 RTS evolves to smart gameplay
Alex Kayle
With this year's release of Supreme Commander 2, Digital Life decided to go back in time to check out the game’s 2007 prequel that changed the way strategy games are designed.
The highly-acclaimed Supreme Commander is considered to be the successor to game concept designer Chris Taylor’s Total Annihilation.
Supreme Commander, created by THQ and Gas Powered Games, is a real-time strategy PC game that enables the gamer to command one of three nations: the United Earth Federation, the Cybran Nation and the Aeon Illuminate.
The game took on a mammoth task to revolutionise the way strategy games are usually played. Whereas games such as Star Craft, Age of Empires and Command and Conquer are considered to be the giants in RTS games, I think Supreme Commander has raised the bar as to how the future of RTS games will be designed.
The in-depth game sets out to enable the player to control huge armies of thousands of units, where each unit can be upgraded based on its technological level. The player is also tasked with strategically balancing resources that are mass and power and build a stronghold to generate its military units.
What makes the game so interesting is the fact that whether the player is a long-time RTS veteran or a newcomer to the genre, both factions have an equal chance of winning based on gaining military intelligence against the opponent, monitoring resources and strategically positioning battle units.
 While the actual storyline was quite disappointing and the voice-overs felt forced, the real strength of the game comes with its multiplayer modes.
Another highlight of the game is the way game developers have scrapped the tired old mini-map and have replaced it with a tool that allows the gamer to zoom out to huge heights to view the entire battlefield and zoom in so closely to view the intricate details on each unit.
At the beginning of the game, each player will be striving to capture as many mass extraction points as possible to gain a competitive edge over his or her opponent. Keeping resources stocked is vital to the player’s success.
The game kept me on edge as it makes sure that each campaign and mission is completely unique to avoid repetition. I eagerly look forward to getting my hands on Supreme Commander 2.
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