Fenixp: It might seem pointless to write this topic when StarCraft 2 is out (disclaimer: DON'T mention StarCraft 2 here, please.), however when I was browsing bargain bin, I have found a game that I didn't even know about: Rise of Nations 2: Rise of Legends. It cost me 7 euro and boy, that game's fun. Actually, I haven't had so much fun with any RTS since Dawn of War 2 was released (yeah, not so long back, still, I've played quite a few RTSes in between).
I just love the design of the game, how missions are composed (every single one has something unique to it), and I was kinda afraid that it'll be the typical "fantasy vs. technology" like usual from the beginning, but the first whole campaign seems like pure steampunk.
And as for that, there are 3 races in the game: Steampunk, Fantasy and Hi-tech. Every race has unique design and differences that make their gameplay different. Really, I have expected that I'll get 3 basically same races with units that have the same purposes with slightly different stats ... How wrong I was. As far as units goes, every race has just a handful of unit types (don't get mistaken thou, long battles get massive), every and each of them has a distinct purpose, however.
And as I said, beginning is almost pure steampunk. That doesn't mean, however, that you get to fight one opponent over and over again. They've made special units for each race you fight, or they made them to focus on specific units, and so fighting everyone feels different.
And for Steampunk: I was surprised by quality of story cinematics, and story itself seems quite nice. I just WANT to know what will happen next, even thou it's nothing extremely unique I admit.
And the way you unlock units and level up heroes quite nicely done as well, along with somewhat non-linear approach to campaign. I have not yet finished the first campaign so take me with a grain of salt, I just want to share the little surprise I've had when I have encountered this game.
Oh and please, PLEASE, when you talk about the story, even if you say "Story gets terrible later," give it spoiler tags. I often find good what others find bad: but I tend to get affected by other people opinions, well when I put some weight on them. I put some weight on yours.