Bought and downloaded Rise of Nations: Extended Edition, because I used to have fun with this game. Fired up Cold War campaign. First round. I can either let Soviets walk all over South Korea or just barge in with the UN troops and help hold the line. So I do.
First attempt: I hold the line, despite not doing ANY research at all, and by the end of the 25-minute timer, I already pierce the Best Korean defensive line, so when I get the prompt whether to pull out and let Korea be divided or continue in hopes of taking the entire thing, I decide for the latter. Suddenly, Best Korea gets waaaaay too many troops for me to handle and I'm pushed back south and off the peninsula. Fail.
Every single attempt from then on wasn't even as successful as to let me get to the timer before I'm pulverized.
So, just half an hour ago, I fire up the thing once again. Trying to replicate my initial success, I neglect research and send some workers to build some infrastructure on-site, with quite a decent amount of success. Also, LA is now officially in Korea, who knew.
I do pretty well, but Seoul is being passed from one side to the other over and over again, and the clock is nearing the 25-minute mark after which I win if South holds all their initial cities or lose otherwise.
Making one last push to take the city, I succeed, got it recaptured, remember some infantry I randomly garrisoned in a city to the south, take it back... and literally SECONDS from the 25-minute mark it is lost again. Along with the scenario. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU