Tom Clancy's EndWar
Preview
Infantry - Secure - Foxtrot
by Sergio Brinkhuis
previewed on PS3
Think, damnit
Obviously having your units perform actions on their own, means they will need a brain of their own. The developers noted that this had actually been more of a challenge than implementing the voice controls. Even mumbling the orders worked flawlessly so we understood the point he made completely. This was further driven home when we saw an infantry unit react to a major change in their situation.
Enemy tanks rolled in and we saw the soldiers take cover, cancel their offensive task and change into a defensive stance. They reported in with a sit-rep, asking for new orders and support. We airlifted the unit out of the area so that they could live to fight another day. Airlifting a unit out of trouble rather than have it destroyed will make it available on the next map. It will then bring along its experience, giving you valuable combat bonuses. With our soldiers out of harms way, we sent in some gunships to deal with the enemy tanks while barraging them using our artillery units.
After that, the enemy general decided it was time to call it quits. Normally this would mean a slow end-game, mopping up any resistance, but in Endwar your opponent can also opt to use super weapons such as nukes while trying to pull out. These weapons are only available to the losing side when the endgame kicks in. But beware; choosing to use nukes also enables the other side to use them. You should not forget that by using nukes you justify your enemy into using them as well and that your own nukes harm your troops too. Will you risk destroying them and lose their support in future missions? Think twice before launching your super weapons.
The future is here
Do voice commands spell the end of PCs last bastion-genre? Probably not. While the voice control is proving to be an incredibly powerful tool to any armchair commander, I don’t think they will work well for resource-based strategy titles. Building bases with voice commands, placing structures on just the right location… nah… I just don’t see that happening anytime soon. Yet Tom Clancy’s Endwar is a phenomenal achievement. It brings proper strategy gaming to console owners, completely negating the crippling effect that joypads usually have on the genre. I am certain that the voice controls will soon make their way to PC strategy gaming as well; it is just too good to ignore.
