First Laser Turret I See TonightPage 3
Imperium Galactica II
by James Cobb
Campaign goals notwithstanding, the end product of this hectic galactic activity is galactic slaughter. No goal can be obtained without overwhelming military power. Every bar, every recreation center exists to produce the two elements of conquest: space craft and tanks.
Fleets have two components. The first is capital ships. These vessels come in seven basic types from destroyers to battleship. Through research and design, each type’s armor, drive, weapons and exotic devices like cloaks can be modified to the player’s like.
Fleets can be split, re-named and reformed. Crews gain experience and skill. The other component are fighters, they come in four types and can also be modified. However, they are not shown on the combat screen and are handled abstractly.
When opposing fleets meet, the battle screen pops up. This 3D screen is the most useful of the game. Tilting and rotating gives the feel of relative attitude and distance between the two fleets. If enough ships are present, nine different formations can be chosen and clicking on individual ships can alter their altitude.
Another individual option is turning off special weapons such as torpedoes and cannon. The purpose of turning a weapon off would be to save slow recharging systems for more important targets. Fighters are handled through a slide allocating the proportions of them to attack or defense.
Two fleets form for battle
Combat starts at one of the usual three speeds but the slowest speed is the only way to maintain control over a force. The RTS expanding-cursor artifice allows control over parts of a fleet and pause allows for individual targeting.
Initially, this system is exciting but soon, along with the graphics and sound effects, battle slows to handling individual ships or small parts of units, confusing both the spontaneity of RTS combat and the control of turn-based games. The AI’s idea of toughness is ever-increasing numbers of ships. Thus, victory boils down to a question of numbers.
Once enemy ships, orbiting defense and ground anti-ship weapons are destroyed, tanks are transported down to deal with ground forces and installations. These battles are WarCraft-like but with even less finesse. Spreading cursors and the big battalions always win the day.
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