Universal Combat - PC

Re-branded apparently so as to take on a more action-orientated approach, this latest space-based strategy/shooter from 3000AD was formerly known as Battlecruiser Generations. Now dubbed Universal Combat, the game represents the fifth release in the long-running series (that'd be 14 years) if you take into account a revised version of the original and a 'Gold Edition'. Well, in keeping with said re-branding, the game now focuses much of its attention of the actual action-based gameplay, whilst retaining all the advanced and exciting elements of its predecessors, in an attempt to appeal to the more casual gamer as well as the avid Battlecruiser fanatic.

As well as this new focus in direction, Universal Combat also boasts a proverbial aladdin's cave of new gameplay elements and revised features - so many in fact that it would be far more beneficial to simply list them rather than attempt to wax lyrical. So feast your eyes:

<ul>
<li>Overhauled graphics engine with DirectX 9 support!
<li>Graphics engine with various shader enhancements
<li>PTE Spec III terrain engine
<li>Flight dynamics engine with mouse flight controls
<li>Space/planetary and vehicular dynamics engine
<li>Revised and even more sophisticated AI kernel
<li>Stereo soundfx and fourteen new song tracks
<li>Interface and action focused control revisions
<li>High polygon count 3D assets
<li>Space stations & starbase classes
<li>Recon, Assault, Engineer and Medic marine classes
<li>22 first weapon weapons plus other items
<li>28 character models + over 1500 animation frames
<li>04 new careers for a total of 09 playable careers
<li>22 driveable vehicles
<li>12 controllable threat (e.g. SAM) units
<li>10 controllable naval units (ships, subs, LCACs etc)
<li>05 flyable planetary gunships
<li>54 flyable space crafts (fighters, carriers, cruisers etc)
<li>64 player multiplay support
<li>Advanced Campaign scenario
<li>15 Instant Action scenarios
</li>
</ul>

We are told that this is by no means the end of it either, with over 50 enhanced features apparently making their way into this latest incarnation of the popular space adventure. If space sims are your bag, on indeed if you relish the chance to blast the bejeezus out an endless supply of interplanetary craft, then you can't go wrong with Universal Combat.
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