Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Ages: ten & up
Parental
Advisory:
War theme
The original Ground Control was an innovative and fun game in its day, and now its sequel, Vivendi Universal's Ground Control II: Operation Exodus, offers a first rate real-time strategy experience that looks great, plays well and is immensely entertaining.
As a real-time strategy game, the title serves fantastic squad-based, tactical gameplay that emphasizes combat over resource management and building. The game refreshingly eschews the tedious base-building that is prominent in other strategy games and lets players jump straight into the action fray. Players command a task force that consists of infantry, tanks, artillery and aircraft in an excellent single-player campaign and through multi-player scenarios.
The game takes place during the year 2741 AD, roughly 300 years after the events in the original game. It seems that the Northern Star Alliance is under attack from the Empire of Terra. As one of the Alliance's most promising commanders, Captain Jacob Angelus has to lead a brutal ground war, as the Empire has managed to land its troopships on the last NSA controlled planet-Morningstar Prime. Captain Angelus finds himself in a desperate situation, and victory only seems to lie in the use of an ancient legend.
The title also offers involving multi-player action with fun, cooperative multi-player campaigns. Something the game's developers call "drop-in" game play lets players easily join servers and allows for fast paced online battles. While the game's developers promise more community and multi-player activities as the title's community grows, the title comes with an editor that lets players create their own maps and campaigns.
The graphics are outstanding-this is one good-looking game with particularly detailed and attractive environments. As before, the game lets you zoom into the action to view it up-close and personal and zoom-out to oversee and strategically command the battle field. As a war game, the title features violence and some edgy language.
Ground Control II: Operation Exodus is an excellent follow-up to a solid game. If you know players who enjoy real-time strategy, they won't want to miss this one.
8/11/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
