Universe at War: Earth Assault Critic Reviews

Once again, the gents and ladies at Petroglyph haven't disappointed. However, there's still nothing groundbreaking to be had here and due to the aforementioned slip ups, the game failed to achieve its full potential. But it comes very close.

Most video games use up all their gameplay ideas in the first few hours, but Universe is always offering something new. While all three races perform the basics of strategy games — gathering resources, building weapons and finding and destroying enemy bases — the way they approach these tasks is quite different.

Overall Universe at War can be a lot of fun for strategy fans. However, some annoyances and the lack of any real innovation may be enough to turn off the more casual player or those who are burned out on the standard strategy game paradigm.

It's far from perfect, but Universe of War accomplishes what few RTS games have dared to attempt--introducing three sides that have completely unique gameplay experiences.

Universe at War is a diamond that is a bit rough, a game with great potential, but it is sabotaged by the LIVE system and some elements which can be repaired in an ulterior patch (the bugs, the limited zoom and the path-finding).

Online play suffers from the Games For Windows Live disease while the single player game is a tad short and heavily scripted.

Playing through the single-player story-driven campaign or fighting a real-time global campaign is fun. Multiplayer is somewhat bare-bones, but the matches themselves are entertaining enough.

When a sleeper turns out to "only" be recommendable to hardcore fans, something must have gone wrong. In the case of UaW, it's the realization of the sensational ideas and hugely announced features, that, in the end, apparently didn't totally work out. Yet UaW offers RTS-gameplay at a very high level, that may help to overcome the waiting time for "StarCraft 2."

Finally a new RTS where you can discard all the usual strategies. The makers of Universe at War offer suprisingly refreshing and innovative real-time battles.

Universe At War: Earth Assault is a finely shaped game with some underlying issues to be sure, mainly UI related, but Petroglyph’s brand of cheesy action humour and the great diversity of strategy, especially when playing against other red blooded players, can make war a guilty pleasure again.

Universe at War feels initially too much like blast from the past. Mainly thanks to some fun units and interesting background setting, in the end UAW is an OK game. No less, no more.

Universe at War takes a lot of chances, and most of them pay off in the form of a unique real-time strategy experience. Just grin and bear the campy story and you'll find plenty to love here.

Universe at War is a great, well-balanced design that's marred by a predictable sci-fi concept and a disappointing campaign.

Universe at War is a good title, but it isn't without it's flaws. As-is, though, Universe at War is a comfortable ride.

Online is where Universe at War: Earth Assault comes into its own. It's not overly complex, but it offers plenty of depth with all of the various options and customizing features.

On one hand it has plenty of great ideas and promise, but it lacks that polish that helps elevate games towards greatness. I'd still recommend that gamers check out Universe At War but it's a shame that it doesn't quite live up to its potential.

With some neat spins on the RTS formula along with three excellent races, Universe at War is a good addition to the genre. A few problems, such as spotty AI and a predictable campaign keep it from being a classic.

The distinct factions make for some interesting encounters and require noticeably different strategies on the battlefield. This makes for increased replayability and definitely ups the fun factor. At the same time, it is marred by some longtime issues inherent in the genre.

If you like your strategy games with a sense of fun about them, while still offering some actual strategy, Universe at War: Earth Assault should speak to you.

A decent start to the inevitable franchise, Universe at War's solid Campaign and range of game modes for both online and offline RTS action offers enough for players to get on with. The fact that it also introduces new features such as dynamic tactical upgrades to units on the fly also helps to make Petroglyph's latest stand out.