Games with good/best AI?

[IronWarrior]

Depends what you mean by "good AI". [;)]

HistWar Les Grognards has a really good AI. The "regimental AI" uses historical tactics, deciding when to change formation in different situations or throw out skirmishers for example. Cavalry will force squares and call up horse artillery etc etc.

H2H is still the best way to play the game (IMO), but SP can still offer a good challenge (especially so when compared with other games in this specific category). But the "AI" is pretty impressive in what it does.

EDIT: not sure if we were including non-Matrix titles... sorry if that was OT.

[Erik Rutins]

Regarding SSG's AI, I think it's always been one of the better ones and with the recent Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets and Across the Dnepr Second Edition, I find it much harder to beat than in the older titles.

Regards,

- Erik

[JWW]

A couple I will vote for are Guns of August and Gary Grigsby's WBTS. I think one thing that helps GOA in particular is the simpler, chesslike quality of the board and system. It is a really classic game. WBTS has some of those same qualities though it is more complex. I think if you give the AI a less complex situation, you can develop a better AI and fewer ways to "game" the AI. In both games mentioned you have to learn to maximize your leadership and take advantage of everything the system offers you to win. In the Panther system I've only played HTTR and understand how good that system is but just could not completely get into it. And some of the others I have not played, so I'm not making a complete comparison.

[Anthropoid]

Seems like the AI in Battle of Britain was pretty good. That is granted a combination of a strategic and a tactical air game, but it was pretty challenging.

I finally bought Birth of America, and have to agree, the AI there seems pretty good. Don't have WiA yet.

The Commander: World at War AI (Slitherine) is pretty good.

At the strategic level, the AI in Crown of Glory Emperor's Edition seems pretty good, but the tactical is pretty predictable. I'd say the same thing for Forge of Freedom.

ADDIT: the AI in the old Civil War Generals II game was also pretty good.

[rowech]

Little disappointing as none of the games I've been looking at being mentioned really.  I've seen other posts about HPS games here so I don't think I'm breaking too much protocal but if I am, I apologize...are the HPS games AI any good?

[IronWarrior]

ORIGINAL: rowech

Little disappointing as none of the games I've been looking at being mentioned really.  I've seen other posts about HPS games here so I don't think I'm breaking too much protocal but if I am, I apologize...are the HPS games AI any good?

Horrible... but to be fair the HPS games are targeted for MP gamers (like me [:D]). I just can't get into them any more after playing Histwar.

[jomni]

ORIGINAL: Nebogipfel

If you want a challenging game, you need to check games designed for single-player.

Although SSG´s WW2 AI is a better one, it´s not really a challenge to beat the AI. Once you´re "in", you will win every battle, mostly with 1xxx points ahaed. Their games are designed for H2H.

Didn´t play the latest panther games, but with RDOA it was almost the same.

Most newer games don´t offer a big challenge to single player, because of this H2H dilemma.

I dig out older games, which are designed for single player, if I want a challenge.

If you want to get your ass kicked, try for example older SSG´s like original Battlefront or Reach for the Stars, which are offering a real

challenge.

@Nefarious. That's the point that I was driving at... The more focus on multiplayer and balance, the less focus on AI development. The more game mechanics and concepts that games try to simulate, the more an AI cannot cope. Hannibal developers chose it to be single-player-only and it also has no Roman Campaign. The end result is a great and challenging game againt the AI as Carthage. Sadly there are some people are not happy and still clamor for a Roman campaign and multiplayer.

Regarding HPS... I mostly play HPS Squad Battles in PBEM. Playing vs. the AI can be challenging and fun but that depends on the scenario design and the scenarios that you pic. The AI can still beat you.

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: rowech

Little disappointing as none of the games I've been looking at being mentioned really.  I've seen other posts about HPS games here so I don't think I'm breaking too much protocal but if I am, I apologize...are the HPS games AI any good?

No not all HPS ai's are horrible only the older titles and even they if you play the smaller scenarios can give a beginner a challenge. The newer titles though like Renassiance, Greek Wars, Gallic Wars, Punic Wars, Second front do have much improved ai's. Personally I still find Eagle Strike and Pacific War squad battle games fun and challenging as well. If you're going to get HPS games though I would suggest going to NWSonline.com as they will save you about $20 and that way you can try 1 or 2 out and basically get 2 games for the price of 1.

[ilovestrategy]

You guys remind me of Ascendancy. Next to Civ II, it's my favorite strategy game of all time but the AI was non existent. 

[Sheytan]

I agree on Xcom, Terror from the Deep, the AI in that game would kick my ass.

ORIGINAL: diablo1

War of the Lance and the ai only takes a few seconds per turn and will beat you easily on normal difficulty until you get great at the game.

Centurion Defender of Rome and once again the ai only takes a few seconds per turn and will easily beat you on normal diffiuclty until you get excellent at the game.

Spartan played on hard, hardest or impossible will easily beat you until you get beyond great and excellent.

Norbsofts Gettysburg it's real time but not fast real time and the ai is excellent at flanking and sneaking up on you from the woods.

Conquest:Medieval a chesslike game of map conquest by Slitherine and a very good game and ai and once again the ai only takes a few seconds to complete its turn.

Panzer Command:Kharkov (soon to be Osfront). A decent ai and quick to play simular to Combat Mission but the ai is much better.

X-Com Defender and Terror (excellent strategic/tactical sci-fi game) ai plays quickly and the entire game is near perfect in every respect for challenge and fun.

SACRIFICE: Excellent real time strategy tactical game of conquest. Linear somewhat and the end is quite challenging. No micromanagement just soul gathering during battles.

HOPLITE: Free ancient card playing game very quick play very challenging ai. You take one of 40 famous leaders of ancient past and see how long you can last with him playing against the others. Spartacus is quite fun to play as.

That should be enough for awhile to keep you busy and losing.[:)]

[jomni]

ORIGINAL: Sheytan

I agree on Xcom, Terror from the Deep, the AI in that game would kick my ass.

Those aliens can read your mind (and control your guys)!!!
Really scary!

[sabre1]

AI War