Your Base is Under Attack: The RTS Part 1/5

One of my favourite gaming genres is strategy. An abrupt statement perhaps, but it is as simple as that; Empire was the first game I ever played in my life, and I've played dozens more strategies since then. I've always been fascinated by the potential for a sense of overwhelming power when you have people under your command, and being the sole leader of devastating military units, capable of ravaging and vanquishing all traces of life. It sounds somewhat horrific, and well, it is, but it's also a thrill unmatched by any other type of game. Going head to head with someone else you've never met, frantically countering and pushing in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand... It honestly works me up until I start shaking with anxiety and adrenaline, stimulating the senses and sending the mind into overdrive. To those games I present this tribute; my top five RTS games of all time, in five parts. Note the RTS; for the purposes of this I won't be mentioning any turn based strategies at this time.

PART ONE

5) Z (Bitmap Brothers, 2006)
No there isn't any missing text in this game title; it is simply known as 'Z'. It was released way back in 1996, for the good ol' DOS, and I picked up my copy from PC world in South London. It came in an A4 sized white box, with minimal cover art and slogans, just a small picture of the frankly kick ass General Zod (reminds me immensely of Lt. Colonel Kilgore from Apocalypse Now, which I believe is intentional), the commander of the good guys in Z. I read once something like "Z is the grungy, laid back, ice cool cousin of command and conquer"; of course it was different to some degree, but you get the idea. Z was exactly that; humorous and relaxed, and great fun to play at the same time.

Pictures: Kilgore (Apocalypse Now), above and General Zod, right.

Z is played from a top down view, with a stylish cartoon feel to it, and it incorporates a battlefield flag control mechanic with a strategy twist. Two teams of super terminator soldiers struggle for control of territory around the map, which yield their own unit producing structures. Before you ask, there is no building construction in Z; just a battle for control of the various pre existing ones around the battlefield. However, you are given a fortress each, to defend religiously; should this stronghold fall, defeat awaits. On top of this innovative and amazingly unexplored style of gameplay, the Bitmap Brothers brought units like the 'Toughs', 'Lasers' and 'Psychos' to life with unrivalled hilarity (considering their situation and all). Combined, Z becomes a package so neat it sits here, at number 5.

Z; I sincerely regret the fact you no longer work on my PC. Although if you're curious, apparently this gem of a strategy is available for download here, at 10.1MB(!). By the way, I apologise for the positioning of the pictures, it just wouldn't work out quite right. Still, at least you can now see that confidence exuded by Zod.

Keep an eye out for number 4, coming soon!