As the onslaught of promising new RTS games from indie studios trying to mix old-school thrills with new design ideas continues, TriArts aims to break into the space with Defcon Zero: Frontlines of Tomorrow.
Once again, we’re instantly detecting heavy Command & Conquer vibes, with a touch of the cutting-edge presentation Tempest Rising went with earlier this year. That said, Defcon Zero: Frontlines of Tomorrow, the first of a planned new space-set series, has already revealed a number of innovations which could set it apart from the competition.
Before we get into the details, check out the latest trailer below:
“Created by a team of RTS veterans, the game merges the familiar backbone of the genre with practical modern systems. Combat feels deliberate, with units equipped for multiple roles and guided by a clear weapon priority system to strike with the right tool at the right time. Cover is functional and essential, soldiers survive when positioned behind potential covers, walls, or inside structures. The battlefield itself evolves through a day-night cycle that directly alters vision, detection, and combat efficiency. In Defcon Zero: Frontlines of Tomorrow, strategy is precise and unforgiving.”
As teased by the game’s official description, there’s a bigger emphasis on smart units which use the environment to their advantage, but the game’s “unique” approach to combat goes beyond that. The aforementioned “weapon priority” system is being developed in order to ensure units always used the right weapons for the right enemies, reducing the micromanaging required in fast-paced battles while elevating the number of tactical possibilities.
As for the factions, Defcon Zero’s universe introduces the Eros Reclamation Agency (ERA), a group with an iron fist which relies on heavy machines and fortified bases, and the ARM sect, a group which “calls upon the gods of old Eros, beings older, darker, and hungrier than mankind itself.” ERA represents the far more traditional base-building and RTS warfare, whereas ARM specializes in guerrilla tactics, covert ops, and propaganda.
No release window for Defcon Zero: Frontlines of Tomorrow has been provided yet, but considering the developers are planning to have a high-quality story campaign, skirmishes, and tower defense modes at launch (with no talk of early access for now), plus support for user-made content, its development might be far from done.
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