0 A.D. vs Empire Earth
0 A.D.
0 A.D. is a really unique game not because it is possibly one of the most well-made, open-source, historical real-time strategy games we've ever seen; the game started off as a mod for Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings but ended up being a standalone game with its own game engine and everything. This is a pretty huge feat and puts 0 A.D. on the same level as other successful mod-turned games like Garry's Mod. However, the game may lose out a bit when it comes to popularity mainly because it's not available on Steam, which happens to be the current largest PC gaming platform, and partly because there isn't a lot of promoting from established gaming media, or marketing, even.That said, the game is incredibly impressive for an under-development and completely free game. You can play as a number of civilizations that has their own graphics and models to set them apart. There are also citizen-soldiers who like in real-life, can switch between gatheirng resources like a civilian and fighting as a soldier depending on need. Unlike certain RTS games that allow you to unlock every branch of the tech tree, this game offers technological tradeoffs between two equally important tech, forcing you to really consider your choices and pick one that fits your play style.
0 A.D. also tries to be as historically accurate as possible, conforming its 3D models and maps to actual historical depictions of the people and land back in the day. The effort into making game realistic is astounding, but of course, the devs have mentioned that if they had to choose between having a feature that's historically accurate or playable, they will definitely choose playable every time... naturally, since this is still mainly a game and all.
So, if you're interested, know that you can get the game for free on their site.
Empire Earth
Empire Earth lets you take the reins of a newborn civilization and nurture it so it'd grow into a formidable empire that can eventually dominate the globe. But of course, your rise to power will not go unchallenged, so expect the need to flex your military muscles from time to time or employ some diplomatic action to ensure the expansion of your empire. As you go through various eras until the final, hypothetical "nano era", you'll need to invest in upgrading your technology both for your normal citizens and for your military just so your empire can keep up with the times and have both military might and economic strength growing in tandem. Multiplayer is also available but only through LAN.Empire Earth may not have been as popular as Age of Empires, but it is still a pretty renowned real-time strategy game back in the day. If you love the genre, you'll definitely enjoy playing this game.