7th Legion - PC Review - Gamecenter

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7th Legion

continued
Saving the Big Bombs for Last
My biggest complaint surrounds the unit AI. If these units were cloned from other games, they lost a few neurons in the process. Groups of units tend to have problems finding their way to a selected target. This is especially evident when a narrow path (like a bridge) becomes temporarily obstructed by some of the units. When this occurs, the rest of the units suddenly lose their way and start heading off in different directions. I started naming my troops after famous lost vessels (SS Minnow, Starship 7th Legion Voyager, and so on) to keep better track of them. But it frustrates me when I have to constantly babysit lost units and re-send them to their destination.
The real-time strategy genre has a lot of potential in hard-core strategy circles because it portrays battles in ways that turn-based games can't. However, in real battles, generals have officers they can count on to follow orders, and they don't have to run from soldier to soldier telling them how to march. This is why so many real-timers fail as strategy games. I'm still hoping that some game will feature units that can be placed in a formation, form a single file when necessary, and regroup when possible en route to a destination. Only then will real-timers appeal to wargaming grognards. For the record, though, 7th Legion is not geared towards hard-core strategists. The emphasis is definitely on action with little code devoted to resource gathering or tactical strategy.
While the morals behind human cloning will be hotly debated in Congress and the Supreme Court for years to come, there seems to be no moral dilemma with game cloning--especially real-timers. So, if you are a fan of Command & Conquer or Krush, Kill 'N' Destroy and want more real-time action/strategy, 7th Legion will do in a pinch. However, if you're looking for something different, let alone better, you're better off waiting for the next clone to appear. Hopefully further research will produce advances in AI and multiplayer technology. In the meantime, you can find out more about human cloning by visiting your local library or The National Enquirer.
Tips
-Power is your main controllable resource. Build more power plants than you think you need, and when you think you have enough, build some more.
-When pitting your tanks against the enemy's infantry, don't waste your time shooting them. Run them over. It's quicker, and you'll take less damage.
-Organize troops in groups that move at the same speed. If you combine slow infantry with fast tanks, then order them to attack; your tanks might be outgunned by the enemy and your supporting infantry will be picked off one by one as they arrive. Use the Store Detachment feature (Ctrl+1-0) to facilitate this.

If you like this type of game, you might want to check out Krush, Kill 'N' Destroy or Command & Conquer: Red Alert.

Hugh Falk believes that all video games are really tests in which the best players will one day be swept up by aliens to fight for the freedom of the universe. He has dedicated his life to critiquing and hopefully improving games for the sake of Earth and the universe. Agree or disagree with the review? Let us know.

Facts

7th Legion
MicroProse, 800/683-5847
Price: $50.00
Pentium-100, 16MB RAM, 15MB disk space, SVGA, 4X CD-ROM drive, Windows 95; Windows compatible sound cards

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7th Legion

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