CNET | News | Hardware | Downloads | Builder | Games | Jobs | Auctions | Prices | Tech Help Free Email  
CNET Gamecenter.com
Search  
   
Click Here!
Click Here!
   CNET: Gamecenter: PC: Reviews





Strategy & War


Earth 2150
Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best

By Marc Dultz
(6/22/2000)

The good: Good use of atmospheric effects; good pacing; excellent integration of strategic and tactical layers; intriguing mission structure; ability to research and build customizable units; diverse multiplayer options.
The bad: Nonintuitive interface takes some getting used to. 
The bottom line: Earth 2150 introduces many new and interesting elements into the sometimes stale RTS genre; although it has a moderate learning curve, fans of the genre will want to pick this one up. 
Multiplayer: Very good 
Single Player: Very good 
ESRB rating: T (Teen) 


In the race to develop a better real-time strategy game, some companies--among them Germany's TopWare Interactive--are clearly beginning to break from the pack. Creators of the recently released Earth 2150, this little-known European studio has shown that with a little imagination and a good deal of technical savvy, virtually anyone can run with the bulls. To date, the typical RTS has consisted of a series of tactical engagements, in which new units and structures are gradually added to the fray each time a new scenario is reached. TopWare is one of the first game developers to successfully incorporate a strategic component in a real-time strategy game. In Earth 2150, Topware has created an engaging game with an strong blend of strategic and tactical layers.


 
Screen Shots
Click the captions for more game shots!

- Mission selection
- Building upgrade center
- A snowstorm moves in
- Who made it dark?
- The construction center

Earth 2150 picks up where its predecessor, Earth 2140, left off. After years of incessant war, the Eurasian Dynasty (ED) and United Civilized States (UCS) emerge as the only two remaining hegemonies on Earth. On the moon, the Lunar Corporation has established itself as the sole power. In time, a second war erupts between the ED and UCS, as they battle for control of Earth's limited living space. With the war going on, the Eurasian Dynasty eventually unleashes several nuclear devices near the north pole in an effort to stop a UCS counteroffensive. The violent explosions do more than stop the UCS assault, and scientists soon discover that the Earth has spun out of its normal orbit. The earth and the moon are hurtling towards the sun, and in 180 days will be turned to mere ashes.

The three remaining civilizations aren't waiting for disaster to strike. All three plan to build a huge evacuation fleet and escape destruction with time to spare. Each must first locate, mine, and refine vast quantities of mineral resources, then ship them back to its main base as quickly as possible. The ore is then used to construct a space transporter, build an evacuation base, and create a defensive system, all within six months' time.

Earth 2150 uses an ingenious multimap interface to differentiate between the individual mission map and the strategic staging screen, commonly referred to as the main base area. During play, each side is able to move units and resources back and forth between the two regions using different types of transport craft. As you might imagine, all this adds an entirely new dimension to the typical RTS game. Of course, the creation of a strategic and tactical layer brings up the issue of short- and long-term goal fulfillment, and the manner in which each must be handled.


  Dreamcast at buy.com!  Advertisement  
World Series Baseball 2K1  Perfect Dark for N64!  Resident Evil:Code Veronica-Dreamcast




Earth 2150




  Earth 2150
Search CNET Game Shopper
 
Browse Titles | Hardware

Click for printer-friendly format

Email this story to a friend

SPONSORED LINKS
Digital Cameras
Demolition Racer
256MB ValueRAM $349!


Click Here!


Comics
CDs
DVDs
Inline
Movies
Skateboards
Search for more products:
mySimon
a CNET Networks Company

PC | Dreamcast | PSX | PlayStation2 | N64 | Xbox | Pocket | Mac | Game Shopper | Downloads | Play Games | Tips & Cheats | Hardware | Game News
Click Here!
Click Here!
CNET Services: Auctions · Check Latest Prices · Downloads · Enterprise Business · Find a Web Host · Find an ISP · Free Newsletters · Gadgets · Games · Hardware · Help & How-Tos · Latest PCs · News · Publish Your Opinion · Search · Stock Quotes · Tech Jobs · Web Building
  
   CNET Jobs | Corrections | How to advertise | Join CNET's Affiliate Program | Support    About CNET  
Back to TopJoin CNET, we're hiring

Copyright ©1995-2000 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy policy.