April 12, 1999 Web posted at: 1:48 p.m. EDT (1748 GMT) by Jason Samuel

From...

Braveheart screenshots

previous next

(IDG) -- Being a real time strategy nut, when I talked to Eidos about coming by to check out their upcoming games the title I had to take a look at was Braveheart. With a movie license like that, people are going to be interested, and knowing it was a real-time strategy game, it had me even more interested.

There has been some confusion in the early coverage regarding what type of game Braveheart will be, and I'm here to clear up the confusion. It's two games in one package--both RTS, but in different ways. There are two facets to this game;one is akin to the Civilization type RTS, the second is 3D-combat/real-time strategy. Players will have the option to play either, or the full game.

The story of Braveheart is the history of Scotland: the clans aren't united, the English under King Edward I, "Longshanks," ally themselves with some clans and send garrisons to others. Scotland needs a king and it's time for one man to lead. Do you think you're ready?

The player will begin by choosing his clan. There are some 235 separate, named clans in Scotland at the beginning of the game, but you will choose amongst the larger 16. Each clan has a stretch of land to call its own, along with a population of clansmen and a few leaders. The leaders of some clans you will recognize from the movie (William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, for example).

You'll control the production, settlements, diplomacy, warfare, and many other aspects of your mini-nation in a fashion similar to many other RTS games, from a top-down, 2D perspective. Some clans will be your enemy, some clans your allies, and some neutral. Your goal in the campaign setting will be to unite the clans through diplomacy, warfare, or any other means available. If you unite the Clans, you may then change history even more radically, for jolly old England herself becomes open territory. You might be able to make Britain a Scottish holding.

MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE
	IDG.net home page
Games.net home page
Download free PC software fast
Cheat codes! Never die! Gain secret powers!
More games reviews at Games.net
Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net
		IDG.net's desktop PC page
		IDG.net's portable PC page
IDG.net's Windows software page
IDG.net's personal news page
Questions about computers? Let IDG.net's editors help you
Subscribe to IDG.net's free daily newsletter for computer geniuses (& newbies too)
Search IDG.net in 12 languages
News Radio
	Fusion audio primers
	Computerworld Minute

During the game any combat that takes place can be left to the computer to calculate or commanded by the player from the battlefield. This is when the game switches over to a 3D tactical-warfare game. You control the clansmen on the field of battle (if you so choose) in a completely 3D polygon-based environment with up to 700 units on the battlefield at once, though that might be scaled back due to hardware limitations. Every unit is completely 3D-based--no sprites here! You decide on the formations and the methods of attack; you pull men back as they are wounded or charge with the berserkers. (Yes, there will be berserkers, but you only get them from two of the small clans and only if they are part of your alliance.)

Multiplayer won't involve the campaign model. Braveheart is simply too big, Eidos felt, for people to play an entire game in multiplayer, but the 3D engine warfare will be available for multiplayer. And you will be able to save your armies and their experience so that your men can grow progressively stronger.

I'm not certain of the musical score that will accompany the game, but I was able to hear the narration and some exciting in-game sounds. Confused? Usually narration isn't that important, but here you get a bit of the movie right on your computer: Angus MacFadyen (who played Robert the Bruce) provides the voice. Hearing his descriptions of the clans and his in-game soldier cries was a real treat. Along with MacFadyen's voice you will see up to 25 minutes of full-motion video and footage from the movie itself.

Perhaps it was the full-motion video, the voice of MacFadyen, the fertile ground of history, or the blending of two real-time strategy genres, or maybe all of those combined, but when I walked away from this game I was excited. It was the best-looking movie-to-video-game port I've seen in a long time. Once I can get my hands on a playable build I'll let you know how if it plays as good as it looks.