Massive Assault

Massive Assault from Tri Synergy is a turn-based strategy game set a few hundred years in the future.  In the game you have access to a great many futuristic vehicles as you try to blow up your enemies in six different planets.  The game’s fast pace and nice graphics make the game almost seem to be a Real-Time Strategy game, although all the action is turn-based. Although it’s not terribly deep, turn-based strategy fans should find a very accessible and addicting strategy game with Massive Assault.

The story is typical for a futuristic strategy game, and is as follows: two different warring factions, the Phantom League (bad guys) and the Free Nations Union are fighting over six planets found to be rich in resources. You have control over the Free Nations Union, and therefore must battle it out with the Shadow Clique in order to gain full control of the planets yourself.

The gameplay is turn-based, and done very well in that regard. While not quite as deep as other turn-based strategy games, Massive Assault’s gameplay is very easy to learn. Most people who typically find turn-based strategies to be slow, cumbersome and difficult should have little problem picking up and playing Massive Assault. That’s not to say that Massive Assault is easy. As the game progresses, you must learn to adapt to your enemies attack patterns and sacrifice units when necessary and things like that which require you to have a pretty keen grasp on the gameplay mechanics. However, getting there isn’t difficult and the interface is quite simple.

The units are composed entirely of tanks and giant ground units, no soldier units whatsoever. They each have unique abilities like increased speed and range of fire and motion. In order to get more units, you can purchase them with the revenue that you earn from the areas that you own.  The more areas you’ve taken over, the more revenue you’ll earn and the better vehicles you’ll be able to purchase. However, the areas don’t generate revenue indefinitely, so you’ll have to be careful how you spend your money. You can also gain units by setting up allies and purchase units from them.

The graphics in Massive Assault have a bit of an unrealistic quality to them, but still look quite good and add to the overall atmosphere of the game.  The graphical style of the game is kind of reminiscent of Giants: Citizen Kabuto, if anyone remembers that game. The environments are very colorful and vibrant, and the vehicles are nicely detailed.  The explosion effects are also quite good.

The sound in Massive Assault is what you’d expect to find in a strategy game.  The music switches between war marches and techno music, which both seem appropriate for a futuristic strategy game. Sound effects are crisp and clear, as laser beams, gunfire and explosions will be booming quite frequently through the game.  There is also a little voice acting, during which a woman’s voice will tell you if it’s your turn to attack the enemy.

Massive Assault is a good addition to the turn-based strategy genre, offering an easy-to-learn tough-to-master interface and fast paced gameplay that doesn’t lag. Strategy fans would do well to check this one out.

Gameplay: 8.5
The gameplay is easy-to-learn, yet tough-to-master.  The action is fast, and feels a bit like an RTS, even though it isn’t. The game also makes great use of various types of ground units with unique abilities, which makes for a nicely varied gameplay experience.

Graphics: 8.5
Massive Assault has a very colorful graphical presentation, reminiscent of such classic games as Giants: Citizen Kabuto. The ground units are nicely detailed, the environments are colorful and vibrant, and the explosion effects are well done.

Sound: 8.0
The music is appropriate for a futuristic strategy game, with a variety of techno songs and war marches.  The sound is clear and the few parts of voice acting are done very well.

Difficulty: Medium                                                                                                                            

Concept: 8.5
While the storyline is pretty average, the interface is simple and approachable, a rare thing for turn-based strategy games.                                        

Multiplayer 8.0
Massive Assault’s turn-based gameplay translates nicely to the multiplayer arena, as the gameplay mechanics feel very much like a deep board game, like Risk or chess.

Overall: 8.5
Massive Assault’s gameplay is simple to understand, difficult to conquer, and most importantly, very addictive. The action is fast and intense, which makes the game feel like an RTS at certain times. Strategy fans should give this one a look.