Mytran Wars

Mytran Wars - (PSP)
Developer: Storm Region
Format: PSP
Genre: Strategy


Retro gaming rules in this enjoyable sci-fi strategy title



If you think that the 21st Century is off to a bad start with all this Recession nonsense then wait till you get an eyeful of what happens in a couple of hundred years. Well according to the plot of Mytran Wars at least - a new turn based strategy game designed specifically for Sony's handheld PSP platform.

It's the 23rd century and credit crunches are the least of the populations' worries as the planet Earth finally breathes its last breath and runs dry of all natural resources. Fossil fuels, drinking water and other natural resources are all but depleted as Earth stands united under the rule of a high presidium of multinational corporations. When the planet Pythar is discovered, it soon becomes clear that the most valuable resources on it aren't the ore reserves. Instead, it is a network of naturally existing energy running criss-crossed (in 'ley lines') across the surface of the planet that provides limitless energy. However the planet is populated by Mytrans, ghostly inhabitants and rightfully a tad miffed about the new human invasion. Thus we have a 'classic' style 3D turn-based strategy title with two equally matched opponents battling it out over sprawling alien landscapes.

The battle area (of which players will spend a bulk of their time) is an 'old school' tiled map, where you and your opponents take turns at moving and attacking each other. There are 30 missions with roughly 35 hours of single player game play. There's also a wealth of unlockable extras and over 200 researchable items on six different tech-trees for those that want to get armed to the teeth with the right weaponry for any battle. And on that note, there's four campaigns with the ability for the player to lead either faction into the fray. Not bad for a title that can be popped in your pocket

Mech customisation is a big part of this game and there'll be a fair amount of head scratching as the interface isn't as cleanly laid out as we would like to see. Equally, the slower turn-based nature of this title isn't going to appeal to folks who like immediate action found in the likes of the Real Time Strategy genre. But for what it does - which is the provision of a robust, depth filled sci-fi strategy title, it does very well. An ideal way to waste a few hours on a boring train journey.