I of the Enemy Review

In deep space, a war undreamt of rages, pitting the forces of three very different civilizations, against a powerful and fearsome enemy known as the Unath. The only chance the alliance has is you, an officer of the Lokab, renown for your abilities in combat, to take the lead in the fight against the Unath, and thus, enable the survival of your people. This is the premise for a new Sci Fi Real Time Strategy game called 'I of the enemy.'

"I of the Enemy" is a RTS game that is designed as a low cost game, low on combat graphics, but high on story content and game play value. Players will take part in a linear campaign, starting with a few units and their combat leader, and advance across planetary landscapes in real time combat, using different combat units to achieve the scenario goals. Players can even carry over units from scenario to scenario, and these units gain combat experience through battle, making them more effective on the battlefield.

Each scenario begins with a cut away briefing, in which you can listen in to your leader discussing the upcoming operation. These sequences are excellent, British actor Ian McNeice (Baron Horkonnen in the Sci-Fi Channel's Dune) does the voice of the main character, Col Verkkal, who speaks with his allies and underlings about what is going on, as well as discussing upcoming operations. From this briefing, you are moved to a planning screen, to select units for the upcoming operation.

As the scenario opens, your forces are displayed on the game maps, with detailed illustrations of the units and their capabilities shown on the far right. Using the standard point and click, as well as drag, players maneuver their forces about the map, to accomplish the scenario mission. Additional forces can arrive if requested through jump gates, but if the gate is destroyed, they cannot arrive. It also takes time for them to get planetside, so the gate has to be defended.

The unit types include light and heavy infantry, as well as special units, different forces for the three races, and so on. Your leader is also there, and he must survive the scenario, or you lose the game. Since this is RTS, combat is simultaneous, and damage is recorded by the familiar method of a life bar over units. They also have a shield bar, that has to be destroyed before a unit takes damage. Units can also regain damage by remaining idle for some time.

The map is only visible in areas where you have active units. In some scenarios you have air power, and air transports to move units over obstacles such as rivers. There are stacking limits in the transports, some units take up more space than others. A typical mission may be to defend the warp gate, or destroy the enemy gate to prevent enemy units from increasing and destroying you. As the game advances through the scenarios, the story line becomes more interesting, something isn't as it seems. But I won't say what, you will have to play through them to find out how the storyline goes. But beware, your enemies want you quite dead, and some of your allies wouldn't seem to mind that happening either!

The game has a complete tutorial, making learning to play an easy task. The game interface is well done and logically layed out, making game play very smooth. The sounds are excellent, some of the best voice over work is included in this title that I have yet seen on such a game. The downside is, the battle maps seem like out dated, and many of the units look like they are more suited to a game from 1994 rather than 2004. But don't let this caveat dismay you, the game is quite fun and absorbing, I found myself playing several hours without realizing it!

For a budget title, Enemy Technology gives you plenty of bite for your buck, even with the less than stellar game maps. The beautiful cut scenes, as well as the absorbing game play and story lines more than make up for any of the game's possible short comings. If you want a fun, low cost Sci Fi RTS, by all means, pick up I of the Enemy. The fate of the Lokab may depend on it!