Infantry attempts to clear a jungle.

Ground Control was a pretty good RTS game that did not catch on with the masses but that did develop a rather loyal cult following. It was one of the first RTS games to enter the world of 3D graphics and introduced a number of innovations to the genre. The sequel, Ground Control II: Operation Exodus (GCII), will try to once again push the envelope in the world of strategy gaming. But before I get into that, let’s take a look at the game’s setting.

It is the year 2741 and Captain Jacob Angelus of the Northern Star Alliance (NSA) becomes the central figure in the war against the expansionistic Terran Empire. The Empire decides that it wants to crush the NSA permanently, but rather than do the dirty work themselves, they send in a force comprised of a subdued alien race. The alien race is armed with devastating bio-weapons and soon the war turns bleak and hopeless for the NSA. In a desperate pitch for survival, the Exodus is launched in attempt to move to another part of the galaxy. It is up to Jacob Angelus to evacuate the NSA to safety, and to do so he must retrieve the ancient space cruiser CSS Astrid…

GCII will once again be a 3D game, but this time it is really taking the terrain to the third dimension. Hills, mountains, and valleys are not just included for show – they will have a very real effect on gameplay. Accuracy and range are improved when firing from higher ground, and units fighting an uphill battle will be at a decided disadvantage. Line of sight will also be affected by terrain and you won’t be able to see enemy units lying in wait just on the other side of the next hill. Terrain effects extend to the land features such as vegetation as well. Infantry units hidden in a grove of trees can very effectively ambush unsuspecting units moving past them along a road. Finally, the weather will play a factor as well, so expect your units to get bogged down during heavy rains.

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