Armor Command

Last updated

Armor Command
Armor Command Box.jpg
Developer(s) Ronin Entertainment
Publisher(s) Ripcord Games
Red Ant Enterprises Pty Ltd.
Producer(s) Kalani Streicher, Nathan Wright [1]
Designer(s) Edward Kilham
Programmer(s) Edward Kilham
Artist(s) Harrison Fong
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release1998 [2] [3] [4]
Genre(s) Real-time strategy
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Armor Command is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by American studio Ronin Entertainment and published by Ripcord Games for Windows in 1998. Set in the early 30th century, the game revolves around two factions, the United Terran Federation led by humanity, and the Vrass, a feudal slaver empire led by aliens. Armor Command was designed by Edward Kilham, known as the co-designer of ‘’Star Wars: TIE Fighter’’. [5] Armor Command released to generally positive and lukewarm reviews, although seen as obscure in comparison to more notable games in the genre.

Contents

Gameplay

Screenshot of the game demonstrating the different camera views during a skirmish ACGameplayCamera.png
Screenshot of the game demonstrating the different camera views during a skirmish

Armor Command is a real-time strategy game set in the distant future, using a 3D display view. [6] The two races are humans under banner of the United Terran Federation, and a slaver alien race called the Vrass, but nicknamed as Slavers. Both are somewhat homogeneous gameplay-wise, [5] their main differences being aesthetic. A close-up view is available that allows players to focus on units, along with a less focused in one, though a top-down, eagle's eye view is present.

Mechanics involve an unseen and unplayable orbiting fleet, which beam units and supplies to the surface using pad buildings -- the town halls of the game. Ore and metal are the two resources of the game, which may be mined using specialized worker units. Ore is used as a more general resource and metal is more specialized, used for purposes such as upgrades. Radar towers may be constructed to bypass the fog of war. Aerial and ground units are available. The only units available in game are mechanical, no infantry exists. Most units may attack when moving. The singleplayer campaign involves 22 missions on each side, as well as five training missions. [5]

Multiplayer is available up to four players, with LAN and modem options available.

Plot

The Vrass in the game are a contingent of their species that have entered human space from a wormhole, starting the events of the game in 2910. Though some space-conflict occurs, most of the fighting between the two races occurs on terrestrial settings, caused by the interference of a nebula. [5] Friendly to Terran indigenous alien races are hinted at throughout the game. The game contains two mutually exclusive campaigns, both of which have different results. The Terran campaign culminates after several interstellar battles, when the aliens are pushed back to the wormhole, and are destroyed. The human forces resolve to study the wormhole and develop technology to defeat the rest of the aliens.

The alien campaign concludes with an invasion of the Earth, resulting in the enslavement of the population.

Reception

Armor Command received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [7] Themes raised included the game's lack of innovation and criticism over the control and camera designs. The control and cameras were seen as the primary flaws of the game, overshadowing anything else. However, the game was praised for the fidelity of its 3D graphics, seen as a rarity at the time among the RTS genre.

Alan Dunkin of GameSpot said, "Armor Command in many ways is no different from a generic real-time strategy game: direct troops, destroy the enemy, develop your base of operations, exploit resources, and move on to the next scenario. If you're new to the real-time genre or you're just completely addicted to them, it might be a nice distraction from the standard fare. But veteran real-time strategy players will not find much to impress them." [5] However, he noted that if the control and camera system was improved, then "Armor Command would have been tremendously better," and also praised its graphics. Computer Gaming World said, "After all is said and done, Armor Command is a competent Command & Conquer clone with a good gimmick and quite a bit of gameplay for your dollar." [8] Next Generation said, "Mix in excellent multiplayer action, and Armor Command comes up as a solid game glutted with a lot of crap. It doesn't push the genre to a whole new level, but it doesn't insult it either." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>StarCraft</i> (video game) 1998 real-time strategy game

StarCraft is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment for Microsoft Windows. The first installment of the video game series of the same name, it was released in 1998. A Classic Mac OS version was released in 1999, and a Nintendo 64 port co-developed with Mass Media and published by Nintendo was released in 2000.

<i>Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War</i> 1998 video game

Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War, known as Conflict: FreeSpace – The Great War in Europe, is a 1998 space combat simulation IBM PC compatible computer game developed by Volition, when it was split off from Parallax Software, and published by Interplay Productions. In 2001, it was ported to the Amiga platform as FreeSpace: The Great War by Hyperion Entertainment. The game places players in the role of a human pilot, who operates in several classes of starfighter and combats against opposing forces, either human or alien, in various space-faring environments, such as in orbit above a planet or within an asteroid belt. The story of the game's single player campaign focuses on a war in the 24th century between two factions, one human and the other alien, that is interrupted in its fourteenth year by the arrival of an enigmatic and militant alien race, whose genocidal advance forces the two sides into a ceasefire in order to work together to halt the threat.

<i>StarCraft: Brood War</i> Expansion pack for StarCraft

StarCraft: Brood War is the expansion pack for the military science fiction real-time strategy video game StarCraft. Released in December 1998 for Microsoft Windows and June 1999 for Mac OS, it was co-developed by Saffire and Blizzard Entertainment. The expansion pack introduces new campaigns, map tilesets, music, extra units for each race, and upgrade advancements. The campaigns continue the story from where the original StarCraft ended, with the sequel, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, continuing from the conclusion of Brood War. The expansion was released first in the United States on December 18, 1998.

<i>Starsiege</i> 1999 video game

Starsiege is a mecha-style vehicle simulation game developed by Dynamix and released in 1999. Starsiege is set in the Metaltech/Earthsiege universe, which contains its predecessors Earthsiege (1994), Battledrome (1994), and Earthsiege 2 (1996). This universe also includes action game Hunter Hunted (1996), strategy games Mission Force: Cyberstorm (1996) and Cyberstorm 2: Corporate Wars (1998). It also includes the sequelsStarsiege: Tribes and all subsequent Tribes titles. In 2015, this game and the rest of the Metaltech/Tribes series were released as freeware by Hi-Rez Studios, but Battledrome and the Cyberstorm series were not.

<i>Command & Conquer</i> (1995 video game) 1995 video game

Command & Conquer is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Westwood Studios in 1995. Set in an alternate history, the game tells the story of a world war between two globalized factions: the Global Defense Initiative of the United Nations and a cult-like militant organization called the Brotherhood of Nod, led by the mysterious Kane. The groups compete for control of Tiberium, a mysterious substance that slowly spreads across the world.

<i>Incoming</i> (1998 video game) 1998 video game

Incoming is a 3D shooter video game developed and published by Rage Software. The game was first released for Microsoft Windows in mid-1998, and was followed by a Dreamcast version, which was released in Japan on December 17, 1998, in Europe on October 14, 1999, and in North America on September 15, 1999. Set in the near-future of 2009, the game primarily revolves around controlling vehicles and turrets to fight alien invaders of Earth in one of the campaign modes, the arcade mode, and with or against another player. Some levels include brief real-time strategy segments.

<i>Homeworld</i> 1999 real-time strategy computer game

Homeworld is a real-time strategy video game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra Studios on September 28, 1999, for Windows. Set in space, the science fiction game follows the Kushan exiles of the planet Kharak after their home planet is destroyed by the Taiidan Empire in retaliation for developing hyperspace jump technology. The survivors journey with their spacecraft-constructing mothership to reclaim their ancient homeworld of Hiigara from the Taiidan, encountering a variety of pirates, mercenaries, traders, and rebels along the way. In each of the game's levels, the player gathers resources, builds a fleet, and uses it to destroy enemy ships and accomplish mission objectives. The player's fleet carries over between levels and can travel in a fully three-dimensional space within each level rather than being limited to a two-dimensional plane.

<i>Conquest: Frontier Wars</i> 2001 video game

Conquest: Frontier Wars is a real-time strategy game released in 2001 by Ubi Soft and developed by Fever Pitch Studios. A good amount of the development was done at Digital Anvil in Austin, Texas, a startup developer originally owned by Chris Roberts, Erin Roberts, Eric Peterson, John Miles, Tony Zurovec, Marten Davies and Robert Rodriguez. Once Microsoft purchased Digital Anvil, Eric Peterson and Tom Mauer left to form Fever Pitch Studios Inc, and lead a team to complete the game as originally intended by the team. On December 9, 2013, the source code was bundled with every copy of the game purchased on GOG.com.

<i>Sword of the Stars</i> 2006 video game

Sword of the Stars is a space 4X game developed by Kerberos Productions. In the game the player chooses one of four unique races to form an interstellar empire and conquer the galaxy. In order to win, the player must expand territory by colonizing new star systems, exploit the resources available to their colonies, design and build starships, and improve their empire's technology through research and strategy.

<i>Wing Commander: Prophecy</i> 1997 video game

Wing Commander: Prophecy is the fifth installment in the Wing Commander science fiction space combat simulator franchise of computer games. The game was released in 1997 for Windows, produced by Origin Systems and distributed by Electronic Arts. In 2003, a Game Boy Advance conversion with added multiplayer was produced by Italy-based Raylight Studios and distributed by Destination Software.

<i>Sins of a Solar Empire</i> 2008 video game

Sins of a Solar Empire is a 2008 science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Ironclad Games and published by Stardock Entertainment for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that incorporates some elements from 4X games; its makers describe it as "RT4X". Players are given control of a spacefaring empire in the distant future, and are tasked with conquering star systems using military, economic and diplomatic means.

<i>Fragile Allegiance</i> 1996 real-time strategy video game

Fragile Allegiance is an open-ended 4X real-time strategy (RTS) game from Gremlin Interactive, released in 1996 for MS-DOS and Windows 95. The game begins on May 25, 2496, as the player begins their employment with TetraCorp who have set up a new asteroid mining franchise operation in the Fragmented Sectors. There are six alien races competing with Tetracorp for these resources. Beginning with one building and one million credits, the player is tasked with building up a successful mining operation to sell as much ore as possible to the Federation. Diplomacy is crucial to the success or failure of this franchise operation as the players' colonies begin to encroach on one another.

<i>M1 Tank Platoon II</i> 1998 video game

M1 Tank Platoon II is a tank simulation video game developed and published by MicroProse Software in 1998 for Microsoft Windows. It is a simulator of the M1 Abrams main battle tank and a follow-up to MicroProse's 1989 release M1 Tank Platoon. M1 Tank Platoon II was sold to Interplay Entertainment in 2009. The game is available on Steam and Epic Games services.

<i>Age of Empires</i> (video game) 1997 real-time strategy video game

Age of Empires (AoE) is a real-time strategy video game based on history, developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, and the first game in the Age of Empires series. The game uses the Genie Engine, a 2D sprite-based game engine. The game allows the user to act as the leader of an ancient civilization by advancing it through four ages, gaining access to new and improved units with each advance.

<i>Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way</i> 1998 video game

Spec Ops: Rangers Lead The Way is a tactical shooter video game developed by Zombie Studios and published by Ripcord Games exclusively for Windows. Players take control of United States Army Rangers; the game's subtitle is the Ranger motto. It is the first game in the Spec Ops series.

<i>Far Gate</i> 2001 video game

Far Gate is a video game released for Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Super X Studios and published by Microïds. The gameplay consists of 3D space-based real-time strategy, and allows players to play as any of three distinct factions employing different units and structures. It was one of the first video games to offer fully 3D space-based real time strategy.

<i>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness</i> 1995 video game

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness is a fantasy real-time strategy computer game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows in 1995 and Mac OS in 1996 by Blizzard's parent, Davidson & Associates. A sequel to Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the game was met with positive reviews and won most of the major PC gaming awards in 1996. In 1996, Blizzard released an expansion pack, Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, for DOS and Mac OS, and a compilation, Warcraft II: The Dark Saga, for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The Battle.net edition, released in 1999, included Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, provided Blizzard's online gaming service, and replaced the MS-DOS version with a Windows one.

<i>XCOM: Enemy Unknown</i> 2012 video game

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a 2012 turn-based tactics video game that was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. It presents a "reimagined" version of the 1994 strategy game X-COM: UFO Defense—also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is set during an alien invasion of Earth in an alternative version of 2015; the player controls an elite, multinational, paramilitary organization called XCOM and commands troops in a series of turn-based tactical missions. Between missions, the player directs the research and development of technologies from recovered alien technology and captured prisoners, expands XCOM's base of operations, manages finances, and monitors and responds to alien activity.

<i>Galactic Civilizations III</i> 2015 video game

Galactic Civilizations III is a 4X turn-based strategy video game developed by Stardock for Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to 2006's Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. The full version of the game was released in May 2015. The game's first expansion, titled Mercenaries, was released in February 2016.

<i>Starship Troopers: Terran Command</i> 2022 video game

Starship Troopers: Terran Command is a real-time strategy video game developed by The Artistocrats and published by Slitherine Software in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Armor Command Details and Credits for PC". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  2. ↑ "News for February 25, 1998". Online Gaming Review. February 25, 1998. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
    "February 25, 1998: "...a plethora of new titles should be hitting stores today, including...Armor Command."
  3. ↑ Jebens, Harley (March 6, 1998). "Armor Command Ships". GameSpot . Archived from the original on October 6, 2000. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Ripcord Games ships Armor Command". roningames.com. February 5, 1998. Archived from the original on February 10, 1999. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dunkin, Alan (May 19, 1998). "Armor Command Review [date mislabeled as "April 29, 2000"]". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Armor Command". Next Generation . No. 43. Imagine Media. July 1998. p. 115. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Armor Command for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Cirulis, Martin E. (June 1998). "Change of Perspective (Armor Command Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World . No. 167. Ziff Davis. pp. 245, 250. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  9. ↑ Edge staff (June 1998). "Armor Command". Edge . No. 59. Future Publishing. p. 96. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ Harms, William (June 1998). "Armor Command". PC Gamer . Vol. 5, no. 6. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2000. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.