of updates and support (weight 0.14): Players feel that the game has been abandoned by the developers and lacks proper support and updates. There are also mentions of the game being hidden by Ubisoft and removed from stores.
- Gameplay and mechanics criticisms (weight 0.12): There are criticisms regarding the gameplay mechanics, including the retreat mechanism, lack of manual unit rotation, and issues with air units being hard to operate.
- UI and graphical problems (weight 0.1): The UI icons and fonts are too small, and there is a lack of UI scaling. Additionally, there are mentions of graphical improvements needed and minor graphical errors.

Gameplay feedback:
- Tactical and strategic gameplay (weight 0.35): The game focuses on tactics and strategy, providing challenging gameplay that requires players to think critically and plan their moves carefully.
- Unique RUSE deception mechanics (weight 0.32): A key feature of the game is the RUSE system, which allows players to deceive enemies using various tactics and strategies, adding a layer of psychological warfare.
- Multiplayer modes with up to 8 players (weight 0.31): The game offers various multiplayer modes, including cooperative and versus modes, supporting up to 8 players. This includes both online multiplayer and AI matches.
- Seven nations with unique characteristics (weight 0.3): The game includes seven different nations, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles. This adds variety and depth to the gameplay.
- Real-time strategy with base building (weight 0.18): The game is a real-time strategy game that includes base building and expansion mechanics, allowing players to develop their bases and manage resources.
- Units with specific strengths and weaknesses (weight 0.14): Units in the game have specific stats and situational strengths, making it important for players to choose the right units for different scenarios.
- Various multiplayer modes and eras (weight 0.11): The game offers multiple multiplayer modes with different eras, including nuclear weapons, providing a variety of gameplay experiences.
- Less focus on micromanagement (weight 0.11): The game is designed to reduce the need for micromanagement, allowing players to focus more on strategic decisions rather than minute control of units.
- Use of stratagems (weight 0.08): Players can use stratagems for special abilities, adding another layer of strategy to the gameplay.
- Artillery and ambush mechanics (weight 0.08): The game features long-range artillery mechanics and ambush mechanics, adding depth to the combat system.
- All units visible with variety (weight 0.08): All units are visible on the map, and there is a wide variety of units available, allowing for diverse tactical approaches.
- Unique UI design (weight 0.05): The game has a unique user interface design, setting it apart from other real-time strategy games.
- Large-scale battles in cities (weight 0.05): The game includes large-scale battles set in cities, providing intense and immersive combat scenarios.
- Campaign with a story (weight 0.05): The game includes a campaign mode with a story, providing a structured and narrative-driven gameplay experience.
- Real-life and DLC maps (weight 0.04): The game offers real-life maps and additional content through DLC, expanding the gameplay experience.
- Rock-paper-scissors mechanics (weight 0.04): The game mechanics are simple and follow a rock-paper-scissors model, making it easy to understand but challenging to master.
- Mod support and community (weight 0.04): The game supports modding, allowing for a vibrant modding community to create and share new content.
- Zoom feature for full map view (weight 0.03): Players can zoom out to see the full map, providing a strategic overview of the battlefield.

Performance notes:
- Decent PC requirements (weight 0.15): The game has decent PC requirements and is playable on a wide range of hardware, making it accessible to many players.
- Good performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.11): The game runs well on Steam Deck, with good performance and playability, making it a solid choice for handheld gaming.
- Mixed performance on Linux (weight 0.1): Performance on Linux is mixed, with some players experiencing crashes while others report flawless performance. Specific issues noted with Linux Mint.
- Desync issues in multiplayer (weight 0.06): There are desync issues in multiplayer mode, which can affect the gameplay experience and need to be fixed.
- Frequent and large updates (weight 0.04): The game receives frequent and large updates, indicating active development and support from the developers.
- Game gets stuck on loading (weight 0.04): Some players report that the game gets stuck on the loading screen, which can be frustrating and needs to be addressed.
- Technically stable in single-player (weight 0.04): The game is reported to be technically stable in single-player mode, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.
- UI improvements needed (weight 0.04): The user interface needs improvements, particularly for 4K screens, to enhance the overall user experience.
- Bugs and crashes with DLC (weight 0.04): There are reports of bugs and crashes specifically related to the game's DLC content, which can impact the overall stability.
- Good zoom-in camera (weight 0.03): The game features a good zoom-in camera, which enhances the gameplay experience by allowing players to get a closer look at the action.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for RTS fans (weight 0.44): The game is strongly recommended for fans of the RTS genre, particularly those interested in World War II and strategy games. It is praised for its appeal to both casual and hardcore RTS enthusiasts.
- Strong general recommendations (weight 0.3): Many reviewers highly recommend the game to a broad audience, emphasizing its appeal and quality. They suggest it is a must-play for anyone interested in strategy games or WWII.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.12): The game is considered worth its price tag, with several recommendations suggesting to buy it during a sale for better value.
- Requests for more maps (weight 0.08): Players are requesting additional maps to enhance the gameplay experience and provide more variety.
- Needs better AI (weight 0.06): Players are asking for updates to improve the AI, making it smarter and more challenging, including the addition of an expert AI level.
- Mod support requested (weight 0.06): There are requests for proper mod support and modding tools to allow for more customization and community content.
- Multiplayer and technical suggestions (weight 0.05): Suggestions include adding ranked multiplayer modes and ensuring all players have the same OS for better compatibility.

Other player notes:
- Nostalgic school projector gameplay (weight 0.03): Players fondly remember this game as the best choice for playing on a projector in school around 12 years ago.
- Map editor suggestion (weight 0.03): A suggestion was made regarding the map editor, but no specific details were provided.
- DLC mentioned (weight 0.02): A review mentioned DLC, but without any additional context or details.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.22): Players are thrilled about the game's revival and re-release on Steam, particularly with the inclusion of all DLCs and support for Steam Deck. The unique gameplay mechanics, such as battles in cities with artillery and the engaging multiplayer system, also contribute to this excitement.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.21): Many players have fond memories of playing the game during their childhood or adolescence, often reminiscing about playing with friends or on specific platforms like Xbox 360 or PS3. The game's return after many years has brought back these cherished memories.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players are satisfied with the game's depth, strategic elements, and multiplayer experience. The game's good value for its price and the balance between micromanaging and AI also contribute to this satisfaction.
- Frustration (weight 0.06): Players are frustrated with various technical issues such as bugs on Steam Deck, desync issues, and lack of UI scaling. Additionally, multiplayer problems, high prices, and toxic community behavior contribute to this frustration.
- Happiness (weight 0.05): Players are happy about the game's return to Steam and the opportunity to play it again. The inclusion of DLCs and positive memories associated with the game also contribute to this happiness.
- Hope (weight 0.04): Players hope for future updates, improvements, and the potential for a sequel. They also express hope for the game's continued popularity and the revival of its multiplayer community.
- Gratitude (weight 0.04): Players are grateful to the developers for bringing the game back and for the inclusion of free DLCs. They appreciate the game's return to Steam and the efforts made by the developers to modernize it.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's strategic depth, unique mechanics, and engaging gameplay. The variety and intensity of the game also contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Players are surprised by the game's unexpected return and update after a long period. The inclusion of all DLCs and the game's unique tactics also contribute to this surprise.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique features, beautiful graphics, and stable technical performance. They also appreciate the developers' efforts to bring the game back and improve it.
- Positive (weight 0.03): Players have a positive experience with the game's strategy, multiplayer aspects, and overall gameplay. They praise the game's graphics, sound, controls, and engaging story.
- Disappointment (weight 0.02): Players are disappointed with the lack of certain features like naval army control and cooperative missions. The high price of the game and the dominance of experienced players in online matches also contribute to this disappointment.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players are excited about the game being re-listed and available again.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players find joy in the game's return to Steam and the fun gameplay it offers. The game's features and language support also contribute to this joy.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's unique focus on deception and psychological strategy. The game's pioneering qualities and depiction of World War II strategies also contribute to this admiration.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Players approve of the game's depth and accessibility. They also appreciate the developers' decision to give the DLC to base game owners.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the return of a highly regarded RTS game after a long period of unavailability. The unique gameplay mechanics also contribute to this excitement.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy about the game's return to Steam and the inclusion of new features like the ability to use the Japanese army. The significant price drop also contributes to this happiness.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.01): Players enjoy the game's fun and unique gameplay, as well as its atmosphere and concept.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry about the pricing of the game and criticism of third-party sellers. They also express anger towards Ubisoft for taking the game down.}