Andrew Navia and Devin Martin Review Stormrise
Good From Afar, but Far From Good
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: Diversions
Stormrise, by Sega, is a truly innovative real-time strategy (RTS) game that unfortunately has its possible splendor suffocated by poor gameplay and mechanics.
The game starts with a pretty good tutorial, managing to teach the controls without outright insulting the player. It is at this point that the unique "whip select" mechanic is introduced; the "whip select" is how the player controls all the units on screen. By flicking the right joystick, the player's viewpoint changes to that of the unit selected.
Unlike most RTSs, the player can actually direct each individual unit from an almost over the shoulder view, another pioneering idea, rather than the typical god-like, bird's-eye-view viewpoint. This makes for a much faster transition to specific units, and allows the player to actually see the action up close and personal.
However, the praise ends as soon as it begins, for these two innovative gameplay mechanics changes cause more problems than they solve. For example, when the player progresses to some of the later levels, there are numerous units on the map and "whipping" to a specific one becomes difficult in the sea of troops. The complexity is compounded by the fact that only three units may be grouped together at most, and made worse because switching to the wrong unit changes the player's view to that from the unit's viewpoint, which can become disorienting.
Also, because the "whip select" puts the player close to the units, the poor graphics and other minor defects become apparent, such as a lesser unit dropping dead on the floor in front of a larger one without a shot being fired.
Just when the player begins to finally master the control scheme, the game decides to up the difficulty from easy to legendary within one level. The multiplayer and one-player-versus-AI skirmishes are on the same maps as the campaign, and don't really offer anything new.
Mixed with a rather bland and archetypal story line that includes so many betrayals and alliance changes that the player is left wondering which side is really in the right, the poor controls help make Stormrise nothing more than a rental for the hardcore RTS gamer.
The game starts with a pretty good tutorial, managing to teach the controls without outright insulting the player. It is at this point that the unique "whip select" mechanic is introduced; the "whip select" is how the player controls all the units on screen. By flicking the right joystick, the player's viewpoint changes to that of the unit selected.
Unlike most RTSs, the player can actually direct each individual unit from an almost over the shoulder view, another pioneering idea, rather than the typical god-like, bird's-eye-view viewpoint. This makes for a much faster transition to specific units, and allows the player to actually see the action up close and personal.
However, the praise ends as soon as it begins, for these two innovative gameplay mechanics changes cause more problems than they solve. For example, when the player progresses to some of the later levels, there are numerous units on the map and "whipping" to a specific one becomes difficult in the sea of troops. The complexity is compounded by the fact that only three units may be grouped together at most, and made worse because switching to the wrong unit changes the player's view to that from the unit's viewpoint, which can become disorienting.
Also, because the "whip select" puts the player close to the units, the poor graphics and other minor defects become apparent, such as a lesser unit dropping dead on the floor in front of a larger one without a shot being fired.
Just when the player begins to finally master the control scheme, the game decides to up the difficulty from easy to legendary within one level. The multiplayer and one-player-versus-AI skirmishes are on the same maps as the campaign, and don't really offer anything new.
Mixed with a rather bland and archetypal story line that includes so many betrayals and alliance changes that the player is left wondering which side is really in the right, the poor controls help make Stormrise nothing more than a rental for the hardcore RTS gamer.
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