Metal Marines

After a massive Anti-Matter chain-reaction accident, the shattered Earth is in chaos. The only order is a cruel empire ruled by a former Federation general. This dictator's only opponents are you and your Metal Marine warrior robots.

You must take the Earth back. Your orders are to defeat the Federal forces and destroy enemy HQs around the world. Prepare to move out!

ProTip: Listen to any advice given to you, especially in the early campaigns. It will prove to be invaluable.

Military Mindset

Metal Marines is a tough strategy game that calls for hardcore tactical thinking. You assemble a force of awesome offensive and defensive high- tech, sci-fi weapons, and then you go head-to-head with your nemesis. Once you move individual weapons systems into position, you begin turn-based combat on 3/4-overhead-view battlefields. The computer fights the fights with a nearby enemy and displays the carnage with action-packed animation. Hopefully, you chose the superior firepower.

Once you locate an enemy base, soften up its defenses with a heavy missile attack, then clean up the mess with your Metal Marines.

You scroll around the terrain to select enemy targets for your missiles as well as landing zones for your Marines to do the voodoo that they do so well. Your opponent has the same weapons of destruction, so developing a defensive stance is equally important. You must also build and support your forces, so you construct weapon facilities and energy plants, too.

Marines in Control

The controls in Metal Marines look tough, but after the first couple of campaigns, they're easy. You choose your weapons from an easy-to-read menu, and then you scroll around the battlefield and place them. Setting up battles is a simple point-and-click affair.

During the early stages of your campaigns, check the enemy's defenses by bombarding their coastline with missiles. You may even get lucky and blast a site or two.

The one notable control drawback is a lack of control over your Metal Marines once they've landed. This is especially frustrating when you realize you've landed next to a gun pod rather than an AA missile battery, and you watch your 'bot turn into Swiss cheese.

Since gun turret pods in the ground can blast your Marine, try to take 'em out with missiles before you land. If you must land in an area that has several pods, choose a location that's out of range and take out the guns one at a time.

Usually, strategy games lack hot graphics or sound, but not Metal Marines. From the launching rockets to the growing military installations, the graphics are sharp and the animation sizzles.

The sound and music, too, are above reproach. Explosions and high-tech gunfire rock your world. Likewise, the jazzy, symphonic music jams.

Gold Medal Metal

Metal Marines scores a victory. It's a must for all strategy buffs, and anyone else who wants to get their mind into hard-hitting warfare. Do you have the "metal" to be one of these marines?

The action gets wild in Metal Marines, the futuristic new war simulation from Namco. Players must defend against enemies attempting to take over their island nation with an incredible arsenal of missiles, robots, mines, and a whole lot more.

You can build factories and energy units to gear up for combat, or send in your ultimate weapon - the Metal Marines. As Namco aptly put it, "Metal Marines is the missing link between action and simulation games. Join the evolution!"

One of the neatest games in a long time is Metal Marines. It is a military sim that is quite unlike any other. You have control over a wide range of deadly weapons, including mechs. The object is quite simple - outlast your enemy who is trying to destroy you.

To totally eradicate your foe, you can launch missile strikes, or better yet, have a much assault team demolish his bases. You have so many options at your disposal, the possibilities are endless.

Metal Marines is a good game to try, especially since there are so few military sims. The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the game is solid, and a lot of fun to play. It's a game worth trying out, even if you don't like war simulations.