Urban Assault

Urban Assault is one of those games that sounds like somebody at Microsoft looked at a real-time strategy game and said, “Yeah, but what if I could jump into the tank myself?”

That is basically the hook. Urban Assault combines action gameplay with strategy, letting you command an army from an overhead map while also jumping directly into vehicles from a first-person cockpit perspective. One minute you are thinking like a general, the next you are driving a tank, flying a helicopter, or blasting away in a jet like the whole war depends on your terrible aim.

The game is set in a post-apocalyptic 3D world and gives players control of 15 different combat vehicles, including tanks, jeeps, bombers, helicopters, jets, satellites, and more. There are over 40 levels, 35 enemy vehicles, city environments, resource management, technology upgrades, and enough moving parts to keep strategy fans busy without putting action players to sleep. Urban Assault is scheduled for release in summer 1998 on CD-ROM for around $54.95.

Installation was easy, which is always a good start. Once the game launched, it opened with a nearly movie-like video that explains the story and world. The intro actually grabbed my attention, which is more than I can say for a lot of game intros that feel like homework with explosions.

You begin inside a Host Station, which acts as your command center. From there, you can control three mounted guns, create new units, and jump directly into those units to control them from a first-person perspective. This is where Urban Assault starts to separate itself from the usual strategy pack. You are not just clicking icons and watching little machines do the work. You can actually become the machine doing the work.

Urban Assault uses the Direct3D API, and the game looks great. It can run on a Pentium 133, but it also supports newer Pentium II systems with MMX, so faster machines should get a smoother and better-looking experience. The environments are one of the best parts. The cities look convincing, with over 100 different building types, and you can shoot those buildings down and watch them crumble. That never gets old. Strategy games love to talk about war and destruction, but too many of them make the world feel like a painted board. Urban Assault gives you a world that reacts when you start tearing it apart.

The gameplay is easily one of the strongest parts of the demo. The best idea here is the combination of command and direct control. You can manage the battle from above, then jump into a vehicle and handle the dirty work yourself. That makes every fight feel more personal. If your units are not getting the job done, fine, do it yourself.

Each vehicle controls differently, which is both a strength and a problem. Tanks, helicopters, jets, and jeeps do not all handle the same, which is good because they should not feel the same. The downside is that the controls can be tough to learn at first. Still, once you get used to them, the game gets much more fun. There is a learning curve, but it is not the kind that makes you want to throw the CD-ROM out the window.

The sound does a good job of keeping the game exciting. When buildings collapse and weapons start going off all around you, Urban Assault sounds like a battlefield instead of a quiet strategy board with occasional beeps.

Urban Assault supports Internet play for up to four players through Microsoft Gaming Zone. That could be a major feature if it works well. A game like this seems built for multiplayer, especially with players commanding armies and jumping into vehicles themselves.

Urban Assault is a strong action strategy game with a lot of promise. The mix of real-time strategy and first-person vehicle combat gives it an identity of its own, and the large number of missions, vehicles, and enemy types should provide hours of gameplay. At around $55, it is definitely worth watching this summer.