Reviewed: December 5, 2003
Reviewed by: Carl Seward
Publisher
Tri-Synergy
Developer
Wargaming.net
Released: October 6, 2003
Genre: Strategy
Players: Online
ESRB: Teen
9
9
9
9
9.1
System Requirements
Massive Assault. The title sums it up perfectly. This game is epic, intense, and gut-wrenchingly fun. Here’s a taste of what it offers:
- Full 3D graphics engine
- Huge 3D landscapes
- 26 detailed 3D units
- Original political system based on “Secret Allies” providing endless replay ability.
- 3D sound
- 6 different worlds (planets)
- AI, Hot Seat and Internet modes
In single player mode you can command your troops in four different settings: Training, Scenarios, World War, and Campaigns. Training gives you simple exercises to get yourself familiar with the interface and are fairly challenging but it would’ve been nice to have some kind of boot camp tutorial on combat tactics and troop deployment.
Scenarios are one-off missions. You can take the challenge of landing on a beachhead and taking the island or trying to survive an ambush. In some ways this is kind of an extension on Training mode, but a lot more difficult. World War gives you the ultimate challenge. You are in charge of everything on a global scale. Campaigns are a series of scripted scenarios that you need to accomplish successfully in order to achieve victory.
No matter what your preferred method of play the interface is generally the same. You need to strategically disclose your allied countries, purchase weaponry from the revenue that they create and then get busy kicking butt. This is when numerous factors come into play. Should you attack a neutral country in order to take over their resources? Or maybe you should send troops to one of your outposts to stop the enemy advance.
Once in battle you command everything from your troop formation, to which enemy unit you want to attack. Like in actual warfare terrain is a serious factor. Traveling along a road will make your units move faster, slogging through the forest or the desert will slow things down. Sometimes you have no choice but to go the slow road and will suffer heavy casualties for it. The variables are dynamic and you’ll need to think at least three or four steps ahead.
Depending on the size of the planet you’re fighting on you’ll have to do a lot of moving around the 3D map. This is very easy to do and you’re allowed to know exactly where each unit is and how much territory you control by either zooming to the area directly or just glancing at the overview map in the corner of your screen.
In the large-scale battles that do span the entire globe there are a ton of things you have to keep track of which creates the potential of getting overwhelmed. Thank your five stars that the interface is so easy to use that you can concentrate your brainpower on pure strategy instead of menial things like how to purchase a tank, or trying to remember how many spaces your rocket launcher can move. In the combat phase you’ll even be reminded if you have a unit that is still able to attack at the end of your turn. That really comes in handy on epic battlefronts where you could easily have two-dozen units under your control. If you happen to make a blunder you can also take back a move by using the rewind feature. I originally thought it was cheating to use it but the A.I is so ruthless that I quickly got over it and used it to my advantage.
That brings me to my only complaint. In the World War setting you begin the game by disclosing two of your secret allies. You then deploy your troops according to your revenue and then your turn ends. Then the A.I does the same thing BUT instead of the turn reverting back to you, the enemy gets to go AGAIN! This gives the A.I. an extremely unfair advantage. Not only does the enemy get a heads up on the location of your secret allies but also gets first crack at the offensive. On the other hand if General Patton ever played this game I guess he wouldn’t give a “hoot in hell” on who went first or second and would just beat the damn thing. Okay, I’ll stop whining.
The game utilizes Wargaming.net’s high performance 3D engine and the effects are excellent. My system exceeds the recommended requirements allowing me to select the highest degree of graphic detail. From tank treads in the desert to snow falling on Antarticus to the ocean lapping along the shore there’s nothing that was overlooked. The landscapes are superbly designed all except for the Bizzaro planet. The harsh purple coloring is hard on the eyes after a while.
The 26 military units all move realistically and are rendered with great detail. Admittedly the weaponry is conventional, (rocket launchers, tanks, battleships) but everything is designed with a futuristic flare that makes it all believable to the storyline. Even with the graphics set on minimal you still get a great show.
Like the graphics, the amount of audio you want is adjustable to your liking. The music is pleasant and at moments even inspiring especially when you’ve just won a major battle and the score comes to a crescendo at precisely the right time. Tanks rattle across the battlefields and naval transports hum along the water. One of my favorite aspects actually comes through snippets of dialogue spoken by a thick accented woman (she sounds eastern European, probably has long dark hair, large green eyes and supple…well you get the idea.) Just before you invade or attack the enemy she’ll say things like “Crush them for me,” or “If you succeed I’ll repay you, personally.” With motivation like that the Phantom League better watch out! I appreciate the fact that the designers didn’t take themselves too seriously and were willing to add a bit of levity to what often ends up being tense game playing action.
Scenarios can last anywhere from half an hour skirmish to a full eight hour slugfest. World War, depending on the size of the planet, can go on for at least eight hours and could easily go to three times that amount. Campaigns are fun because they’re done in stages, so it might only take you an hour to complete the first phase but the whole war might take up to eight hours to complete.
Massive Assault also provides the option of playing online (DSL or a T1 line is highly recommended) or in Hot Seat Mode. You can also download more scenarios from the website. At $40 bucks retail you’ll get plenty for your money, perhaps more than you bargained for.
The best thing about Massive Assault is that it’s one heck of a challenging game, which is in large part due to the effectiveness of the AI. You could have all your troops deployed for an amphibious landing on your enemy’s beachhead when suddenly the Phantom League discloses a secret ally country that’s located just off your left flank. Surprise! The situation has now gone from “Encouraging” to “F*** me!” Victory in battle almost always comes down to just a few last troops standing, so it’s always a nail-biting affair. But then I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Massive assault is a thinking man’s war game and is not intended for those interested in just blowing stuff up. If you’re willing to put in the effort then Massive Assault will be a fun and stimulating experience.