Published on 2/26/00

Earth 2150 Preview

Introduction:

The anticipation of Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun and Total Annihilation: Kingdoms had kept the real-time strategy genre on hold for quite some time. However, there are many other real-time strategy games that are just as good, and fortunately break away from the tired RTS mold. TopWare Interactive has been working on a 3D-accelerated real-time strategy game entitled Earth 2150: Escape from the Blue Planet. Earth 2150 is futuristic game that takes the genre to new heights visually and in terms of gameplay. Exciting new units, unique features, and outstanding graphics add to this game's already captivating story line. Earth 2150: Escape from the Blue Planet is the best bet to override any of this years upcoming RTS's, TopWare has a secret weapon to attack the real-time strategy genre. So lets see what we can show you about this game after playing around with the Alpha Build of the game for quite some time.

Story and Gameline:

Earth 2150: Escape from the Blue Planet takes place far into the future where Earth has become a dreary and desolate wasteland. Three factions rise above the others and begin to fight for power, money, territory, and minerals. However, the plot must be learned before the gamer can fully understand Earth 2150. Since only TopWare could do justice to their rich story, this plot background reveals how the three opposing factions were created and the driving force for this all-out war.

In the year 2002 a space research corporation named Lunar Corporation was founded. The company's goals, according to its brochure, were to introduce humans to the glories of space travel, to monopolize space exploration and, above all, the exploitation of space. During the crisis of 2012 - 2014, the Lunar Corporation absorbed the old NASA structure, inheriting all its patented space technology. In 2034 the company completed construction of the first city in orbit. They called it Orbital City 1. There followed a real stampede of company employees and their families to leave the political and economic chaos on Earth in favor of the safety and security of the newly built city

As the situation on Earth continued to deteriorate, all those who could afford to do so left. The population of Orbital 1 increased to the point where a second city was needed. Construction began in 2036, but was never completed. In 2037 the first permanent base was set up on the Moon. In 2084, when the Great War broke out on Earth, all the residents of Orbital 1 were evacuated to a city on the Moon called Luna 1. Thereafter, the Lunar Corporation broke off all contacts with Earth. Since then it has followed an independent development path. Several years later a second orbital city was founded, Luna 2.

After several years of war, Earth lay in ruins. All authority and power centers were destroyed and the planet descended into total anarchy. The long process of restoring the old order began some years later. In America, 12 of the previous states were reorganized into the United Civilized States (UCS). In Eastern Europe and Asia, representatives of the Khun clan began building their own dynasty. This strong clan had access to post-Soviet nuclear stockpiles, which gave them a heck of a lot of weight in negotiations with their neighbors. A new country, called the Eurasian Dynasty (ED) was proclaimed soon afterwards. Both the ED and the UCS were rapidly consolidating and developing their respective territories. By the year 2120 no other power on Earth could match them, and they soon ruled over all areas still supporting life. After years of territorial expansion it became clear that the rulers of these two empires were still power-hungry. War reared its ugly head. In the year 2147 the unavoidable war between the ED and UCS adversely affected the Earth’s solar orbit. At first the symptoms were minimal, causing only slight environmental changes.

Then the first signs of impending disaster were correctly interpreted in the year 2150 by the Lunar Corporation’s space scientists. They calculated that within the next few years the distance between the Earth and the Sun would shrink by nearly 17%, causing gravitational forces to rip open the planet’s outer crust, destroying all life forms on its surface. Now the only hope was a mass migration from Earth. But the war had forced all scientific activity into the realm of weaponry - space flight research had been almost totally ignored. But now all available resources were poured into the project. It soon became clear that the only escape route was to Mars. But settling so many people there would require enormous material resources. None of the races had the resources to do this. So they knew that not all of Earth’s inhabitants would manage to escape from the planet in time. Their response was sadly all too typical. Rather than joining forces to avoid disaster, another murderous war broke out over the few remaining resources. The heads of the Lunar Corporation soon decided to start exploring the Earth for the materials they needed. Doing this meant, of course, joining in the war......

Real-time strategy games have not been very strong on progressive stories nor have they been very in-depth. Always using opposing factions to ignite a struggle for power, real-time strategy games have always had something in common. Earth 2150 intertwines a futuristic background with these common real-time strategy elements to create a breathtaking story. Not only will this story take the gamer to new heights, more advanced weapons, vehicles, buildings, and technology can be developed because of the epoch it takes place in. TopWare has carefully planned the history of Earth 2150 which allows them to create sturdy basis for a very appealing story within Earth 2150's gameplay. Hopefully it will revitalize the overused real-time strategy.

Author:
Jason"TheCorp"Joseph

Type:
Game Preview

Developer:
TopWare Interactive

Publisher:
Mattel Interactive/SSI

Expected Release:
Q1/2 2000

Multiplayer:
Yes