The best way to simply explain this game is that it is like playing Gears of War as an RTS. The game provides two innovations to the RTS genre. First, the WHIP Select controls allows for quick movement across the map or from units right next to one another. However, there is a steep learning curve on how to efficiently use WHIP Select. In fact, after a few hours of game play I am still working out how to best use the new control scheme. I highly recommend spending time reading the manual on all the different methods to move troops via WHIP Select. The second innovation is line of sight only in a true 3-D environment. Using a third person view the camera only allows the player to see what his selected unit sees. Because of this design it is critical to place a sniper team on top of buildings to direct your troops from there. Problems with the game include issues with the camera, especially when zoomed in on larger units. The AI pathing makes some poor decision (both friendly AI and enemy AI). Despite the few problems, I would recommend this game to any RTS fan as well as to any hardcore gamer that has some patience. Spending time learning the intricacies of this game will be well worth your time.
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
5/ 5
Graphics
5/ 5
Sound
5/ 5
PANZ
Revolutionary and Innovative, with few annoyances
PostedMarch 26, 2009
The controls in Stormrise are revolutionary, but provide some minor annoyances; sometimes it's not quite as efficient as being able to make precision choices, like with a mouse and keyboard. Nonetheless, it's the best attempt at a console RTS to date. Halo Wars uses a pretty basic and generic control system, that of which you see in every other RTS, but Stormrise is more ambitious. Not only did they make an incredibly fast and working system, the team at Creative Assembly also made the first real 3D RTS, which is the main point of strategy. There aren't any spam wars - You wont make it with mass-building tanks in StormRise, the game is all about strategy. The resource system is quite interesting too, you have to expand and take over enemy energy nodes. The fun part about this is that certain nodes are linked together. There are nine unique units per faction, the Sai and the Echelon. There aren't any equal counterpart units either. Each unit serves a totally unique and tactical function. There isn't any artificial Fog of War, there's only a realistic line of sight. And this makes the game more interesting, since you can't pan around the entire map and view all units like little ants on the playing field. The sound and graphics in the game are top-notch for a game in the RTS genre. The AI can be a little clunky sometimes, but the game's challenge, minimal HUD/interface, and amazing controls make up for it. RECAP: The campaign does what it should - it teaches you the ropes, and prepares you for multiplayer. It's lengthy, and has some decent dialogue, but the real meat is in the online play. The multiplayer maps are incredible and offer a lot of strategic placement and employment of the unit's unique abilities. Line of Sight and Verticality are fantastic, and easily set this game apart from the rest.
