Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde

Publisher: Jaleco

Platform: XB

Category: Strategy / Sim

Rating Info

Release Date: 09/04/2004

Member Rating:

Number of Players: 1

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde Description

The concept of the real-time strategy game has not always adapted well to consoles, sitting more at home on the PC, thanks to its mouse and keyboard control system. Well this latest release from Jaleco looks set to try and change all that, delivering an action-strategy experience that has been designed specifically for the current crop of home consoles, and thus features fast, arcade-style combat and an easy to master control system. As the title more than suggests, commanding goblins is the order of the day. The game is set on the fantastical world of Ogriss, which is occupied by five goblin clans, each responsible for collecting resources in their territory for a massive machine being assembled by their human wizard master, Fraziel. Each clan is a specialised working force, well adapted to its unique environment and dedicated solely to the quest to complete the great machine. At the head of each clan is the titular commander. As the story has it, Fraziel has unexpectedly disappeared, leaving the goblin clans cut off both from him and each other. Chaos soon arises, as blame is cast about, dividing loyalties and sparking some good old inter-clan warfare. Your quest begins as you take on the role of Grommel, the Stonekrusher commander, and attempt to unite the clans and unravel the mystery surrounding Fraziel's disappearance. The gameplay throughout Goblin Commander is made up of a series of missions, in which you must first select one of the unique clan types, before waging war with your army of specialised goblin warriors and fearsome monsters. The action takes place within a diverse array of different environments - each richly detailed and destructible - from dark, subterranean caves, through lush woodland cities, to towering, storm-swept castles. As far as RTS games go, Goblin Commander is an extremely accessible title, having a strong emphasis on arcade-style action, and being aimed specifically at the console market. As such, it should prove popular both with fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

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Write a review of Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde

Reviewed by: JAMESCARRICK	Date: 27/09/2004	Rating:
This game is really good! I love real time strategy games like command and conquer but found playing them on my pc a pain as there was too much going on and don't like playing games on my laptop. So it's great to get a console game like this! It's designed for a console so the control system is easier than in most games of this type for the pc. You control less characters than in most games and they're automatically put in groups (or clans) and one button controls each clan. This is good as you can create a clan of short-range fighters and a clan of medium-range shooters and so on. Graphics are good too in that you can zoom in and out and rotate around a 3d world. If you like real time strategy games you might be pleasantly surprised by how good one is on your console!

Reviewed by: nickleteney	Date: 16/11/2004	Rating:
Really quite basic RTS, not recommended if you are a PC based RTS fan. It's probably OK if you are not played many and just want an easy different sort of game. AT the most complicated you control three races, each with max of 10 units all of which act as a group. At it's most frustrating you will have a race at the other side of the board involved in a battle and when you create reinforcements, as the get purchased they go hairing off to join the other units via the shortest route, totally outside your control. Compared to a real RTS there is little need or scope for strategy - just get resources ASAP, upgrade to best units and then march out and kick a$$ or get kicked. At its best it's fine for a quick brainless game, as long as you can stand the interminable, meaningless but non-bypassable cut scenes.

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