Tom Clancy's EndWar

Most games in the Tom Clancy franchise have distinguished themselves as top quality titles, but none took the form of an RTS, so the latest release from Ubisoft comes as a very pleasant surprise. What makes this strategy game special is the ability to command your units by simply issuing orders using a head set, thanks to the innovative voice control. EndWar has novelty written all over it and is guaranteed to provide the gamer with countless hours of fast paced action that few RTS can offer.

The action takes place in the foreseeable future, in a world dominated by three super-powers and eroded by the lack of conventional fuel. In the first chapter, Russia, the US and the European Federation are blaming each other for a series of unprovoked aggressions and the tension quickly escalades into a full scale war. After a couple of missions that have the meaning of briefly explaining the plot and setting, you are supposed to choose the side you are about to fight for, in what may be the war to end all wars.

Each faction has its own strong points and slightly different type of units but overall the differences are negligible and once you master one nation, you'll be owning your opponents with any of them. The Russians rely on their heavy armored vehicles, the Europeans are masters in urban warfare while the US forces are more versatile and execute surgical strikes with deadly accuracy. Regardless of the faction you choose, the campaign set consists of similar missions, most of them orbiting around the same goal: controlling and holding certain satellites uplinks.

The maps look gorgeous but unfortunately most of the variety resides in the background, depending on which continent and area the conflict takes place, while the objectives are pretty much the same. Furthermore, you'll frequently be facing the same enemy commander in a rather similar mission with a briefing that sounds very familiar. Fortunately each mission lasts 10-20 minutes and unfolds in a different manner, depending on the starting force and the tactics used to outmaneuver your opponent.

With the base building and resource gathering routine out of the way, you can now fully concentrate on the strategy part that involves choosing the right troops and deploying them accordingly. The system is surprisingly easy to pick up but hard to master, with each unit being particularly effective against a specific foe and shockingly weak against others. Tanks are the best choice against armored transports which in turn are owning helicopters, which can of course annihilate with ease a squad of tanks. Knowing how to combine your forces and never leave a division unsupported is an art and a constant challenge throughout the entire campaign and the skirmish as well.

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Beside these main units the player must command infantry as well, troops that need permanent nursing and shelter, being nothing more than sitting ducks in the open. They are essential because these are the only units that can capture the uplinks required to complete each mission, so creating two groups of infantry is an advantage if you plan to win the war fast. Another key unit is the artillery, who is particularly vulnerable to enemy fire but can shoot devastating rounds from long distances, not needing to have the target in sight.

As you progress with the campaign, more and more groups will be available for each mission and you'll frequently find yourself fighting on two fronts, so knowing which troops to deploy is paramount. Timing is everything in this game, and speed is the cornerstone of any successful mission, so planning each action in advance and promptly reacting to the enemy's moves should be your first concern. A good micromanagement will be required in the last mission, especially if you play on high difficulty, but it is taken to a whole different level in the skirmish where you must control up to 12 teams.

There are no resources to collect or bases to build so reinforcements and special attacks, such as air strike or deploying weapons of mass destructions, depend on the number of uplinks you control. The option is yours: you can either advance one step at a time behind the fire barrage of your artillery or assault different objectives at the same time with more mobile units. Regardless of the preferred tactics, keeping the reinforcements flow steady is crucial and quickly adapting to the reality of the battleground by calling in the right units can make the difference between victory and defeat.

Beside the exciting gameplay, EndWar introduces a brand new voice control that can help you command your troops faster than ever, while making you feel like a true officer on the battlefield. It feels a bit awkward to equip your headphones and spend a couple of hours playing and issuing orders, but you'll quickly get used to it. While your parents and friends may never fully understand the meaning of your actions, it is quite an effective and enjoyable way to command your army. On the other had if you are unable to enjoy EndWar in your cozy home, or you're not very keen on speaking a lot while playing, it is possible to finish the game without using this innovative feature at all.

Another original concept is the "barracks" which presents you with the unique option of promoting units and buying upgrades each time you complete a mission. For every successful scenario the surviving troops gain experience and you also earn credits that can be used to strengthen the group of unit you consider more important. Beside the inherent improvements regarding fire power, range and accuracy, these upgrades allow you to unlock special abilities that increase the survivability of your forces.

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Conclusion:

Endwar is definitely a very exciting title to play regardless if you decide to take full advantage of the voice control or stick to the more conservative way of commanding troops. It's a fast paced strategy game that succeeds in diverting the attention from the shallow storyline and repetitive missions and makes the entire gaming experience enjoyable, especially in multiplayer. Unfortunately the differences between the three rival factions are negligible and it's not very much left to discover once you complete the campaign with one nation.

Gameplay: 87

Instead of channeling all the energy to gather resources and build a fully functional base, Tom Clancy's EndWar focuses on the tactical decisions each commander must take when leading his troops on the battlefield. Backed up by an original voice control scheme this strategy game is demanding good coordination skills and the ability to anticipate and counter enemy moves in a matter of seconds. Overall this is a title that any strategy enthusiast should try, because it can offer at least a couple of hours of pure entertainment and most likely an enthralling experience that few games of this king can deliver.

Graphics: 86

EndWar looks terrific, with carefully designed units and convincing combat animations, although some people might complain that the explosions are rather dull and some maps look a bit flat and uninspiring. Shifting between one group to another can reveal some beautiful landscapes and the attention paid on details is obvious when you move the camera and zoom on the infantry teams. Armored vehicles and helicopters are nicely crafted although nothing to shout for, but the cinematic presentation of each task force compensates for any minor flaws regarding visual effects.

Sounds: 91

The highlight of this title is definitely the voice control system and it is only fair to say that this innovative feature greatly enhances EndWar's chances of becoming a hit. Otherwise the voice acting is excellent and although you are required to select the same task force a lot in a short time they'll never become annoying by uttering the same lines. The music is overwhelming and creates the appropriate ambiance while the roaring canons and the sound of buildings crumbling under heavy fire help the player further immerse into the war atmosphere.

Multiplayer: 92

It is only fair to say that while the strong AI and the challenging missions keep the gamer connected and excited, the multiplayer is really the part where this title truly shines. Testing your skills against other players is the best part, and competing in the Theater of War is something every one playing EndWar will eventually wind up doing. Fighting for world domination in rounds of 24 hours is the ultimate test that will prove without doubt if you have what it takes to become a triumphant commander.

Hardware: 85

Don't be afraid to set all the details on the highest level possible because the game will look a lot better and the performance won't suffer, even if you don't own the latest and most powerful system. Some loading times take a bit longer than expected and I've even experienced one or two crashes but these were rare events for the amount of hours played and I wasn't set back more than 10-20 minutes anyway.