Stormrise preview

[Jakub]

If Creative Assembly and Sega have already submitted an alpha version of Stormrise last July, we had this time the opportunity to test ourselves a much more advanced version of the next set of real-time strategy of both partners. The STR as regulars say a genre is generally reserved for PC, but with Stormrise, Creative Assembly seems to have found a formula as original as it is to bring this kind on consoles while allowing PC players. We tried both versions and here are our impressions pending the release of the game for a few weeks.

When Creative Assembly believes gamepad

At the base of Stormrise, a simple idea: instead of adapting the gameplay mechanics designed for the PC, why not try to develop new, this time taking into account management via a joystick? Developed by the Australian team from Creative Assembly (which has worked on Medieval Total War), Stormrise repense completely habits player real time strategy to make the whole the only playable with a joystick or Playstation 3 an Xbox 360 ... You try to specify as clearly as possible the principle.

It must first have a mind that is not to dominate the battlefield like the other games of its kind. Stormrise for us in the third person behind the currently selected unit ... Therefore, it is obviously very important to move from one unit to another in a minimum of gestures and from this point of view, we can say that the developers have managed a feat. The control system allows to show a kind of dial on the screen on which directs a beam to point to any particular unit. Release the pressure then validating the selection of this unit.

Better to go even faster, the developers have integrated the selection to help whip a little bit short on the right stick to pick up the nearest unit in that direction. One can very easily and very quickly move from one unit to another without losing accuracy. This system is more effective if it reflects only the position of units on a two-dimensional: while playing cards have some relief, then you can change to select a unit above perched and get a field of view much more important.

To complement the whip select, the developers have obviously developed other "tools" that are equally effective. Thus, to form groups, simply press a button and the units closest to the selected line (up to three units per group). The "unbundling" is just as easy, while a more precise selection is also possible to satisfy all players. Another very clever, developers can give orders to any other unit without having to control it directly.

[Jakub]

So, when we are "behind" a very high position for example, it is quite possible to look "down" to go select another unit and give an order to move through or attack yet time, the press of a button. The developers aim was clearly to make all possible actions with the press of a button and to minimize travel between the different units. This system has proved frighteningly effective, given the design of maps which have been well studied to select the whip is remarkably implemented.

Honest and very proud of their discovery, the developers acknowledge that the system could not apply to any RTS today. It involves working cards and take into account certain "limits". The fact to see what our units are possible in particular in the urban maps, performing "hiding". An idea that works well on the maps that we tried, but can not walk with an environment that can be destroyed. In Stormrise, it is actually not a question of destroying the structures.

Since we are talking about structures, it is important to mention another "limitation" on the resources. To simplify the actions of the player to make the system more efficient and make the parts more interesting, the developers have actually reviewed the management of resources. On maps, different network nodes are used to recover energy, the only resource available. This energy allows them to purchase units that arrive directly to a warp gate. This arrival is done fairly quickly and makes the game much more nervous.

The warp gates are part of the improvements on the nodes. Each of the sides of the course has a node with warp gate at the beginning of the game, but further improvements are possible, such as turrets or shields defense turrets. These improvements are important because the purpose of each camp is to control all the nodes. The latter form a kind of network that functions as a grid over a player more control nodes recovering energy, but just losing control of a node in the middle of the grid for the network s 'collapse.

This "trick" allows a player very difficult to launch an attack on his opponent discreet to break its "grid" of nodes and thus reduce the amount of energy available to it ... This allows you to return a rather poorly engaged and extend the interest of a party until its conclusion, which is not always the case in a STR. From what we could try, it works rather well and in fact the entire Stormrise seems mighty effective. Creative Assembly has developed a control system devilishly efficient should delight fans of console strategy.

For hours and even though it will of course wait for the test to have the heart net, the only condition that we make about the prospect of the game Stormrise actually adopts a relatively unusual for this kind of game and could divert those with conventional STR. One to two hours seem sufficient to make the habit is taken, but this may not be the case for everyone. We have, however, a second reservation to that time the variety of conflicts: Stormrise does indeed two factions with nine units each.

[Jakub]

Again, this will be a check on the final version. Final version to be released elsewhere in the same time on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Yes, Stormrise released on the PC, but it will not matter this time to play with a joystick: the mouse is on the agenda by taking up the whip, however, select and what we could judge, it seems a little more efficient with a mouse. All in all, and despite reservations, Creative Assembly STR seems to hold a significantly different from what we know, but with quality very promising Cross our fingers until the end of March!