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MASSIVE ASSAULT "It is almost an ideal strategy game which is a must-own by both the amateurs of nice graphics and connoisseurs of filigree game play."

Universal laws of balance are valid in the world of strategy games as well. It’s either beautiful graphics or intricate game play and interesting military operations. And I will not mislead you saying that Massive Assault beats with those features if not all known strategy games to date, but at least all war games for sure.

The game’s engine amazes with the accuracy of details: all buildings on the shore, units and even flying flags are honestly reflected in the water, waves diverge from battleships, tanks leave tracks behind themselves, and heavy bots imprints of tetradactyl paws, aircrafts cast right shadows on the ground. If one of the bombs accidentally misses a tank on the shore, it will result in a nice water pillar of splashes, and even if it doesn’t miss the target, the splashes will appear from the turret thrown into the water. Even clouds have reflections, and objects that stand in your view hiding military equipment politely become transparent. Battleship firing a volley is splendid - it slowly turns its guns’ turrets towards the enemy, the guns one by one belch deadly fire and missiles explode in the same order around the victim. The battlefield is divided into hexagons, but instead of them you see little circles on the map which are more gratifying to eye. It should seem a trifle, but it is these very trifles that makes the game’s appearance complete. Thanks to the huge number of thoroughly worked out subtleties the world of Massive Assault looks 100% live.

Formally we are presented with an absolutely pure war game. But Massive Assault in no way ignores the player - all subtleties of the game play are mastered during the tutorial missions on the fly. Any wrong move within your phase can be cancelled giving you endless ability to try, think, and experiment. There is no building process in the game, however there is production in a limited form. Before each move you can place new machinery units on the map for a certain amount of credits. The composition of units was carefully chosen - 14 pieces for each of the two "races". There are no unnecessary units, each one has its area of application.

Massive Assault combines the tactic of global expansion as well as the strategy of borderline war. And surprisingly smart artificial intelligence will keep you company in the uneasy task of racking brains.

Igor Sonin "Zontique"
zontique@gameland.ru