Metal Fatigue Details

More Images (7) »
Screenshot Index »

Now that it's been confirmed that Metal Fatigue will in fact be coming to the US via TalonSoft, we've taken a new look at the futuristic real-time strategy game. What makes Metal Fatigue stand out from the surprisingly large summer crop of RTS games set in the far future are the giant Combot mechs that dominate the battlefield.

While there's no dearth of tanks and other ground and air support units, the modular Combots easily sweep aside all but the largest masses of these smaller craft. The modular assembly of a Combot - assembled from various arm, leg, and torso component designs - makes for an interesting twist on the tech hierarchy since it's possible to use giant, edged melee weapons to chop off other Combots' limbs for later recovery and research. Each of the three sides - the RimTech, MilAgro, and Neuropa corporate nations - have a distinctive style of Combot, so capturing components can be a good way to turn your enemies' strengths against them.

Another innovation Metal Fatigue brings to the genre is the use of three simultaneous arenas for combat: Ground, orbital, and subterranean levels all need to be controlled simultaneously for optimal resource gathering. This helps the balance between the Combots and support units, since the giant machines are best kept on solid ground, while jet craft patrol the skies and smaller ground units move easily through drilled-out underground tunnels. The interface does a good job of warning the player of threats on each level, and the extra dimension has great potential for strategic gameplay, but it certainly means there is quite a bit to keep track of.

For those who think it takes too long to build basic base structures and jump up the tech tree, Metal Fatigue offers a different approach: a prebuild phase. Given a set amount of resources, the player can quickly build all the basic structures and units before actual gameplay starts. Available in both the single- and multiplayer game, prebuilding may aggravate the problem of rush tactics, but it's good for accelerating the pace of play.

Look for a full review of the game as its US release draws closer.