Verdict: Undoubtedly one of the best RPG games ever.
World in Conflict is a real-time strategy (RTS) set in 1989 that places you in command of US forces as they try to turn the tide following a surprise invasion by the Soviet Union, which, fearing its immanent collapse, has turned the Cold War into a real war.
The game kicks off with a Soviet assault on Seattle, and from the opening cut sequence (narrated by Alec Baldwin, no less), you know you're in for a corker.
A Soviet Hind attack helicopter flies up from inside a container ship (causing the local police no end of trouble), closely followed by swarms of Russian troops, tanks and armoured vehicles. You're then pitched head-first into this chaotic mlée, and the game does an excellent job of introducing you to the nuances of RTS combat without overwhelming you. This is no mean feat considering the vast array of units at your disposal, plus the number of support options that range from short-range artillery and air strikes to battleship barrages and even tactical nukes.
The single-player campaign features 15 different levels spanning the entire breadth of the USA. The maps are superbly executed and - borrowing from a technique pioneered in Call of Duty - the backgrounds are alive with action, including falling parachutists, explosions and coils of anti-aircraft fire.
Of course, this is just gravy for the main course, which is the combat. The battles are, quite literally, stunning. Every object in the game is fully destructible - buildings collapse, forests catch fire and cars are crushed under tank tracks. The units are modelled to the nth degree, and the effects from explosions and artillery shells are second to none. What's more, the game lets you zoom right in and view the action from a pseudo-first-person mode; we defy anyone not to flinch when a bullet whistles past their head.
There are various main and secondary missions on each map, including taking control of a strongpoint to rescuing stranded parachutists. Completing the secondary objectives usually results in bonus units, extra support and the obligatory medal at the end of each level.
Controlling the units is your standard RTS fare and the AI does a pretty good job when it comes to pathfinding. Units also have 'special' attacks that can be activated every so often, including High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds, smoke camouflage and so forth, although remembering to use them can be tricky in the heat of the battle. Our only complaint is the Russian troops' Kamikaze-style attacks, which involve infantry charging up a street instead of working its way through buildings.
Writing a review on World in Conflict was hard. This is partly because it's hard to describe the game without resorting to possibly overused words such as fantastic, addictive, stunning and so on, but mainly because to write the review, I had to stop playing the game. And I really didn't want to stop playing. This is a strong contender for Game of the Year and one of the best RTS games ever.
