Strategy Time

    Recently, almost any fan of the strategy genre could calmly be in suspended animation and not worry that they would miss something interesting. It seemed that the developers at once forgot about RTS. In fact, this was not so. The right games were forged in secret laboratories. And now the time has come for a change. Ready-made games hit the shelves.

    Today we look at 3 strategic games of this year’s spring draft.

    I’ll say right away that I’m familiar with all three of the demo versions. Therefore, the review will be short and very superficial. However, I hope that he will help you in choosing the right game.

    In 1994, Mythos Game, with the help of the publisher MicroProse, released the X-COM game.

    Here is what the GameSpot website reviewer wrote about this then: “At first I didn’t“ drive in ”. The newsgroups exploded with enthusiasm for X-something-there, the editor gave me a disc so I could immediately take screenshots. I looked - I did not like it. Okay, I think I’ll take the drive home for a couple of days ... Big mistake. For the next few months, I slept an hour an day. Sometimes I ran away from work at lunchtime to snatch another hour of play. My dog ​​almost died of starvation - fortunately, at some point, relatives took her from me. ”

    Yes, this game was truly great at one time! Today, the studio that created it disappeared into oblivion. And the right to continue the game wandered around various game developers for a long time, until it found refuge in the Czech Altar Games.

    UFO

    After a series of not very successful attempts to repeat the success of the original, the new “UFO: Insight” seems to have been successful. I, as a fan of the series, have pre-inflated enthusiasm for the next part. Please take this into account.

    So, the Earth is conquered by a race of evil aliens. People are forced out of their planet to Mars. It is this red ball that we will have to inhabit. We have few resources, some equipment and a base. Scientists teach, workers work, soldiers are soldiers, and we are driving this.

    UFO

    Before us is a classic turn-based strategy with division into fights, base management and planet development. The graphics are very pretty, although you can’t call it sophisticated. Immediately I was seduced by toy-like people and Mars painted in the same style. I love that style.

    Of course, there are drawbacks that fall out of the game from the very first frame-seconds. Inconvenient control (the developers considered that the whole world uses three-button mice), a jumping untied camera, an indistinct interface.

    UFO

    And yet this game is worth attention, at least in that, unlike many other strategies, this is not a dumb rush, but a more subtle brain entertainment.

    The next bidder is even more famous than the old X-COM. A descendant of one of the first strategy games in the world (Dune 1992), was raised at Westwood Studios. Command & Conquer was first born in 1995. In view of the fateful combination of circumstances, Westwood did not survive to this day. The flag was picked up by the huge and powerful Electronic Arts. And here we have the third carnation of the series about the war for Tiberium - Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.

    C&C

    Immediately I note the perfectly riveted game engine. Flaunting with all the modern graphic features, it allows you to drive the game with proudly lifted settings even on medium-power player computers.

    The graphics are of course excellent. But what about the essence? But the essence has remained the same. Accumulate more resources, create more equipment and soldiers and violently bring down all this avalanche on your opponent. Perhaps C&C provides for subtle strategic steps, but I did not notice them in the demo version.

    C&C

    The construct of the game remains the same for a year. It only grows with new graphic possibilities. How many times the series scolded the game press for this. But you can see the people like the simplicity and simplicity of C&C. The game will certainly have big sales around the world.

    C&C

    The third guest of our article (creator of the legendary hit “Total Annihilation”) Chris Taylor. His Supreme Commander shows complete contempt for any graphic little thingies and curls. Externally, the game is simple to indecent. With such a picture, one could proudly appear about 5 years ago, but not today. The whole secret is that the game is designed for real strategists who care about meaning, not appearance.

    Supreme Commander

    Initially, it seems that everything in the game is exactly the same as in others. The collection of resources, the construction of factories and equipment. But the longer you play it, the more nuances and differences you see in comparison with the same C&C.

    Nevertheless, I advise you to be more careful with the acquisition of Supreme Commander. The game may not be liked, if you do not have a certain strategic experience and certain claims to other primitive strategies. To understand the charm of Taylor's new creation is not given to everyone.

    Supreme Commander

    Actually, I said everything I wanted. As you probably already understood, my personal preferences, after three demos, fell on the UFO game. And not because she is beautiful and irresistible, but rather because of nostalgic memories of her grandmother, whom I met back in 1994.

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