It's no doubt that downloadable, arcade-style games are picking up steam. And since their quality has been getting better and better, I'm sure this is a trend that's here to stay as more people open up to the idea of a shorter, cheaper, downloadable game.
Greed Corp., from Amsterdam-based W! Games, is the publisher's first game based in the Mistbound Universe. W! Games plans on building multiple games on this world, using the same story, artwork, and characters. This is a pretty interesting concept that both reduces costs for them, but also creates a connection between all the games. Mistbound should tie all of the publisher's games together and give them a sense of visual similarity. Check out the unveiling video of the Mistbound Universe below.
The basic premise of Greed Corp. is that we have basically destroyed the earth, and there are four corporations fighting for control of the little amount of land that's left. It's a turn-based strategy game and the goal is to be the last man standing. The world is represented in islands of floating hexagonal blocks that slowly crumble as they are sucked of their resources by the Harvesters you've built. You can also build armories, where you spawn your "Walkers" -- which are basically army infantry units -- and your Carriers to deposit Walkers in a far-off place. The fourth possible unit is your Cannon, which can blast the ground out from underneath your opponents.
The simplicity of having only four different units makes the game very easy to pick up and get to know quickly. But it also adds a lot to the strategy because you have to do more with less. For example, you might not initially think of the strategy of infiltrating the enemy's land to plant a harvester in the middle of everything and muck up the works, but it's a very effective strategy that you'll use often. It means the opponent has to move everything they have to somewhere else on the map, because the tile with the Harvester and those surrounding it will crumble to pieces, causing your opponent's units to fall down into oblivion.
Each "team" has its own unique look and audio style, but essentially they all function exactly the same. Your campaign starts as the "Freemen," who are basically the hippies whose units are tree-based and their harvesters are windmills (though, yes, they still do the same amount of damage). The campaign plays through quite a few different maps, and can vary between 1 and 3 opponents. Though essentially the gameplay is the same for every game, the variety of maps and the challenge of evolving a new strategy to outsmart the increasingly intelligent opponents will keep you enthusiastically playing along.
After you've gone through the first campaign as the Freemen, you then progress through the other three clans' missions as well. There's a story that goes along with each campaign, but it's neither very interesting nor very important. All you need to know is that the three clans have been warring with each other since humans destroyed the planet, and you're trying to kick their butts.
There is an online component to the game as well, but if you don't coordinate with a friend who has also purchased the game, you're likely going to be out of luck when trying to find a random game to connect to. There simply aren't enough people playing the game to be matched with anyone. I tried many different times but still came up with nothing -- only after I specified a set time with a friend who also had the game was I able to play online. The online games are basically the same as a single-player game; there are no gameplay differences. You're destroying everyone else's land, units, etc. You can also add in computer players to the game, which is a nice touch that adds a bit of difficulty. But I came to the conclusion that this is one of the few games where the single-player mode is actually more enjoyable than online. As you're progressing through the campaign, you have a discernible goal: finish this game so you can conquer the next. When you're just playing a quick game with a friend, you don't have that same sense of urgency. Unless, of course, you've coordinated some sort of Greed Corp. mega-tournament.
Greed Corp. is a pretty good-looking game. The textures are rich and the art direction gives the game an almost steampunk-type feel, like an intersection between old and new. This is the future but it also feels primitive. There isn't much in the way of animation, since there's such a limited number of interactions between the units and the land, but that's okay -- it doesn't need it. The jazzy, funky music certainly helps set the game's mood and it's quite enjoyable. I always found myself humming the music quietly after I'd finished playing the game. Though, of course, not loud enough for anyone else to hear. I hope.
Overall, Greed Corp. is exactly what I think an Xbox Live or PSN game should be: quick to learn, easy to pick up, and addictively fun. The graphics don't need to be top-notch, though it's an added bonus that this game looks pretty good. The chess-like strategy dynamic of the game is a fresh take on this type of strategy game, and it's simple enough that it doesn't get tedious. You'll be crumbling your opponents' blocks pretty often. And, man, is that satisfying.
nine
out of ten
