Info about Supreme Commander:

Official game description:
For a thousand years, three opposing forces have waged war for what they believe is true. There can be no room for compromise: their way is the only way. Dubbed The Infinite War, this devastating conflict has taken its toll on a once-peaceful galaxy and has only served to deepen the hatred between the factions. After centuries of struggle, the battle for supremacy has at last reached a turning point. Under your strategic command and leadership, will your faction reign supreme? Will you be victorious and elevate your race to domination? Or will you lead them into the hell of defeat and ultimate extinction?

Release date: Sep 28, 2011

Categories: Real-time Strategy, Multiplayer, Faction Diversity, Large-Scale Combat, Resource Management, Base Building, Unit Management


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.74 - $14.99
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that users find the game worth purchasing at full price ($14.99) and consider it a steal at $3.74. The repeated mentions of buying the game on sale suggest that while the full price is acceptable, a lower price point is highly appealing to the community. This suggests a fair price range that balances perceived value and affordability.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 20.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: 1.5h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect references to playtime. The first quote mentions finishing one faction's campaign and starting another, indicating that a single campaign can take several hours. The second quote suggests a very high total playtime, including multiplayer sessions. The third quote indicates that single sessions or matches can last over an hour. The fourth quote provides a general estimate of total playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Supreme Commander offers a complex and engaging strategy experience with a steep learning curve. The fun anchors around the multiplayer community, which provides diverse and tactical battles.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Multiplayer community
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: steep learning curve; complexity and depth of systems; tedious unit movement
  - Unlock drivers: multiplayer community; variety of factions and maps
  - Conditions: experienced RTS players; co-op; multiplayer; different campaigns as different factions
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging single-player campaign and strategic depth.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys detailed and complex single-player campaigns, appreciates large-scale battles and varied unit types.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Single-player enthusiast; Strategy lover
    - Reference games: Total Annihilation; Age of Empires
  - Competitive Multiplayer Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Competitive and cooperative multiplayer gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on multiplayer matches, enjoys competitive and cooperative play, values community support.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Multiplayer enthusiast; Competitive player
    - Reference games: Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance; Total Annihilation
  - Nostalgic Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for classic RTS gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys large-scale battles and strategic depth, compares new games to classic experiences.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Old-school player; Classic RTS fan
    - Reference games: Total Annihilation; Battlezone


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:
- Massive scale battles (weight 0.47): The game is praised for its massive battlefields, large unit counts, and epic battles with thousands of units. Players appreciate the large and detailed maps that allow for strategic operations and realistic battlefield experiences.
- Highly regarded RTS game (weight 0.41): Supreme Commander is considered one of the best RTS games ever made, standing above other classic RTS games like Age of Empires and Command and Conquer. Players find it to be a satisfying and excellent example of RTS gameplay.
- Unique and diverse factions (weight 0.41): The game features unique factions with different playstyles, advantages, and disadvantages. Each faction has unique units and characteristics, providing a diverse and tactically rich experience.
- Strategic depth and planning (weight 0.37): The game encourages strategic planning and logistics, with a focus on depth of strategy. Players enjoy the strategic zoom and physically-based projectile modeling that add to the realistic and engaging gameplay.
- Enjoyable and classic gameplay (weight 0.34): Players find Supreme Commander to be an enjoyable and classic strategy game. The gameplay is fun and offers a high-quality RTS experience that has stood the test of time.
- Atmospheric soundtrack and visuals (weight 0.26): Supreme Commander offers an atmospheric soundtrack and impressive visuals. Players appreciate the legendary soundtrack and well-rendered graphics that enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Balanced and fast-paced gameplay (weight 0.2): Supreme Commander offers well-balanced and fast-paced RTS gameplay. Players enjoy the classic RTS mechanics and high-quality gameplay that the game provides.
- Forged Alliance expansion (weight 0.15): The Forged Alliance expansion and community mod add more skirmish and multiplayer content. Players appreciate the additional content and improvements brought by the expansion.

Common complaints:
- Outdated and poor graphics (weight 0.2): Many players have criticized the game for having outdated and simplified graphics, which detract from the overall visual experience.
- Poor user interface (weight 0.13): The user interface is described as terrible and outdated, with low resolution that affects usability.
- Complex and unclear controls (weight 0.13): Players find the controls to be complex, uncomfortable, and unclear, making the game difficult to play.
- Poor pathfinding mechanics (weight 0.09): The pathfinding in the game is described as atrocious, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Frustrating gameplay mechanics (weight 0.09): Certain gameplay mechanics are found to be frustrating, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Limited hotkey customization (weight 0.09): Players are frustrated by the inability to customize hotkeys, which limits their ability to tailor controls to their preferences.
- Repetitive gameplay elements (weight 0.09): The game can become repetitive quickly, with music and other elements feeling monotonous after a short period.
- Inadequate minimap (weight 0.09): The minimap is reported to be small, uninformative, or sometimes completely absent, which hinders navigation and gameplay.
- Poor unit AI behavior (weight 0.09): The AI behavior of units is criticized for being poor, particularly in terms of auto-positioning.
- Unknown and connection errors (weight 0.09): Players encounter unknown errors and connection issues, which disrupt gameplay.
- Inadequate tutorial (weight 0.09): The tutorial is reported to be inadequate, leaving players without proper guidance on how to play the game.
- Simple and basic plot (weight 0.08): The plot of the game is described as simple and basic, lacking depth and complexity.
- Lack of support and engagement (weight 0.08): Players feel there is a lack of support and engagement from the developers, leading to a sense of abandonment.
- Long and daunting missions (weight 0.08): Missions in the game can feel endless and daunting, especially for unprepared players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse unit types (weight 0.55): Players can command units on land, sea, and air, with a variety of unit types including different factions and units. Each unit has strengths and weaknesses, and there is a huge number of units available.
- Large-scale battles and maps (weight 0.49): The game features massive battlefields with large unit counts and big maps, allowing for real-time strategy on a large scale. Players can build massive armies and engage in large-scale combat across 3D battlefields.
- Classic RTS mechanics (weight 0.46): The gameplay focuses on classic RTS mechanics, offering both fast and slow-paced RTS gameplay. It includes resource management, base building, and unit production.
- Faction-based gameplay (weight 0.41): The game features distinct factions with unique units and strategies. Each faction has unique characteristics and behaves differently, offering tactically different factions.
- Strategic and tactical depth (weight 0.38): The game offers strategic planning with a tactical view for strategic implementation. It includes multiple layers of strategy and dynamic strategy adjustment, providing both tactical and strategic options.
- Engaging campaign and story (weight 0.32): The game features a well-written story with good voice acting and well-executed missions. The campaign includes tutorials and unique missions, offering a captivating and dynamic solo campaign.
- Unit behaviors and mechanics (weight 0.25): The game includes unit behaviors, unit production, and unit pathfinding. It also features unit customization and movement control, along with physically-based projectile modeling for realistic combat.
- Unique resource and gameplay systems (weight 0.21): The game features a unique resource system and unique gameplay mechanics. It includes logistics and resource management with infinite resources.
- Skirmish mode (weight 0.16): The game is rich in skirmishes, offering a skirmish mode for players to engage in various combat areas and battle environments.
- Simple to learn (weight 0.15): The game is designed to be simple to learn and not too complicated, making it accessible for new players while still offering challenging gameplay.
- Zoom functionality (weight 0.13): The zoom function allows players to zoom in and out of the map, going right down to group level and all the way out to see the entire map. This aids in tactical view for strategic planning.
- Varied AI types (weight 0.09): The game includes varied AI types with different difficulty levels, providing a range of challenges for players.
- Comparison to other RTS games (weight 0.08): The game is often compared to other RTS games, such as Total Annihilation, highlighting its unique features and mechanics within the genre.
- Visual detail (weight 0.08): The game shows a commitment to visual detail, enhancing the overall gaming experience with its attention to detail.

Performance notes:
- Performance on different hardware (weight 0.35): The game runs well on various hardware configurations, including Steam Deck, Linux, and entry-level cards. It is optimized for four cores and can handle high unit quantities reasonably well.
- Optimization and performance issues (weight 0.33): There are reports of poor optimization, leading to issues like end-game lag, frame drops, and stuttering. High unit quantities can significantly affect performance.
- Frequent crashes and stability issues (weight 0.25): Many players experience constant crashes and memory-related crashes. The game often crashes between levels without Windows compatibility settings.
- Multi-screen and interface issues (weight 0.21): There are issues with multi-screen support and general interface problems that affect the user experience.
- Audio and game-breaking bugs (weight 0.18): There are notable audio bugs and game-breaking bugs that affect the gameplay experience. Some players have reported freezing during cutscenes and audio-related stuttering.
- Graphical and resolution issues (weight 0.13): The game has outdated graphics and resolution-related issues. Some players have reported the screen going grey when changing resolution.
- High CPU usage (weight 0.06): The game has high CPU usage, which can lead to performance issues on some systems.
- Alt-Tab crashes (weight 0.05): Alt-Tabbing out of the game often causes it to crash, which can be frustrating for players who need to switch tasks frequently.
- Campaign and level transition issues (weight 0.05): There are specific issues related to the campaign and transitions between levels, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.

Recommendations:
- Forged Alliance recommended for additional content (weight 0.3): Many players suggest getting Forged Alliance along with Supreme Commander for enhanced skirmish and multiplayer experiences.
- Recommended for strategy fans (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended for fans of strategy games, especially those who enjoy large-scale strategies.
- Play original campaign first (weight 0.12): It is suggested to play the original campaign before diving into other content.
- Play online multiplayer (weight 0.1): The game is highly recommended for its online multiplayer mode, which offers a long-lasting experience.
- Buy with expansion and on sale (weight 0.1): Players recommend purchasing the game along with its expansion, especially when it is on sale.
- Worth experiencing (weight 0.06): The game is considered worth experiencing for its unique gameplay and content.
- Recommended for C&C retro RTS fans (weight 0.05): Players who enjoy retro RTS games like Command & Conquer are recommended to try this game.
- Avoid if not an RTS fan (weight 0.05): Some players suggest avoiding the game if you are not a fan of RTS games.
- Try Beyond All Reason (weight 0.05): Players recommend trying Beyond All Reason as an alternative.
- Consider FAF (weight 0.05): Consider using FAF (Forged Alliance Forever) for additional content and community features.
- Perfect for fortress base lovers (weight 0.05): The game is perfect for players who enjoy building up a fortress base.
- Needs a remaster (weight 0.05): Some players feel that the game needs a remaster to modernize its graphics and mechanics.
- Finish the campaign (weight 0.05): Players recommend finishing the campaign for a complete experience.
- Recommended for cyber sports enthusiasts (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for cyber sports enthusiasts due to its competitive nature.
- Recommended for Total Annihilation fans (weight 0.05): Fans of Total Annihilation are likely to enjoy this game due to its similar gameplay mechanics.
- Visit FA Forever community (weight 0.05): Players suggest visiting the FA Forever community for additional content and support.
- Childhood game recommendation (weight 0.05): The game is recommended as a nostalgic experience for those who played it in their childhood.
- Treasure for enthusiasts (weight 0.05): The game is considered a treasure for enthusiasts who love the genre.
- Technical adjustments needed (weight 0.04): Some technical adjustments like changing core affinity and removing core 0 are recommended for better performance.
- Use Project Lasso (weight 0.04): Players suggest using Project Lasso for an enhanced experience.
- Watch Gyle's casts on YouTube (weight 0.04): Watching Gyle's casts on YouTube is recommended for tips and strategies.
- Avoid Supreme Commander 2 (weight 0.04): Some players suggest avoiding Supreme Commander 2 due to various reasons.

Other player notes:
- Multiple language support (weight 0.1): The game supports multiple languages, including Chinese and Ukrainian, catering to a diverse player base.
- Recommendations and alternatives (weight 0.09): Players appreciate recommendations from commentators and suggest 'Beyond All Reason RTS' as an excellent alternative game.
- Steam key redemption (weight 0.06): Players can redeem a Steam copy of the game using a CD key, providing flexibility in how they access the game.

Emotions:
- Nostalgia (weight 0.21): Many players express nostalgia due to childhood memories associated with the game, often mentioning that they grew up playing it and still enjoy it after many years. The game's lasting impact and the fond memories of playing it with friends or during LAN parties contribute significantly to this sentiment.
- Excitement (weight 0.2): Players are excited about the game's detailed and immersive gameplay mechanics, large-scale battles, and strategic depth. The unique features, such as the ferry system and diverse unit variety, along with the game's scale and epic battles, contribute to this excitement.
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Frustration stems from various technical issues, including game crashes, poor unit pathfinding, and compatibility problems with modern systems like Windows 11. Additionally, players are frustrated with unclear instructions, balance issues, and repetitive mission structures.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the fun and challenging gameplay, particularly in skirmish mode, and appreciate the variety of units and tech trees. The overall game experience, including building bases and commanding units, contributes to their enjoyment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Players appreciate the game's large-scale combat, strategic depth, and unique mechanics compared to other RTS games. The game's high quality, immersive world, and detailed features are also highly valued.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment arises from the game's graphics and pathfinding issues, performance problems, and outdated interface. Players also express disappointment with the game's pacing, engagement, and game-breaking bugs.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's large-scale battles, strategic depth, and community support. Players are enthusiastic about the game's mechanics and recommend it to others for long gaming sessions.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Players feel satisfied with the immersive and updated gameplay, large-scale battles, and strategic depth. The satisfying ending and the game's suitability for turtling playstyle also contribute to this feeling.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire the game's massive battlefield scope, strategic depth, and unique gameplay system. The game's longevity, quality, and mechanics are also highly admired.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy comes from the love for the game and the fun experiences associated with playing it. Positive experiences and memories with the game contribute to this emotion.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement is derived from humorous elements in the game, such as commanders cracking jokes at the enemy. Narratives about gameplay with friends also add to the amusement.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest is sparked by the game's unique unit behaviors and explosion effects. These features capture the players' curiosity and engagement.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom is caused by the slow gameplay and long building times. Players find these aspects tedious and unengaging.}