Warzone 2100

THE BAD:
- Difficult to control units
- It's also difficult to navigate the map, but you can get somewhat used to it
- The music
- Isn't too addictive
- Pumpkin studios is dead

SUMMARY:
I remember first getting the demo for this game, I was instantly hooked by the idea of creating my own units. For those who are familiar with Masters of Orion, and Orion II. Similarly, you research technologies and choose which body, locomotor and turret to put onto your unit.

The game at first will move beautifully, but you'll soon find yourself not as interested in the story line. This isn't one of those games you'll play, whether fun or not, just to know what the story line is and how it ends.

Perhaps the first thing that will frustrate you is the unit control. After a while you'll find yourself with a large squad of big units, and maneuvering them around an already difficult to navigate map will prove to be very frustrating. (One can get used to it ofcourse)

Researching new technologies is the primary way of winning, it isn't in numbers, it's also in quality. You will constantly have to upgrade your units, recycle redundant ones and pass their experience on to the next "generation" of vehicles.

Unlike in most other strategy games, defence in WZ2100 consists of an innumerable number of possible defensive buildings. Again, some will become redundant, while others will remain useful throughout the game (particularly due to their reduced cost and your ability to build at an every increasing rate)

The terran graphics are absolutly lovely, weather effects, waters, heights, and all. A truly 3D game, units that are on a higher elevation have longer range and are able to have a larger LOS.

Skirmish play without the update will be very boring as the AI is extremely poor, but if you play Mplay, this game provides for extremely unique replayability... In which, you're very unlikely to have the same units each time you play; That is, unless you have a master strategy. But be warned, all strategies can be countered.

Fight in the Air, on land, over water (with hover crafts) Vehicles and cyborgs, and yes, the cyborgs are very useful and powerful. Unlike in other RTS games.

In the campaign, the first feature you will appreciate is the fact that from one mission to the next you get to keep all your previous units, their experience and your base. Ever notice how in other strategy games, in the campaign, from one level to the next you have to always start over. Well, pumkin studios has elliminated this, from one level to the next, you have the same base, the same units, only a map of a much larger proportion.

There are "LZ transport" missions. In these you will be able to select 10 units to use in your mission, or constantly call in for another 10 units from your main base; call in reinforcements.

As your units kill enemy units they "level-up" and aim better, have faster ROF, LOS, command more units, armor, damage, etc.

You can recycle old units and train new units and thus maintain experience gained (which is another lovely aspect, nothing goes to waste)

I can go on with this game, but I shant give you any more boring facts. Get the demo, try it, and see for yourself...

I find myself constantly reinstalling the game every so often and playing it again. If you like the demo, buy the game, you won't be dissapointed.

But as a warning to RTS fans, this game is innovative and very unique. Just because you like RTS, it's not a definite you will like this game, but by far, it is an excellent addition to any collection and very much worth trying.

That is, if you can find it any more...