Game Play

Where For Art Thou Resources?

As far as most RTS games go, you could basically change the unit graphics and bada-bing you have a new game. That is something Ground Control could have been, but the developers strove for something better than what is out currently. Ground Control has some pretty big differences that set it apart from most RTS games.

Can o whoop ass!

And some...

Like Bungie's Myth series, there is no resource collecting. There is no accumulation of anything whatsoever in this game. If you wanted to mine, harvest, or log; you are playing the wrong game. Some might find this a bad thing but I think it's a step in the right direction. Most RTS games have you building up resources and erecting buildings for a good 5-10 minutes before you can send out a meager attack force. Unless your opponent is still getting his feet wet, the game should go on for at least another 20 or 30 minutes, or possibly hours.

For you!

Ah the evil ones

Quick In, Quick Out

In Ground Control you can end a match in a handful of minutes. All the units you want are available right from the start. You are given a maximum of 3 dropships that can carry 4 different sets of troops apiece. Once you decide what kinds of units and weapons you want the game starts. It's a matter of military strategy from that point onward. This does limit how many units you have but it does effectively get rid of the tank rush, because the other guy probably has just as many tanks as you do. I've seen other attempts to eliminate the resource system and the results were utterly disastrous. Not so in Ground Control. Overall I'd have to say the execution of this idea worked out perfectly in the game.

Another great feature is unit experience. Troops that survive earlier missions can be taken to new missions with combat bonuses. These troops deal out more damage, become more accurate, and generally kick more butt.

More stats

Some foliage

Ground Control varies a little when going from single to multi-player but it essentially stays the same. In the single-player mode your limited amount of troops might be a little annoying but healing them is relatively easy. Your main APC (armored personnel carrier) heals on the fly, minimizing the need for mass amounts of units. With multi-player this can vary a little bit. Reinforcements are allowed in some situations. This allows replacements of the units you lost in battle. Some games end when the main APC is destroyed, while others simply keep going till the time limits hits or a certain amount of points has been hit.