I love strategy games, it doesn't matter if its on the board or on the computer. As some of my friends know my love for strategy has often led to their demise on the RISK board or in the virtual game world when I toy with their last structure before destroying it. I also loved the game Total Annihilation. There is something sweet about blowing up metal soldiers and then using the charred remains of it to build your own metal soldiers. When the first Supreme Commander (Harvest It!) came out I was overjoyed to play the spiritual successor to Total Annihilation. Some would say that it isn't but the fact that both games were made by the same man quickly dismisses that notion. So when the sequel came out, I was completely ecstatic.
Supreme Commander 2 takes place ten years after the events of the first game. For background purposes I should explain the first game. The storyline is about Earth sending out a spacecraft to find planets to colonize. It is set far in the future when Earth has such a large population that it needs to find new worlds before it runs out of space and resources. It worked but there was a civil war and the entire human population broke into three factions. UEF, Aeon, and Cybran. UEF is the United Earth Federation, Aeon is a religious group, and Cybran are enhanced cybernetic humans that are half machine and half human. A huge war took place with no clear winner really, the UEF was beat up quite a bit but Aeon also lost a lot. The Cybran nation kind of went quiet after the first game as well. If a winner had to be chosen then it would be the Cybrans, they beat up the UEF quite badly before leaving them to lick their wounds.
Ten years later the UEF is back with new technology and is determined to teach those Cybrans a lesson. Aeon is present but is quite content to let those two factions tear each other apart. The first few missions in the campaign follow the Cyrban and UEF fight as long as you choose one of those campaigns. If you choose the Aeon campaign you will find yourself slogging through boring missions for a bit. Supreme Commander 2 follows its predecessor and the resource system is the same as well as a bit easier to use. It allows you to focus on the fun part of the game, the attacking and defending.
Innovation worked, the musical score is the same with some new spins on familiar tunes. Another innovation is the introduction of experimental units. You can research and build new powerful experimental units and watch them walk into an enemy base destroying everything while your opponent struggles to build his own experiments to answer yours. Another key feature they tweaked before changing it completely is the missile system. In the first game I would build tons of missiles to use and only find myself disappointed when a tiny little explosion took place. Not to mention that the damage was something to laugh about. Not anymore, the new missiles cause massive amounts of damage and the explosions made me as happy giddy like a kid after his first kiss.
The downside is that the game is far too easy. Unless your on the hardest level, no challenge is presented. I was playing one mission where my virtual general told me I needed to have a good size army before I attack a UEF base. So naturally I built 35 units and put another 35 into production before heading out to attack. My idea was that if the first wave failed that my second wave would be ready by the time they failed. I was wrong, I marched in with 35 and lost only five as I torched the base. Just to add insult I sent in my other 35 and destroyed the base with ease. I tried to up the difficulty but until I got to the top level I was still taking out bases with ease. The hardest level was not too much of a challenge. I lost 20 units before sending in my second wave but at the end of the day I still had 45 units. It was still fun though.
Review
Grade-Let It Ripen
Highs-A new graphics engine makes it pleasing and the storyline is a good one along with new gameplay options and experimental units
Lows-Far too easy to beat the computer and the multiplayer needs some work before it can be a serious multiplayer strategy game
ESRB Rating-E+10, for everyone age 10 and up
Kid Friendly?Yes, its just metal blowing up so it's not too violent but I would let your kids hit 10 before allowing them to play it.
Overview-It is good, I spent $39.99 on it and thats how much I was willing to pay for it.
-Rezler
Heads up! The grading system has changed.
New Grading System
Harvest It!- Get this game! It is awesome! No time to waste!
Let It Ripen- It's good, get it, it can wait though
It Could Grow- The game needs work, unless its cheap (19.99) avoid it
Needs Some Cultivating- Don't even get it, it is a waste
Let The Bugs Eat It- Why was it published? Who at the company signed off?
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