Review NaN of 2
, from IsraelSummary:
Shattered Steel is an old DOS game created by BioWare (of Baldur's Gate fame) and sold by Interplay. It is an action game with huge mechanical robots, called "planet runners", battling alien biological machines.The story is simply: aliens have appeared, and you are sent to destroy them. You are given a variety of missions, including destroying specific alien bases or convoys, protecting human bases, and capturing alien technology. The story unfolds using your ship's computer, which provides details of each mission. Occasionally, you are given a choice between two "operations" of two or three missions each. The end result of both operations are the same, but the missions themselves are different, both in their nature (more or less action), and in the rewards gained, in the form of new technology.Technology comes in the form of runners and equipment for them (mainly weapons). The further you progress into the story, the larger the runners. Large runners have more weapon mounts, and, perhaps more importantly, can carry more weight. This allows for more powerful engines and shields to be mounted, as well as heavier and more powerful weapons. Runners may also differ in their speed and maneuverability. Weapons either have limited ammunition, or take time to recharge.Shattered Steel is an action game - more so than many other "giant robot" games. The largest tactical part is selecting the right runner and the right equipment for the job. More often than not, the same basic weapons will do the job adequately, but on some occasions the right selection is crucial for getting the job done. It is impossible to save during a mission, and this adds to the need for finding the right tactic.The variety of missions is one of the features I liked most about Shattered Steel. Some missions are mainly slug fests, where fast aiming is crucial. Some missions require speed - finishing in a predefined time limit, or running all over the place. Many missions can be solved most easily by finding the best route to the target, instead of barging in at the front door. Night missions with limited visibility add to the variety. Missions usually last from five to fifteen minutes.The graphics are not bad. They are certainly not state of the art 3D accelerated graphics, but the game can run at 640x480, and there are a few nice weapons effects, and some dynamic lighting. The terrain can change as a result of explosions, and it's a lot of fun seeing a nuke go off. Shattered Steel also supports most shutter glasses, although it is then limited to 320x200 resolution, which completely destroys any advantage of 3D viewing.The part I didn't test was the multiplayer game. Games are possible over an IPX network, a modem, or a serial link. There are extensive multiplayer options, and up to 16 players are allowed. There are "anarchy" frag fests, where players (or player teams) shoot each other, and the winner is the one with the most kills. Computer players can be included in this. It is also possible to play normal game missions cooperatively, and even take part as aliens. And, finally, there are 20 specially designed missions that pit two teams one against the other.The most disappointing part of the game is the ending. This is simply because it suggests a continuation. This was a market ploy to get people to buy Shattered Steel 2. Unfortunately, the sequel never appeared. There is, however, a free mission pack available on BioWare's site (www.bioware.com), and there is a mission editor.I liked this game a lot, both for the combination of action and tactics, and for the story line (the fact that there is one). It is highly recommended. Report this review >>
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