Armada 2: Exodus Preview

Armada was a Dreamcast game that, although good, didn't attract much attention. This could have been because of the game's simple 2D graphics and shooter gameplay, which ultimately kept people from noticing what was a solid shooting title with a refreshing RPG element to it. The lack of attention isn't stopping Metro 3D from developing the next Armada game, Armada 2: Exodus, a game that will surely raise more eyebrows in the gaming community with its real-time online play and solid shooter engine.

The storyline mirrors that of the first game. After forming the Allied Command and repelling the Alien Armada, you and the members of the other space-faring races figure the threat is finally over. However, before they were completely destroyed the aliens had left a beacon that summons a huge new hoard of biomechanical aliens, thus beginning Armada 2: Exodus. You'll assume the role of governor of your frontier outpost, with the goal of developing safe havens throughout the region in the hope that people will hide in them and escape the second alien attack. But you'll still encounter most of the game's action in your spaceship. You'll pilot around, shooting the Armada and taking on various missions.

There will now be six different races to choose from, including a new Scarab race, which will be able to convert Armada units to friendly ones. The game will feature bigger and better bosses, with menacing names like the Death Claw and the Broodhome. Since most of the game takes place in open space, considerable work is being done to refine the actual space backgrounds. Armada 2 will let you fly through asteroid fields, plasma clouds, energy storms, and other sci-fi phenomena. The game will also feature a more comprehensive ship upgrade system and plenty of new weapons. Armada 2 will sport tons of new items and will let you pick up more than 1.2 million items. How, exactly, this is to be implemented is yet unsaid.

The biggest new feature of Armada 2, though, is the online play. Armada 2: Exodus will support up to four players simultaneously in real time through Sega's online network. Since every player's game world is different, the game's host will invite other players to join their version of the Armada universe, saving details on all four players. How, exactly, this will affect players hoping to run long-lasting multiplayer games is unknown.

With its online capabilities and enhanced shooting action, Armada 2: Exodus could be just what fans of the shooting genre have been looking for. Armada 2: Exodus is scheduled to ship sometime in Q3 2000.