Review: Ground Control

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	GALLERY

June 21, 2000
Web posted at: 10:36 a.m. EDT (1436 GMT)

by Brian Wright

(IDG) -- Start with an intense action/strategy game, add a remarkably easy-to-use interface, and wrap it in one of the most impressive 3D engines ever seen in a computer game, and you've got Ground Control.

The story is a classic tale of two factions -- the militaristic Crayven Corporation versus the technological and religious Order of the New Dawn -- as they fight for control of a distant planet. While it may sound familiar, you won't mind the cliches once you enter the heat of battle.

For starters, Ground Control is simply one of the most beautiful games you are likely to see this year. Little touches will leave you awe-struck: the realism of the clouds that cast moving shadows across the landscape, the way your vehicles kick up dust and leave trails in the dirt. The amount of detail on individual troops and vehicles is nothing short of remarkable, from the treads on the Terradyne tanks to the spent shell casings that fly from the artillery. The weapon effects are an awesome sight to behold, particularly the smoke trails from torpedoes and missiles.

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The sound effects are mostly good, with different motor and gunfire sounds for each vehicle, but if you get close enough to the infantry when they are destroyed, you'll hear a combination splat and scream that is both comical and disturbing. The voice acting is top-notch and the vocal confirmations of orders manage to avoid becoming annoying and repetitive. An orchestral score lingers almost unnoticeably in the background, letting the sounds of warfare take over, but in certain spots the music adds a definite feeling of tension to the game.

Managing combat has never been easier, with commands issued to squads as opposed to individual troops. On-screen icons make finding squads and issuing orders a breeze, while the rotating cursor gives you excellent control over the positioning of your groups. Even controlling the camera is easy, with the arrow keys in charge of basic movements (forward, backward, left, and right) and the mouse and mousewheel controlling rotation and zooming, respectively.

Of course, a few minor flaws appear throughout the game. The troop AI, although impressive, could be better, as individual units have a tendency to wander directly into the line of friendly fire. Some gamers may be put off by the lack of an in-game save feature, though most missions shouldn't take more than two or three tries to complete.

Essentially, Ground Control is a game that draws you in with its spectacular graphics and keeps you hooked with its intense action. Gamers who prefer the heat of combat to tedious research and micro-management should definitely check it out.

Tips:

• Don't forget that most squads have limited auto repair abilities for those times when your Command APC can't get to them in time.
• Be sure to clear out any enemy missile launchers or anti-air units before sending your flyers in.
• Use your infantry to take out enemy torpedo carriers before they can get too close to your vehicles.

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