Grand Ages - Rome is not your traditional RTS. As a matter of fact, I have a hard time even labeling it as an RTS. It is more of a glorified city builder.

Before you can come even close to seeing a real battle you must first construct the necessary buildings. By the time you have all the buildings constructed you will have spend at least one hour (if you planned your every move accordingly) just dealing with city stuff. Even the battles are not as much focusing on strategy as on the zerg (overwhelming your opponents with numbers) technique.

On the other hand, assuming that you can appreciate Roman architecture, this is one of the best and most detailed city builder game made. It is exactly what the latest Sim City Societies should have been. The details are extraordinary not only visually but creatively as well. For example, wheat farms produce wheat; stone mills turn wheat into flower; bakeries use flower to bake bread and the bread feeds the people. City planning is this game's true challenge. From a city builder, this game is extremely diverse and fun and challenging but from an RTS perspective, this game is slow and boring. Now, if you can accept that this is a city builder game, the little action that you do get in the game makes Grand Ages - Rome even that much better.