One of the best turn based strategy games ever released. An excellent plot blended with a stunning gameplay.
The game is excellently plotted. In the beginning of the 21st century, China growing as a super power decides to reconquer traditional Chinese territories. America sends its seventh fleet and main Asian force to resist the Chinese invasion of South East Asia and force them to turn back. In response, China sinks the American career Abraham Lincoln, claiming it to be in Chinese territory. Taken aback, American president presses the Congress to declare a state of war. With the United Nations supporting the United States and North Korea aiding China, begins WORLD WAR III.
In the main menu, there are four different modes. Scenario mode lets you play different scenarios, the first being a tutorial. It will be best to begin by playing the tutorial so that with no time you can learn the controls and other details. You will have the chance to play as China , US, Russia, North Korea etc..in different scenarios.The campaign mode lets you play different campaigns including long and mini ones. In campaigns you can play as China and US. There is also one campaign where playing as Vietnam you try to conquer South-East Asia. Multiplayer option lets you play with your friends on a LAN or over the Internet. The fourth mode lets you play through email.
As China the beginning will be easy. Activating Plan Red, China plans to conquer most of Asia and become the strongest nation in the world and then force the United Nations to approve their triumph and sign a peace treaty. In the initial three years you will suceed easily until The United States comes into the picture with increased vigour. Then the game becomes more difficult. Within the first three years the combined forces of US and UN suffers huge defeat at your hands and most of Asia will be conquered including the parts of Russia to the east of Urals. The Russians will be forced to sign a peace treaty. Then the strong US,UN combined counter-offensive begins and the game gets very difficult.
As the United States, you start the game after 3 years, the time taken to restore the war production in the country to full flow. At first you will have defeat the Chinese and North Korean invasion in South Korea. After succeeding there, you will have to move to conquered parts of Russia and without Russian aid take on the Chinese forces there. You will be outnumbered by the huge military force of China but you have the edge of supreme technology. Also the air superiority provides you strength over your enemies. As America, the beginning is difficult with you heavily outnumbered but later on your supreme technology will give you advantage over the rivals.
When you start a mission you can use production points gained in your previous mission to buy new units(tanks,soldiers etc..) and also upgrade your existing ones. You can also adjust your air superiority with the points. Whenever you achieve a tactical objective in a mission, you will gain prestige giving you more production and air points and sometimes protoype units which you yet cannot produce in large scale. The points you thus gather in between a mission can also be used to purchase further units and upgrades. In each turn of play you will get air points to use for air missions like air strikes, defense etc.. which will be very effective in good weather conditions. The units which have succesfully completed a mission will have increased morale and their ranks improves to the likes of veteran etc.. which will make them more strong and powerful in attack in your next mission. While purchasing an unit, you can also make use of the production points to buy ones with high rank. The gameplay is very exciting and challenging but also difficult. That is why it is one of the best strategy games ever released. Tactics plays a huge role in your success. You should be aware of your units, especially to which units they are vulnerable and to which powerful and thus use them wisely. For eg:- Tanks are vulnerable to longbow helicopters as they have no weapons to attack helicopters. Use your production points carefully, for instance you can upgrade some units with air defense weapons instead of buying an unit for that lone purpose. You must consider the advantages of the side you are playing, like if you are playing as America then you enjoy air supremacy and so you must make more use of air missions.
The game controls are easy as mouse is only needed to play the game. The movement is done in the form of hexes. Left Clicking on an unit you can see the maximum range of hexes it can move to. Left click on a hex to move your unit there. Left click at an enemy unit to attack it. Right clicking an unit gives you the details like different attacks or different defenses etc..
The graphics is sharp and drawn to the finest details. There is only a single soundtrack but luckily it is a good one and fits the game nicely. The sound effects are also good but don't expect the quality as of in games like Call Of Duty.
I was impressed very much with the gameplay. It is very exciting and challenging and fits perfectly to the game's genre. The plot is excellent as I am sure no one will disagree to the possibility of such a development. The graphics are good. As a negative point mmm! only I can think of is the difficulty the game poses. The gameplay is really tough and you will have to save and load several times to complete a mission.