The War to End All (Review of Tom Clancys Endwar)

Real time strategy games have never translated to console very well, from the Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth port (which some would call a complete disaster) to last March’s disaster port of Universe at War: Earth Assault it seemed very unlikely that we would ever find get a truly good RTS for consoles. The next attempt at the genre was Tom Clancy’s Endwar and this one does not disappoint.

 

One of the biggest new ideas that surrounded Endwar was the unique way of controlling your units. Instead of trying to copy the traditional style of RTS (point and click) the fine folks at Ubisoft attempted to re define how RTS games should work on consoles.

 

The control system for Endwar is a rather simple formulaic system. All commands must include who, what, and where. The control system in it’s self is rather ingenious and work like a charm. While there were a few instances where my units could not understand an order or would interpret the order incorrectly (including one that nearly cost me an online victory) but overall the games voice system will still be the standout of the game.

 The games single player is at its best a story written by a Tom Clancy fan boy the story is presented through the eyes of three (often quite similar) factions. In the year 2020 the United States is about to finish construction on the Freedom Star, A large orbital space station that allows the United States to deploy Marines anywhere in the world ninety minutes. Many organizations including the EU and Russia Federation have said the Freedom Star breaks many international laws. About three days before the Freedom Star is set to launch a mysterious organization named the FA (Forgotten Army) begin a campaign of terror against the factions. From there the Freedom Star is attacked before launch leading the United States to launch a botched raid in Copenhagen to secure the Foreign Minster of the EU. After a few more incidents a nation declare war on each other and you are thrown into the next phase of the game.  

 

Unit One Move to Foxtrot (a common phrase in Endwar)

 

 

 

After war is declared you are then asked to select one of the three major factions, Russia, The United States, or the EU. One thing you will notice when you begin the global conflict (and by global I mean the northern hemisphere) is that every side is the same in some respects. They all have the same units; the only variation on those units involves the unit’s statistical behavior. For instance, EU units are much faster and do better in urban areas, the USA (or JSF) infantry units can employ sharpshooters for use in long distance combat, and then there are the Russians. The Russian (or Spenzena Guard) are slower moving units who specialize in defensive combat. At the time of me writing this review I have never lost a single game to Guard. The Russian in among them feel really unbalanced, essentially all there good for is defending structures but in any conquest mode they just get destroyed.

 

Now after you choose your side in this global conflict you’ll begin to play the Risk…. literally. You capture territories in hopes of one day ruling the world. Another interesting bit they add to the game is a RPG like upgrade system. After every battle (victory or lost) you are graded on your performance (the grade is based on speed and tactical genius). Depending on how well you do you are award X number of command points to use on upgrading your units and powers such as Air strikes or Electronic Warfare. Though this system is really only in place to train you for the massive online campaign Theater of War, which is really the truly awesome part of Endwar.

 

Strike a pose... and then be picked off by a sniper.

 

Endwar’s online is very similar to the end segment of the single player game, when you first log on your asked to select a faction and then select a battalion. Mainly by selecting a battalion you’re just defining how you plan to fight. If you choose a mechanized battalion you’re focusing on more ground forces such as tanks and transport. After every battle your awarded upgrade points which you are allowed to distribute among your battalion. The one problem that I begin to see was there is a great disparity between those who have played the game for awhile. The first three games I played before figured out that I need to upgrade my group. Then about 10-12 games in I was facing new player and just destroying them, in less then five minutes I would have control of the entire map and have WMD on stand by ready to deploy. The gap between those who have played for awhile and those who have just begun will expand to the point of closing the community off to newcomers unless given help at the beginning.

 

Overall Tom Clancy’s Endwar will be one of those overlooked gems, a game that people said they played but really never touched. One that will be looked back upon with fond memories of grand online battles and truly revolutionary online multiplayer that will get you sucked in and maybe never come out. Endwar will also be remembered for its truly revolutionary idea of control. Endwar is a definite buy for anyone interested in a truly great RTS for console go check out Tom Clancy’s Endwar.

 

Score: 8.5

 

Adam