From start-up, you’re presented with a loading bar, leading to a (pleasant looking) pre-rendered cinematic, explaining Earth’s current plight as they’re invaded by the Strogg, an alien race constructed from other alien races. This is the only real bit of exposition you’ll get and the only reason given to care about defending - or invading - Earth. The rest of the story is left to ‘emergent storytelling,’ the latest buzz words, especially in the arenas of online gaming, as players tell their own stories of how they accomplished a mission, or the funny way another player met their demise.

In this squad-based multiplayer first person shooter, players choose a side - either the alien Strogg or the human GDF - and set off with their team mates to complete a set of objectives within a time-limit, with each team’s objective trying to counter that of the other; the GDF may be trying to build a bridge while the Strogg are trying to stop the bridge being built. The GDF may be trying to get their mobile command centre to a strategic location and the Strogg are trying to stop it. This results in the creation of a consistent battle-line being drawn, so conflict is persistent even on large maps, instead of dividing the battle into tiny, tiny skirmishes, sprawled across the level.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.