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| Reviewer | Platform | Publisher | Developer | Players | Screenshots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Bailey | PC | Just Play | Codo Technologies | 2 (Hotseat, E-mail, Internet) | Here |
| Requirements | Buy from Amazon.co.uk | ||||
| Min: 200Mhz Processor, Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP, 64MB RAM, 8MB graphics card, DirectX 7, valid e-mail account. | Click here to buy Laser Squad Nemesis. | ||||
Some of you out there may remember the classic X-COM series. If so, you will probably look at the screenshots and scream "rip-off!", before I point out to you the fact that Laser Squad Nemesis is designed and created by the people behind the original series. Like the last X-COM game (excluding the X-COM-based shooter: X-COM: Enforcer), X-COM: First Alien Invasion, aka E-mail X-COM, Laser Squad Nemesis is a play-by-email game. This means the game is turn based, and uses the e-mail system to pass on your moves to your opponent. The game then translates your orders and your opponents orders to provide you with a real-time view of the consequences, which you can pause and rewind in order to see where things went wrong and help you make your next move.
Laser Squad Nemesis was originally only available online, but as with other low-profile games, Just Play have brought it on disc to the European public. Although the disc contains no extras from the original online version, apart from having a copy on disc, and a manual on paper, it does retail at only £12.99, and contains a 3 month subscription that normally costs US$15 (about £8.30 at time of writing). Yes, Laser Squad Nemesis is a subscription game, but after your first 3 free months, you can choose a package from between US$7 (~£4) for 1 month to US$40 (~£22) for a year. Although not everyone will like this, the fact that the initial cost of the game is so low is appealing - especially compared to some MMPORPGS which charge full price of the game and then $12 monthly costs.
The game features three races (Laser Marines, Warbots, and Spawn) and a simple story, and the game is straight forward to play. After registering, you select your opponent by choosing an e-mail address of anyone you know you that you want to play (registered or not), put in the name of a registered user, or let the system pick an opponent with you. The ability to let you play with other people who don't even own the game, albeit with only three maps, is a great inclusion. It means you can play with any of your friends, and all they have to do is pick up the client software and join in the fun. It's great for ensuring you will always find someone to play, and is also an excellent method of promoting the game in a sort of electronic 'word of mouth' style. In game you get to choose your race (Marines only for non-registered users), and then you are able to set up your squad with the limited points available. After this you provide your units with orders, done in a usual turn-based manner of picking options which tell you how long that turn will take to complete. Each turn provides you with ten seconds of real-time action, so you need to plan wisely, and take advantage of the range of orders on offer. For the less confident, or those who don't want to choose options blindly, there's a 'Test Orders' mode, which plays out your orders, although it cannot take into account the actions of your enemy, aside from the automatic fire-on-sight.
The graphics engine in LSN isn't going to push your PC - as you can see from the low minimum specifications - but the 3D accelerated engine does allow you to zoom up pretty close on the action, or gain a wider perspective with a much further away viewpoint. The animation of the soldiers appears to be well done, and the effects of combat are pretty impressive - laser shots, explosions, and smoke are all present, joined by some rather nice sound effects. Although, aside from the selection beeps, this is all the sound that is heard - there is no music playing in the game, so you may want to open MusicMatch or iTunes in the background if you can't stand the near-silence (and considering the relatively low RAM requirements, this shouldn't be a problem).
So far I've talked about everything that comes right out of the box, but heading to the official site provides a patch released in mid-December which considerably adds to the game. V2.28 has two new key features: a new race (which actually appeared in V2.24 a short while before), and LSN: Web. The new race, called the Greys, is a bunch of aliens that adds quite a lot to the game due to the completely new units (including a flying saucer) and adds variation to online combat. The new LSN: Web feature actually allows the game to be played without the use of e-mail. No longer do you need for your moves to be e-mailed to your opponent; instead they are uploaded to a webpage, where your opponent will log into, check their latest stats, download your moves in a file, and get playing straight away. It still manages to allow you to take your time, while also getting you straight into game. As stated, LSN: Web has lists of rankings, as well as games in progress, and finished games. The creators also promise the ability to decline challenges, issue challenges and vote on maps "in the near future".
| Graphics | Not much to the engine, but the 3D acceleration does allow for zooming, great animation, and wonderful effects. | 6/10 |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | Great fun - the play by e-mail lets you play the game at your own pace. It's simplicity and the relaxed way of playing makes it online gaming for the masses, and not just dedicated gamers. | 8/10 |
| Value | At the time of writing, we did not have a value for money ranking. | 0/10 |
| Lifespan | Although there are no single player missions outside of the tutorial, the online play will keep you going for some time. The ability to play your friends, even when they don't own the game (albeit with limited options) is a great idea. | 8/10 |
| Audio | There isn't actually any music, and although the sound effects are good, it does feel rather too quiet. | 4/10 |
| Overall | It may not be complicated, but the tactics are there to keep you interested. Laser Squad Nemesis is an online title which is addictive, but doesn't need to keep you glued to your screen for large lengths of time. It's the online game you can play at your own pace. | 8/10 |
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