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ind of like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep coming. Since the success of Command & Conquer, the real-time strategy games just keep coming. At first gamers reveled in it, then resisted it, and finally—with a shrug of their collective shoulders, accepted it. As developers pull the best from action, turn-based strategy and role-playing, inject them into games with better graphics, slicker interface and more story, the real-time strategy genre continues to get better and better.
UbiSoft's latest attempt at this betterment is titled Dark Planet: Battle for Natrolis. The game's story is as old as gaming itself. There is a beautiful planet, the luscious Natrolis, and three races that want possession of said planet. The races in question are the Colonists, the Sorin and the Dreil (not to be confused with Farscape's four-letter word of similar pronunciation). The colonists are similar to Starcraft's humans. Their basic combat unit is a power-armored marine, and their interface and settlements are high-tech space nouveau. The Sorins are intriguing; imagine a cross between Komodo dragons and medieval Asian culture. The Dreil are the final race. They are reminiscent of M.A.X. 2's Sheevat, Sigourney Weaver's aliens or a multitude of other extraterrestrial beings who kill enemies, save their remains for food and spawn their own vicious warriors.
The play is standard RTS fare. Each race must gather resources, build buildings, research technology, produce units and beat the stuffing out of its enemies. Although standard, the fare does leave room for innovation, an innovation that is covered in the second part of this review. Dark Planet ships with a strong multiplayer suite. Included are four distinct games: Skirmish, Capture the Flag, Domination and Campaign. Up to eight players may compete in the multiplayer games as they attempt to slaughter their opponents, capture flags, control territory or work with fellow gamers through the multiplayer campaign.
Real-time fun with several new twists
At first glance, Dark Planet appears to be typical real-time strategy, but UbiSoft has added a few twists, turns and improvements. Although each of the races must collect resources, the resources collected vary, as does the collection method. The Colonists are straight-up folks. They need stone, crystals and energy. Coincidentally, these are the same resources needed by the mystical Dreil. But it's a cool twist that while Colonists capture energy from geothermal vents, the Dreil must kill animals/enemies and cocoon them for the same resource. Hence the colonists must protect their geothermal vents if they want energy, but the Dreil must constantly expand/kill to acquire theirs.
On the other hand, the Sorin's third resource is faith ... something that we could all use a little more of. Sorins gain faith by killing foes or worshipping at their temple. The faith is then used to power up their priest's devastating magic. Bottom line ... although Dark Planet's resource management is immediately familiar to real-time aficionados, it is tweaked enough to seem fresh.
The units are also interesting. The Colonists have some serious Warhammer 40K influence. Their Sentry—a power-fisted close-combat specialist—is right out of game designers' books. The Sorins like to fight with sword, bow and spear, but their magic evens the odds, while the Dreil are just downright powerful. Each species is further differentiated by a unique interface. The Colonist is high-tech, the Sorin's woodsy and the Dreil's—for lack of a better word—bony.
UbiSoft has added a couple of useful interface innovations. Workers—be they the Colonist's Sappers, Dreil Drones or Sorin, trudge about their chores with an icon representing their current burden—be it wood, crystals or energy—over their heads. Accordingly, it's a snap to discern what each is doing with a glance. In the same way, a colored jewel, which indicates the unit's level of aggression, floats above warriors' heads.
The visuals are state-of-the-art 3-D gaming. The terrain thrives on the screen. Wild Sorin wander about the land, geothermal vents spout geothermals, and the trees arch their trunks under the breeze's gentle caress. Combat is an optically explosive affair. The Marines' lasers flash, Dreil Spitters spew balls of acid saliva, and buildings burn, then—kabloom! It's all great fun to watch.
Great fun to watch and great fun to play. Dark Planet may not break a lot of new real-time-strategy ground, but what it does, it does well.
A beautifully addictive little game. — Mark
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