I remember first playing this game, it was quite innovative for its time, with the multi-level RTS play with distinctive options for each of Orbit, Surface and Underground. The giant robots feel weighty and the combat animations for melee (including some paired combat animations!) with the sound design really give the ComBots a solid feel overall, being able to specialise or generalise your bot designs for different tasks also gives a good amount of planning in addition to the moment to moment play. Movement can sometimes feel a little on the slower side compared to modern titles, but on the other hand, this gives you a chance to react to changes in the state of play without a surprise strike costing you the game.(although it could certainly tip the scales) The different factions have fairly good identies, each matching their bot options pretty well, RimTech's Bots are well rounded and clean, MilAgro's are heavy looking bruisers, and Neuropa's are sleek and alien. The ability to salvage enemy tech to use for yourself helps give micro objectives during play, as a sudden opportunity for a strong bot part could help round out a faction weakness, or help exploit an enemy. Shoutout to the Mobile Wall, being able to fort up and then move your walls out as you expand your base is great, the dynamic walling is also well executed. That said, the game isnt without its flaws, the AI is a bit limited and the pathfinding can be pretty bad, hovertrucks in particular. The underground layer can be a slog to fight an entrenched foe, not being able to bring ComBots means lacking the ability to punch through strong defenses, generally if you have won in orbit and surface, the underground by itself is mostly a formality. This version of the game is also missing the original RimTech faction soundtrack. Overall I am having fun returning to this old classic, though a sequel or remaster would be amazing.
