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Reviews: Massive Assault
Massive Assault is the "Think Based Strategy" Game developed and self-published by Wargamer.net giving you ruthless gameplay as you battle for control while managing resources on the world of Anubis, where you battle for dominion. In between waiting for beta's, Patrick "Norin" Rogers jumped in and found the game addicting!is online
Massive Assault - Patrick "Norin" Rogers (10-25-04)
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Background:
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| Aerial Shot!
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Set roughly 150 years in the future, following the third and fourth world wars, two factions battle for dominance over newfound planets. Does this sound like something you've heard hundreds of times before? Of course it does; but fortunately for Matrix Games and Wargaming.net, originality in storyline is one of the only areas in which Massive Assault is found lacking.
Technology has advanced far enough to make the colonization of new worlds a reality. People are leaving earth in search of fresh starts to better lives, and history has proven that where there is civilization and new land to claim, there is war. This war is waged by the Free Nations Union and the Phantom League. Both want control over everything, both want the other wiped out--And why not? It's worked before.
The Free Nations Union was created after the conclusion of the third world war. Elected to power by a globally coordinated effort, this Union ushered in the new golden age of prosperity and exponential scientific advancement. Relatively soon after the Free Nations Union was elected, they were challenged by The Phantom League, an organization created by regional leaders who supported dictatorial societies--your typical 'bad guy.'
Both sides began preparation for yet another world war, however the war had little time to escalate. The Free Nations Union, through their space program, discovered new planets and the means to colonize them and harvest thier resources. These new worlds and the resources gleaned from them led to FNU domination on earth, driving the Phantom League underground.
Now, the Phantom League leads rebellions on these newfound worlds and the ensuing struggles are the focus of Massive Assault.
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| Call in the Artillery!
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The Game:
In Massive Assault, Matrix Games and Wargaming.net blend Turn Based Strategy(TBS) style gameplay with the caliber of graphics and sound found in Real Time Strategy titles such as Warcraft III and Ground Control II. Despite its classification falling inside the TBS genre, don't expect the game to present you with a top down view of a hex-marked playing area painted with 2D terrain. The world of Massive Assault is three dimensional, viewed from a player-controlled camera capable of any rotation and pitch you could possibly want so you can watch the devestation in all its glory--without feeling guilty about ignoring your troops, thanks to the turn-based style of gameplay.
Even with the new high-effect take on the TBS genre, the game never kept me up until 6AM trying to get done with "one more mission." Basic reason for this? No compelling storyline. A few of the perks I look for in a game after finishing a particularly tough mission is a nice bit of plot, some voice acting, maybe some CGI... It's just not there in Massive Assault and that took quite a bit out of my drive to finish the game.
Gameplay:
The early stages of the game serve as a tutorial, focusing on management of individual troops during battle. A change that most gamers will notice is that the random element of combat has been removed, likening the strategies employed to that of a chess game. For instance, the Heavy Bot used by the Free Nations Union has a damage rating of three, meaning that if the bot shoots at an enemy unit, that unit WILL be hit for three damage. The pros and cons of a static battle system such as this even out in most cases, making its appeal to the individual gamer a matter of preference.
The play of the game at later stages mixes the chess-style battle system with the fundamentals of classic Risk. The campaign increases to a scale where defending your territories means managing simultaneous battles on multiple continents. Just as in Risk, the purpose of the game is to destroy your opponent, occupy his land, and defend your new territory. Only now you get to do it in three dimensions with visually pleasing explosions and realistic sound.
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| Defend Your Cities!
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Adding a bit of unique flavor to the game is the concept of secret allies and the ability to disclose them to surprise your enemy. Each planet is divided into countries, each having one city. Each country is either a truly neutral country, a secret ally(whether it is your ally or your enemy's), or a disclosed ally. If a country is not your ally, it appears as a truly neutral country. Each time a country is invaded, it generates guerrilla forces to defend itself. If, however, the country invaded is a secret ally, it not only generates its usual guerrillas, but also an army controlled by its ally.
Countries can also be disclosed during the "Disclosure Phase." Doing this alerts your opponent to your presence in this country, but also gives you an immediate squad of reinforcements. Knowing when to disclose your secret allies is one of Massive Assault's deepest and hardest to master considerations when planning your strategy.
My largest gripe relating to play of the game itself is the lack of terrain bonuses. Yes, roads, grass, hills, and dirt change movement speed; but attacking from a hilltop or defending from the cover of trees affects no change in the way combat is resolved. The omission of modifiers such as these greatly decreases the levels of strategy in play when planning an attack or defense. Instead of going for the high ground or defending from behind cover, the common tactic revolves around using your cheaper units to block the way, keeping your artillery out of the enemy's range.
Graphics:
I have to admit that when I saw Massive Assault being demo'd on the exhibition floor at Gen Con, my first thought was "Oh, another high-quality graphics, clunky gameplay, RTS." Well the gameplay isn't clunky and it's not an RTS, but at least I was right about the graphics. The world of Massive Assault is very well done. In the many hours I spent playing it, I don't recall noticing any defects in the game's visuals--and of course I was looking. The textures blend well--reacting nicely to the shadows and dynamic lighting, there were no clipping problems to be found, the explosions are nice and big, and all this is done without putting too heavy a tax on your computer's processor/video card.
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| Storm The Beaches!
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Final Thoughts:
I've enjoyed Massive Assault over the past few weeks. It's a worthwhile diversion when I need to unwind and get my mind away from whatever's currently grinding my nerves. Much like a good board game, the play goes quickly and can be as simple or as complicated as I'd like it to be. Similarly, I can either have a game with the computer, or go online to look for a living opponent to blow the crap out of.
If you're looking for a game to slip into for a while, relive the glory days of TBS gaming, and move on, I'd suggest Massive Assault. However, if you're looking for immersion, deeply involving storyline, a progression system to improve the quality of your digital army (leveling up), or an obsession to hold you for months to come, it's probably time to look elsewhere.
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