umanity, forced to abandon Earth, migrates to the Epsilon Eridani star system. Unfortunately, that system is already occupied. The Gobin and Crions have been at war for centuries, and the arrival of humans forces the aliens to enter peace talks at a Crion space station. Things are going well, until the space station disappears. Then conflict erupts anew--and now it is winner take all.
This sketchy backstory is the launchpad for The Outforce, a real-time strategy game in the tradition of Starcraft. Like its predecessors, The Outforce is resource-based: players mine space debris and then build a variety of units--war factories, radar arrays, base defenses and, most importantly, ships with which to attack the alien menace.
The primary twist in The Outforce is that players are not fighting a ground war. All of the action takes place in space. Rather than building infantry, the tactical units are spaceships, from tiny fighter drones up to massive Centaur-class destroyers. Combat in open space also allows players to redress some tactical errors. If a badly needed weapons factory ends up located in dangerous territory, players can simply attach a towship to the unit and move it to a safer area.
Despite the 3-D element, The Outforce interface is standard RTS fare, simple to read and navigate. Players have a radar display in one corner of the screen which shows friendly and hostile units, and a menu of unit commands running down the opposite side. Centered between these is a segment of the total battlefield. Players see whatever structures, battle units and defenses they have built, as well as alien attackers. With a single mouse click, units can be selected and given orders: to patrol, build up resources, explore uncharted territory or engage the enemy.
Stunning news for strategy junkies
The Outforce's storyline comes off as a weary rewarm of TV shows like Babylon 5, but the game itself is outstanding. Moving the battle zone into space takes the strategy game formula in pleasing new directions. Players must contend with low-gravity physics, compensating for pressure waves and elastic collisions. Towships allow players to reconfigure bases to meet changing threats.
The list of combat units in The Outforce is just as fresh. There are no throw-away units in this simulator. Jamming ships, stealth-oriented scouts and phasing ships (which pass through solid obstacles) all have their moments of glory. It is also possible to automate some aspects of play, writing scripts which will get a base or strike force built without micromanagement. This leaves players free to concentrate on the Gobin and Crion threats.
What does all of this add up to? The short answer is: The Outforce is an optimal game for strategy junkies. It has great combat units, stunning graphics, awesome tactical challenges and gorgeous scenery. Internet and network play, combined with the ability to create customized skirmishes and ships, create a high replay factor. This game is a solid step forward on the real-time strategy path.
That said, The Outforce does not break any truly new ground. There are no variations to the resource-gathering/unit-building model, a gaming staple that could use some cool new tweaks. Single-player missions can still be won without finesse, by building up an armada and crushing the AI-driven competition. The game's greatest potential element, the 3-D space battle, is only partially realized. Battles are still effectively carried out on a two-dimensional map--just one that allows some flexibility and intriguing features.
Even so, RTS addicts will find The Outforce a delight, guaranteed to keep them up for nights on end.
This is totally fun and compulsive. The shockwaves created when a big ship blows up are especially realistic and exciting.
-- A.M.
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