"It’s your turn, Commander!"

The voice is alluring, feminine and computerized. But that is the queue that it is up to you make your moves in Moonbase Commander.

This title, from Humongous Entertainment and published by Infogrames for the PC, is a combination of turn-based warfare and chess played out on an alien moon. There are resources to covet and secure, and enemies to overcome. Whether the enemies are the computer foes (in single-player mode) or real-life counterparts over the GameSpy network, the action continues to be fast and a treat for the eyes.

The folks at Humongous have a knack for building games that have ageless appeal, and Moonbase Commander is certainly no exception.

The key to this game is to have a strategy, move fast, build to extend movement turns and defend ­ or attack ­ the opposition. If you build up your own resources well enough, you can move quickly across the landscape to the pockets of materials.

There are a couple of ways to play this game. You can play either multiplayer, or indulge in two single-player modes. Skirmish is simply that ­ you build and battle an opponent controlled by the computer. In Challenge, you have to achieve a goal in the quickest time possible.

The corporation you are working for in this scenario is Niceco and there are three energy pools on the lunar landscape that you need to plant energy collectors on. Ready, set, go! Your core structure is known as the hub. From it you can launch other structures which are connected by a series of pulsing orbs (known as cord nodes) to your hub. To expand your control, you launch more hubs. But you will need to have ways to power the hubs.

Essentially there are 18 structures you can build. They are divided into three levels, six units to a level. Level one units only cost you one energy point per turn, level three will cost you three energy points and level seven will cost (you probably have it by now) seven points. Level seven units include additional hubs and energy collectors. Each level also has an assortment of weaponry which is used to defend your territory or attack your opponent’s.

The fog-of-war can be used in this game, which will obscure both the terrain and your opponents. You can build towers, though, to help cut through that murkiness.

There are 16 challenges, each more difficult than before, and 47 maps ready for skirmish mode. The game also features a variety of AI opponents, and some of them will challenge even the best gameplayers.

The control elements of this game are very simple to use. Your hub has a targeting circle for launching new units. After you select the unit, you position the indicator in the direction you wish to launch the unit and voila, the unit is away. You can counter some effects though. If you have dropped mines and then try to place an anti-air missile launcher too close to them, you may put a few extra pockmarks on the lunar surface because all the units detonate.

The sound of the game is excellent and the graphics are well animated and colorful. The game even comes with a map editor so you can customize the look of the terrain you are battling for.

The initial response to Moonbase Commander is that this is a simple game. The graphical elements are nice, not overly complicated, and the game goal seems simple enough. But the more the game is played, the more complex it appears.  It is a delight to play.

This game is rate for Everyone.
 

Gameplay: 8
The game moves quickly and you can go from the brink of victory to rebuilding in a hurry. Because it is turn-based, you have time to strategize a little about your course of action.

Graphics: 7.5
While the game gives the appearance of three-dimensional elements, this is really a two-dimensional game. However, the animation is smooth, and the graphics are lush and bright.

Sound: 8.4
The audio portion of the game features the right mixture of wonderful voices and solid battle sounds.

Difficulty: Medium
This is a tough one to call. The learning curve is about 25 minutes and once you have grasped the concepts, the game seems like it should be easy, but the evolving difficulty levels and tougher AI opponents make this game a real challenge.

Concept: 8.5
Congratulations to Humongous for taking a simple concept, tweaking it, making it appear as though it was still a simple concept while make a game that is intriguing and challenging.

Multiplayer: 7.4
The game will match up players, and the multiplayer aspect is more akin to chess than warfare. There is a constant array of moves and countermoves that make for an intense mental exercise.

Overall: 8.3
Moonbase Commander is one of those rare strategy games that cuts across the lines of age and gender. It is a game accessible to anyone, and everyone can compete well in the game due to a simple concept. The interface is designed for ease of use, and the game boasts terrific sound and graphics. This is a wonderful game.