14 DAY TRIAL // 
After bringing the first 3D features into the world of RTS gamers with one of the most praised titles in the history of computer games, Total Annihilation, Chris Taylor founded Gas Powered Games. Leading the new development team (well, not entirely new, as some of his former colleagues at Cavedog Entertainment came along) he took the step into the RPG realm by creating another successful series, Dungeon Siege. Just as the team was enjoying the glory that came as Dungeon Siege II released, Gas Powered Games also announced that a new RTS title was in work. This was of course to be the spiritual successor of TA. It took him 10 years to think of a worthy sequel. Actually, it couldn't really take the TA name further as Atari still held the rights to it. They needed a new name, a name that would get everybody's attention and it would point out that it was going to be a new milestone in the RTS history. Hence Supreme Commander was announced.
Story & History Following their dreams of space colonization, starting from 2009 humans take small steps into a new era of technological achievements. With major understandings in Quantum Physics around the year 2018 begins the Quantum Age. From transporting a mere cesium atom in 2025 to eventually depositing a human team on Neptune's moon Triton in 2061 the perfecting of Quantum Tunnel technology keeps human scientists busy all the time. By 2284 the Prime Worlds had already been claimed (these were the first 16 colonies). 32 years later comes the First Great Expansion as the Prime Worlds start their own colonization.
By the 29th century, Earth gained control of as many as 1,280 systems using the so called quantum tunneling. But these worlds were scattered all through the galaxy and the Colonial Command forces proved to be incapable of keeping the situation under control. History marks the year 2819 as the beginning of the Infinite War. As the Earth Empire crumbled in ashes a new government vows to bring hope to the abandoned worlds - the United Earth Federation. The Aeon Illuminate order aspires to bring "The Way" to the galaxy or total destruction making use of the advanced philosophy and technology of an extinct extraterrestrial race. As if this wasn't enough, the computer enhanced Symbionts that make the Cybran Nation join the war relating on their proficient intellectual abilities. They fight for emancipation and a society of their own where they are no longer slaves for the UEF (that fears their ease of interfacing with technology).
It's the year 3844 and it's time for you to prove that you're a Supreme Commander: put an end to the 1000 years long war. The stakes are high - the faith of the entire galaxy is in your capable hands. Yet, you'll discover that not one of these factions is really "evil". They all fight in the name of the highest moral values - peace, freedom, security, a better life.
Concept You play the part of the latest addition to the army of your chosen faction. While you are "brand new technology", you're still a rookie when it comes to really fighting wars. You start off as a lieutenant and as you successfully complete the missions you move up in ranks. The maps will unfold for you as you secure the various mission objectives and your adversaries will increase in number as this happens.
Having only two resources makes your job at managing supplies a little easier, but not by much, as both resources (mass and energy) are required to build up your military. Yet the game truly succeeds at focusing mainly on strategic and tactical combat. The amazing zoom level will prove of great value to your military campaign allowing you to see the entire battlefield and even select the desired units from the satellite view as every unit type comes with a distinctive icon.
Supreme Commander is all about massive battles over huge areas and incredible effects. Each player is entitled to up to 1000 units (well, buildings also count as units, but I really doubt you'll reach the cap limit due to those). Each faction allows the production of land, air and naval units (of course you'll have to build different factories for each of them) and you will be required all along your missions to combine at least two of them for an appropriate defense or attack force. The higher the level of the factory the more advanced units will be in store for you.
Gameplay Since all three factions are basically human it was a tough decision on whom to play first. "The United Earth Federation seeks to reunite the scattered remnants of humanity under a single banner, so that all of Earth's children may once again live with order, justice and strength". Seems like a good place to start. I was assigned to aid in any way I can a weird Colonel Arnold that keeps messing his gates and I find myself all alone on the new planet and besides he orders me around to destroy the enemy's commander unit. Well, don't really worry about it 'cause you'll get the hang of building up all kind of units and defenses in no time. The UEF offers you a very good tutorial on how to make use of the land units and a few extremely useful tactics at surprising your enemy by dodging a frontal attack. Of course along the six missions of the mini-campaign you get to use all sort of units. Don't let the relatively small number of missions make you think this will be a short career. That couldn't more far off. Each mission consists of more objectives. Once you get a good swing at the nearby enemies the map quickly unfolds and more objectives show up. Each campaign mission can cost you a good three - four hours of play time so do remember to save from time to time as there is no auto quick save until you finish it all.
The first missions of Cybran concentrate on getting you used to the air tactics better in their attempts to free the enslaved Symbionts of their nation. The Aeon Illuminate who worships The Way that the extinct extraterrestrial race has left them as a legacy will get you better acquainted with the naval tactics.
Each of the six missions available in single player for every faction will start from a small map and unfold it as you complete your objectives. The only thing that hinders a little your gaming experience is the population cap. Unfortunately, buildings are also included here and if you're a defensive player you may find yourself in the situation of not being able to get more units out of the factories since you built too many defensive structures on the way to the enemy bases. No matter, the battles are truly epic and you'll be delighted with huge maps and the AI will keep dropping attack units in your base until you drop him for good.
Video All animations are great to look at, even if it's just a pack of engineers constructing a building or a new unit is manufactured by the nearby factory. Each faction has a specific way of constructing. The UEF in example builds a 3D wireframe schematics and then fills it up from bottom to top. The Aeon seems to erect their buildings from sand in a continuous swirl (that is created by a beam of particles coming from the constructors), while the Cybran engineers send small laser equipped planes that sculpt the building from all necessary angles.
I have to say that the zoom level is absolutely amazing, especially the transition between close views and sky high views of small squares symbolizing the buildings and units. Another eye thrilling aspect is the firing visual effects. Everything explodes beautifully and leaves big (smaller sometimes) craters in the ground. The best explosions take place as the commanding unit (or a second commanding unit) dies. This is sort of a nuclear explosion, causing a great amount of nearby casualties and it's visible even on the sky high map view.
Sound Not really that much to say about the sound. There is only the sound of first-class units moving around, opening facilities that allow finished units to be greeted by the new world and of course lots of laser shooting and explosions. Don't worry you'll be busy concentrating on the next action to take anyway. While you're not on a mission (so you're still receiving orders) you'll enjoy a very good voice acting with veridical voices suited for the personality of each character they play.
Multiplayer Well the single player campaigns are just preparations for the real challenge - multiplayer games. The amount of units to construct, the size of the maps and the appealing look all guarantee you a most exciting experience. The multiplayer allows for countless strategies so any RTS fan will be fully pleased on up to 8 opponents maps. The only downside is getting to the multiplayer screen. You'll have to start the browser specially designed for this and it will in turn start the game for you. Not a moment sooner can you jump directly from the single player game to the nerve bending excitement that the multi offers.
Conclusion Supreme Commander manages to be one of the best war games on the market, capturing the exact feeling that any faction caught in the fire of war might feel - each feels like they are right and they lead the battles in the spirit of the highest believes, yet not one of them can be thought of being truly evil, but in the eyes of its enemies. The outstanding zoom function also makes the battles feel more veridical and also proves that a courageous attempt at implementing such a thing and pushing the limits much further than ever before can undoubtedly turn the odds to GPG. Supreme Commander is definitely a must have not just for every Total Annihilation fan, but for all strategy gamers, because it seems to be quite a milestone in the history of RTS.
