MoonBase Commander
Release Date: August 13, 2002
Strategy, science fiction, turn-based, in space, arcade elements, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
Steam
A science fiction strategy game that combines the gameplay of classic turquoise with arcade elements. The player's task is to defend the lunar base, which is engaged in the extraction of mineral deposits. The authors have put at our disposal an arsenal of 18 different tools of war, and an unusual system of expansion of the base, consisting in firing out motionless units that create a specific chain of connections.
MoonBase Commander is a science fiction strategy turn-based game with a slightly different perspective on this popular genre. The production combines the gameplay of the classic Battle Isle series with arcade elements reminiscent of the cult Scorched Earth and the Worms series. The title was developed by the American studio Humongous Entertainment, which is part of Infogrames. Nearly 12 years after its premiere - in February 2014, thanks to Rebellion's efforts, the game has been refreshed and distributed via Steam.
The action takes us into a distant future, when the Earth's natural resources are close to total exhaustion. Standing on the edge of the raw material war, humanity is frantically searching for new mineral deposits, exploring previously unexplored nooks and crannies of the cosmos. In the game we will take control of our own lunar base and our goal will be to transform it into a real star empire. In order to achieve this, however, we will have to face up to the various factions seeking to take control of the territory that we manage. MoonBase Commander focuses on this competition.
The game is about eliminating the opponent with the right strategy and eighteen different tools divided into three categories. Thus, we have typically offensive structures, such as bomb launchers or defensive structures, such as force fields and anti-aircraft artillery. The third group consists of devices helpful in the assessment of the tactical situation, including guard towers and observation balloons. Both sides of the competition use the same means, differing only in appearance. The authors also resigned from the development tree typical for strategy games, thanks to which all the mentioned structures are available from the very beginning of the game, which significantly equalizes the chances of the opponents.
A peculiar novelty is the lack of movement of individuals. The expansion of the database is carried out by firing further elements from our parent structure, called the hub in a way known from such games as Scorched Earth or Worms. These, in turn, can produce more, thus creating a chain of connections. Interestingly, the destruction of one of the tree elements by the opponent, resulting in the destruction of the structures connected with it, which forces the player to think both in offensive and defensive categories. The game takes place in a turn-based system with a specified limit of seconds to make a move. The freedom of expansion and combat is somewhat limited by the limit of traffic points, which can be increased by exploring the deposits encountered on the way.
The main MoonBase Commander campaign consists of sixteen missions, but the creators have also prepared a skirmish mode that allows for quick skirmish with the AI computer. The possibility of competing with a live player has not been forgotten either. We can do it in local mode, or via the Internet and LAN (in the refreshed digital version only LAN). The dominated graphic design of the game is quite economical, but it does its job well. In the sound layer, the game is accompanied by a nice voice of the teacher and calm music, matching the not very dynamic character of the game.
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Last updated on August 14, 2015
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MoonBase Commander Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows
Developer: Humongous Entertainment
Publisher: Atari / Infogrames
Age restrictions: 12+
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MoonBase Commander System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium II 266 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 600 MB HDD, Windows 98/ME/2000/XP