Military Madness is an odd name for this game. Yes, there are Military aspects in the game, but madness? It suggests something zany and fun, but the madness seems to represent the complete frustration you will suffer at the hands of this game. At its heart it’s a very technical little turn based strategy game set in a futuristic space-faring world. Fans of strategy games will no doubt jump straight into the game, but boy, is it tough on players who are unfamiliar with the genre.
You would think a game like this might take the time to teach you the basics via some tutorial levels but no, it drops you right into the action with no introduction or back story. Do you struggle through and try to learn the hard way? Or take the time to read the lengthy help screen that is buried away in the option menu? Said screen is very informative, but it’s often better to show the gamer what to do in real time rather than weigh them down with page upon page of text. Once you have the basics dialed you can head out to the battlefield and test your skills. Expect to lose a few games until the technicalities of combat become second nature. You might find yourself digging through the help screens trying to find out why you just lost a whole unit of tanks in a fight that you thought would be a walkover.
You start each level with a base and a selection of infantry and vehicles ranging from tanks and transport to artillery and aircraft. You use these vehicles to either dispatch the enemy forces or take over their base, both guaranteeing you victory. There is a huge number of vehicles to get to grips with, almost too many. Each level gives you one or two new units but does not take the time to introduce them, so once again you find yourself trawling through the help screens trying to find out exactly what this little tank does. You really do have to know the unit’s strong points and the advantages terrain gives you, because if you don’t, you’re going to suffer a quick and embarrassing defeat. Certain vehicles are key to taking down specific enemies and if you use them the wrong way, that will be the last move they make.
Knowing your battlefield is very important. The terrain your unit is on when fighting heavily affects your survival: if your unit is on high ground or difficult terrain then you’ll get a defense bonus, for example. Other factors – such as how many enemies are around you – might influence whether or not you have support from your other squads. If combat is not your thing then you can fly your jet-pack-wearing infantry into the enemy base and occupy it. Not as easy as it sounds, I’m afraid, as the enemy AI is very clever (which of course is a good thing). They play a defensive game, shutting off any flanking opportunities and forcing you to grind it out in combat. Factories seem to be the key to survival, as they repair all the damage your units have taken. These can be captured using the same tactics as with an enemy base, and their strategic occupation will make long games much easier to survive.
The graphics are reasonably good for an arcade game but there is no variety: every environment is drab and barren with rocky crags and dull buildings that quickly become very tedious to play. This adds to the game’s main problem: it is simply not fun to play. With no real story to hook you in, it completely hinges on fun gameplay to draw you back – but it doesn’t exist. Sure, you get a rewarding feeling when you beat a level, but it’s not real enjoyment. If the developers just spent a little more time on polishing the game and making it more user-friendly, then it could have been a big hit. As it stands, Military Madness is a game purely for the hardcore fans of the genre. If you’re not, then you could still give the demo a shot. You never know, if you’re a patient gamer, then maybe this is what you’re looking for.
VideogameUK verdict: 6.5/10
