Foreword

Until to the notion of part three connected to the series of strategy games Empire Earth (EE) especially with dual: on the one hand Empire is the series, which previously didn’t make it, on the large model and the genre reference Earth par excellence, age of Empires, Wednesday. On the other hand the Empire Earth games have known it anyway, to enchant strategist not only self-confessed units and capabilities, the draught associated and a high degree of seriousness with a variety of eras.

Computer base takes a look at the third part of the series below and clarifies whether the described situation still has its validity.

EE 3 at a glance

In terms of implementation Publisher Vivendi (Sierra) once again, the responsibility to the game forge doc transfer software mad – and that has in principle for good reason: even if are sure about fighting, whether the first or the second part of the series is the better; the implementation of Empire Earth 2 by mad doc was appropriate and was fun.

This time the responsible game designer and programmer risked a foray into comic territory with their latest work. So units and buildings look, as they were from one of the relevant magazine, and also the implementation of the language makes quickly significantly (see “Graphic” or “sound and language implementation”), that it is Earth 3 out with the seriousness at Empire.

It was the third part of the once venerable series to a kind of Arcade-RTS (real time strategy) with some round elements, it becomes clear even when looking in the single player. Instead of a wide, epic campaign across through all epochs to put on, just a Scharmützel-, as well as a world conquest mode waiting for the player. The latter will replace probably a campaign – does it but only moderately.

So the world conquest mode follows any story or logical course, but known worldview invites the player via one at the core of other strategy games, the world piece by piece, fragmented in 60 large provinces to conquer (see image below). Schlagende, native tribes, are located in the provinces initially slightly as one of the ernstzunehmenderen AI opponents moves up with each round, which can be more easily abluchsen an once occupied province.

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World view from Empire Earth 3

The player also on the properties of the province needs to consider when choosing his conquests. They deliver to varying degrees the resources of “Trade”, “Empire”, “Army”, and – very important – “research”. For all upcoming struggles to new provinces, it is now to keep that own growth does not halt the balance between these resources in the balance. In addition, it is extremely important that it is his own called enough provinces, producing a large number of ‘Research’. Only with the latter the such an important civilization is possible, which allows new units, and exploring other special abilities.

That’s it then, but even with the excitement of Empire Earth 3. The missions expire same: man is – provided that have not done – on armies in province of X and then sends it to province of Y by right clicking. Here, the player can then decide whether the outcome of the emerging battle automatically decided, but in real time on gefochten should be or. The latter is recommended in any case, if one does not have a big superiority, as it tends to determine very illogical outputs of battles.

The ambitious General is so highly even in the event, so this is as always the same: man ends up somewhere on a Loveless designed map (see section “Graphic”) and must build a Headquarters – after it has tracked down a source of raw materials. In Empire Earth 3 is available in the field only two types of resources: on the one hand various materials (iron, timber, etc.), whose dismantling is carried out by the same type (warehouse) and that will be added regardless of the nature of the resource to the account of “Raw materials”, and the resource “Assets”, which is generated automatically by the construction of a market.

An annoying level of simplicity is revealed in the bases construction itself: the few types of buildings that exist, usually not even needed. Instead, looking for a source of raw materials, a storehouse, a headquarters, houses and a barracks and built – and then it is called wait. Since the listed resources must be brought initially first and by opponents anyway no attack is expected (see section “AI”), happens mostly welcome little in the first minutes of such a conquest.

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Monotonous base construction

Once the main budget is wasted, the search begins after the opponent. This is discovered and the raw material removal is running, so it can be started with the production of other units. Also here is as simple as possible Empire Earth 3: Although there are three different peoples, among which one must decide before the start of world conquest mode ‘ and that therefore come with different units types and abilities. But there are then only still more than half a dozen different units per period, which can be built within this differentiation. In this respect, the tactical choice unit construction turns out quickly and easily: from each a bit, the motto.

In terms of diplomacy, Empire has little to offer Earth 3. The possibilities are limited in essence, that you can win one for yourself on any map with two local tribes. This is done either through the payment of much wealth, or but, during which you met a task. This was Earth 3 it then but also again in the monotony of Empire, because all too often, a member of a tribe, from the hands of the other must be saved in the task.

Total designed Empire Earth 3 as slow and sequels, and insofar as completely monotonous. The world conquest mode can not replace a real campaign and plays more like a series of skirmishes.

Miscellaneous

So far could us Empire Earth 3 so not to convince. The following is to be made to some more key aspects – perhaps can be found here but still properties that lighten the image a little.

Graphic

Graphically, Empire surprised Earth 3 – unfortunately not in a positive way. In this game, a completely outdated Visual implementation meets system requirements that appear completely unjustified. The cards, on which the battles of Empire be held Earth 3, are so Loveless animated that from time to time the tears come. Also the trains that run in the comic book style through the area, see clunky, but yes like playing from the beginning of the Decade imported from and also the simple globe overview not know a great surface to bribe.

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Chunky units in Empire Earth 3

The system requirements of Empire all the more astounding are Earth 3. The following are the mandatory collection of existing or recommended hardware configuration.

Test system for Empire Earth 3

• Windows Vista Ultimate (32 bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.66 GHz
• Gigabyte GA-965 p-DQ6
• GeForce 7900 GTX (512 MB)
• 2 x 1024 MB crucial Ballistix (PC2-8000 DDR2-RAM)

Manufacturer recommendation Empire Earth 3

• Operating system: Windows XP or Vista (32 bit)
• Processor: 3,2 GHz
• Memory: 1 GB
• Hard disk: 6.5 GB of disk space
• Video card: DirectX 9.0 c compatible, 256 MB
• Sound card: DirectX 9.0 c compatible
• DVD-ROM drive
• Internet connection for multiplayer

The recommended system configuration is close to the Crysis and surpasses them even in some points. Shockingly has proven the recommendation but as obviously useful. Empire Earth 3 just on the middle level of detail (2xAA) could be played on our test system. All about ended with frame rates of under 20 and thus in the unplayability. What shipping be can argumentiert in Crysis still with outstanding graphics, is not to explain simple Earth 3 at Empire. Quite obviously was programmed poorly here, so that even the weak implementation of graphical systems can force depending on the setting in the knee.

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“Destroyed” market

Also, the game in the test in addition to a general instability pointed to some glaring errors. Pixel defects, in particular the apparently incorrect representation of the market fell in, which at this point for further errors called respectively shown are intended (see picture above).

Sound and language implementation

While the sound technical implementation is adequately managed, the implementation of the language of Empire is Earth 3 as a bad joke. Probably in order to strengthen the comic-strip character of the game, the units in response to a click on mostly poorly entered, little funny comments chuckle à la “Oh man, hammer time” on her. Moreover, there are too few variants of just these comments, so that clicking on your own units soon becomes the burden on the ears.

KI

Also, the AI of NPCs (non player characters) from Empire Earth 3 is extremely weak. So have the own units, so one could think of no pathing. Who ordered troops to a certain point on the map, should observe strictly these at the race there: you stand still like to, hang half way or get lost in the show places that were so far not yet been researched. Still very negative falls on the units move in together, but freely after own speed los race. So, lightly armored Rangers run often vulnerable in opposing units.

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EE 3 AI: everyone runs as it fits him

Also, the enemy AI is truly bad. So you can expect in the rarest cases of active intervention by the enemy – this is actually only if, to build his own base next to the opponent’s. Otherwise, the opponents are in all Dümmlichkeiten you are already used by the own units.

Protection of minors

The presence of a heading entitled with the name “Minors” may seem strange for a strategy game, but it is quite right in this case. So received Empire not youth share Earth 3 in Germany after a thorough examination and is therefore only available to players 18 years and older. This step was justified by the technical service responsible ESRB so that the characterization of the existing ethnic groups, and some names of units (e.g. suicide bomber) would run counter to the protection of minors. Also the possibility to use NBC weapons, led to the assessment that Empire could affect Earth 3 minors.

Conclusion

It’s already very wonder with what for a third part of the Empire Earth who venture mad doc and Vivendi to the public. After all it is not an arbitrary range of low-budget, but the incomprehensible to the response to age of Empires and co. is, how the authorities could release a such unfinished game to the buyer. Also a first patch (version 1.1), which was of course played for this test, nothing changed significantly this fact.

Already really incredibly weak graphical implementation of Empire Earth 3 vergrault much of potential players at first glance. This would be to get even more for a strategy game, because ultimately it Yes primarily comes to create associated depth thanks to many eras, units, and by means of a comprehensive diplomacy – in this way can make themselves a graphically as verhunzter title under real strategists still have many friends and be a real blockbuster. But this is Empire Earth 3 unfortunately not even in the approach.