Cortex Command

Release Date: September 28, 2012

Strategy, science fiction, 2D, indie games, side-scroll, splitscreen, multiplayer, singleplayer

83%

Steam

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An unusual mixture of a strategy game and a platformer. The game is set in the future and the player assumes the role of an entrepreneur that excavates gold on a distant planet. One's tasks are to gather the valuable ore and compete against both unfriendly aliens and other gold-seekers. Cortex Command was created by Data Realms - an independent developer.

Plot
Mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

Cortex Command for PC is an interesting mixture of a platformer and a strategy game, developed by Data Realms – an independent studio that approached the two genres with creativity. The project gained approval at the Game Developers Conference 2009 (organized in San Francisco), winning two awards, namely Technical Excellence and the Audience Award.

Plot

The player is taken to distant future times, when a lot of people abandoned their bodies in order to prolong their existences and be able to go for intergalactic journeys. The player assumes the role of a character, who represents the new, cybernetic race with its roots in mankind; the protagonist remotely controls robots residing on a far-away planet, having the opportunity to explore a new world. The player runs a small company that excavates gold. A ship named TradeStar orbits the planet and it constitutes a safe haven and a place where goods can be exchanged.

Mechanics

It turns out that the planet is not as safe and pure as one could think. The player's goal is to react to dangers of the unexplored world, as well as to face other entrepreneurs during regular skirmishes. Apart from that of course, one has to excavate gold. To do this, the player makes use of specialistic tools in particular levels, completing the tasks on their own (the player directly controls the robots), or sending adequate instructions to the subordinate mechanicals. With regard to this, the game is a multi-layered platformer requiring the player to jump, shoot, dig tunnels, as well as to construct bases and carry out strategic operations.

Most missions begin with the player having a few minutes to create their bunker from scratch – the place serves the role of one's base of operations. While building the bunker, the player can place doors, traps and turrets, apart from designing the hallways. An adequately structured base provides good protection against the adversaries. The player buys new bodies (and takes control of them afterwards), weapons and equipment, and dispatches them from TradeStar so they can reach the surface of the planet. Particular objects are delivered to the designated spots in two ways: by a freighter or a rocket. Material transported to the orbiting ship gets exchanged for money. The number of various weapons and devices the creators included, is surely impressive. It is also worth to highlight, that every object in the map can be destroyed. The game's interesting campaign is divided into various missions.

Game modes

An interesting online component was implemented in the game as well. Cortex Command offers both a co-op mode for 4 players (split-screen), and a PvP mode. Those fond of online experiences can play single missions or those from the campaign. One can compete in several configuarations (2 vs 2, 1 vs 3, 4 vs CPU), using a keyboard, mouse, or various other controllers.

Technical aspects

Cortex Command for PC offers detailed, two-dimensional graphics and utilizes a complex physics engine. The player can also create their own contents, thanks to an editor implemented by the developer. This utility gives an opportunity to bring about one's own missions, characters, ships, weapons, bombs and shields. A lot of the players share their creations on the developer's forum.

Last updated on February 10, 2018

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