Wrath Unleashed
Score: 75% ESRB: Teen Publisher: LucasArts Developer: The Collective Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Turn-Based Strategy
Graphics & Sound: Remember Archon? Sure you don't. Don't feel bad, very few people I've talked to do. But, it is apparent that someone at Lucasarts, or more Precisely, The Collective, does. For those whose memory might need a kick-start, or a fresh start, Archon took the strategy of chess and fused it with mythology and its own unique battle style. Wrath Unleashed follows this same route, only it brings the mechanics of arcade fighting games into the fold. The end result is good, but falls short of what it could have been. When in strategy (or map) view, there is really not much to look at. The board is made up of hexagons, each with a smattering of color. The figures that march around the board aren't much to look at either. But really, what more could you want? The main purpose of the map view is to give you a way to move your pieces around the board, so this is forgivable. It is not until the game goes into battle view that we see any detail. Upon entering combat, those small hexes become vast arenas and sport all kinds of detail. The once bland figures also become nicely animated, brightly colored, detailed creatures. Honestly, the graphics are not a shining achievement for the Xbox, but they don't look all that shabby either and show off some great character designs. This is an aspect some people will either love or hate. A number of mythical creatures are represented in the game, but they don't typically look how we usually see them. I personally enjoyed the new twist, but I also know a few who did not. But, if this is enough to completely ruin the game for you, then its time to move out of mom's basement. Special effects and sound help to finish off a nice package. Special attacks and the sounds of combat are nice and make the battles feel as big as they are supposed to be. Voice work is good, but can seem a little too over-dramatic at times. The soundtrack that accompanies the action adds to this 'big' feel, and features a sweeping score that is reminiscent of movies like Conan or Red Sonja.
Gameplay: Wrath Unleash depicts the struggle between four elemental overlords. The dark gods Durlock and Helamis plot to overthrow the light gods Aenna and Epothos and plunge the world into chaos and darkness (isn't that always the case?). This results in an epic battle where you take up the mantle of one of these gods and participate in the struggle. There is a lot to like and hate in Wrath Unleashed. First off, the game is a turn-based strategy game, so if that doesn't float your boat, then this is not the game for you. The game is split up into four main modes: Campaign, Battle, Versus and Team Fighter. Campaign takes you through the game's story as you complete objectives in order to advance your chosen god's agenda. Battle is a quick play mode where you select an army and square off against the AI or a human opponent. Versus mode removes the strategy element from the game and presents just the fighting elements. Finally, Team Fighter lets you build your own team of fighters and duel in the fighting arena. Battle and Versus modes also serve as multiplayer modes and, due to a steep difficulty level found in the single-player experience, are actually where you'll have the most fun with the game. It is a shame that Xbox Live support wasn't offered since this could be a fun game to play online. The gameplay is what really sets Wrath Unleashed apart from other games. After selecting which god you wish to follow, you will be granted armies based on that god's element. With this elemental alignment comes spells and creatures that are endowed with those abilities. Your army make up will also depend on whether you choose to align with the order or chaos. Games begin in a strategy mode. Here you see your entire army on the battlefield and move them from hex to hex trying to take control of as much land and holdings (citadels and temples) as you can. When in strategy view, you can also cast spells to inflict damage on opponents or grant you special movement bonus (such as allowing you to teleport between hexes). The strategic elements found in Wrath Unleashed are excellent and serve as one of the game's high points. The strategy elements are turn-based, which require patience and a lot of planning. Like chess, you have to not only think about your next three moves, but your opponent's as well. If another player controls a hex, then you must take it from him. Unlike chess, where you can simply move into the square, Wrath Unleashed places you in a one-on-one fighting game for control of the hex.
Difficulty: If anything, Wrath Unleashed reminded me how much I hate playing strategy intensive games against AI driven opponents. Though I wouldn't even begin to call myself a half-decent chess player, I feel I can also hold my own against some humans. This was not a feeling I got when playing against the AI in Wrath. I'm all for a challenge, but most of the time it felt like my opponents had too much of an advantage over me. It was very hard to predict what the AI would do next and even harder to fool or trap my opponents. The learning curve is also a little steep, since there are lots of little intricacies for players to learn.
Game Mechanics: There are a number of mechanics to pay attention to while playing Wrath Unleashed. Again, this falls in to that you'll either love it or hate it category since getting into all of the details can become a little overwhelming. In addition to calculating enemy moves, you also have to pay attention to the terrain type, your creature's range and your mana pool. You also have to keep in mind what spells your spellcasters can use. This all ties into how much land and how many structures you control. The fighting element is, unfortunately, the weak link in Wrath Unleashed. Although it would probably be asking too much to expect something with the depth of Street Fighter or Tekken, combat feels a little too one-sided. Each unit has both melee and magic attacks. Melee attacks come in two flavors, light and heavy, and are your primary means of attack during battles. The magic system is nice, but forgettable at times due to the speed of some battles. Units can also dodge and strafe. Arena battles also bring some new mechanics to the dance. If you challenge someone in their home turf, they are given an advantage point in the battle. In addition, there are also environmental hazards you have to deal with. As I played through each battle, it often felt like the battle was being decided more because of advantages than skills. Combat isn't so bad that it is not enjoyable, but I never felt like the game moved beyond anything other than a simple button masher. Wrath Unleashed is a novel idea that unfortunately lacks that final spit and polish to make it a real winner. Hopefully these elements can be tweaked and cleaned up in time for a sequel, something the game, or at least the concept, definitely deserves.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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