nce again, the planet Earth is in trouble. Why won't these aliens leave us alone? Is this the only habitable planet left in the galaxy or something? Anyway, Earth is fighting for its very existence. At least, that is what the folks at Digital Reality would have us believe. Those are the guys and gals that put together the excellent space strategy game Imperium Galactica II—and now they are at it again.
The name of Digital Reality's latest space strategy game is Hegemonia: Legions of Iron. The game draws its inspiration from Relic Entertainment's Homeworld. As such, it is a real-time strategy game at heart, but with more than a little of the colonization, research and development that was stuffed into Imperium Galactica II.
Initially, gamers choose sides between warring factions of humans on Earth and Mars, but the inter-species battle soon blossoms into a galactic war with the entrance of the alien Karials and Darzoks. There are ships—fighters, corvettes, cruisers and battleships—to control, planets to cultivate and technology to research, all woven into the fabric of an elaborately plotted campaign/story.
The game doesn't end when the campaign stops. Included on the CD-ROM are quick-battle skirmishes against the computer and a robust multiplayer suite.
Space is a final—and beautiful—frontier
In many ways, Digital Reality has raised the bar for production-based, real-time strategy space games. For example, Hegemonia: Legions of Iron's environmental graphics are simply mind-altering. Gas swirls and caresses the suns of Hegemonia's solar systems. Planets stand in stark contrast to dark space, their terrain clearly etched on their surfaces, and the gorgeous swirls of gaseous nebulae hang like pink stormclouds on the horizon.
In others, however, they've dropped the bar a notch or two. The interface is cumbersome; it is impossible to select ships and order them directly to a new solar system, even though the system is clearly visible on the map. And it took quite a bit of hunting to locate where the skirmish game was hidden. Additionally, the tactical space-fleet versus space-fleet real-time battles are somewhat static. The furious engagements look more like an impressionistic painting than a life-or-death struggle.
The game does include a very healthy dose of strategy. There is an immense tech tree, and the planet development is more sophisticated than in most games of its ilk. Furthermore, the campaign eventually places gamers in charge of the defense of our solar system. It is just too cool watching a group of fighters circle Pluto on their way to intercepting a Kariak cruiser.
When all is said and done, Hegemonia: Legion of Iron's beauty marks outshine its blemishes. The game is an intriguing piece of real-time strategy. Gorgeous, challenging and fun, its strong points outweigh its cumbersome interface and mediocre tactical battles.
Not the best game I've played this year, but it sure isn't the worst.
— Mark
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