I had never heard about Stormrise prior to when I was asked to write a review for it, not once having come across a preview, press release or even a batch of screenshots, so I knew next to nothing about the title when I first popped the disc in the drive.

It was only a little further into the experience, and after trundling through the extended tutorial and opening mission, that I discover, oh, this is a real-time squad-based action strategy game, where the developers, Creative Assembly, have attempted to place players in the thick of battle by moving the camera closer to the field of combat, and putting you in charge of a commander unit (as well as squads of other units) in order to clear areas of enemies with high-tech, futuristic weaponry, only providing you with a completely unintuitive, clumsy control system with a bland, generic science fiction setting as company.

Well, why didn’t they say so?

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Stormrise for the Xbox 360.

I have to say that when I was asked to review Stormrise I was very excited. When I was told it was an RTS I was even more excited because I’m an RTS nut job. But the cherry on top of the cream on top of the pecan nut sundae was when I found out it was developed by Creative Assembly. I’m a massive fan of their work, having played every single total war game, from Shogun to Empire, and I was very excited to give Stormrise a go….but then a lone thought suddenly crept out of from the shadows of the back of my mind: “I wonder why I have never heard of this game before?” In fact a visit to their website reveals that the game isn’t even listed there…uh oh.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Stormrise.

Sega has announced that The Creative Assembly (known for the Total War series) is developing Stormrise, a new console real time strategy game. Stormrise is being built specifically for the Xbox 360 and PS3 at The Creative Assembly’s Australian studio and is expected to be released in 2009.

Instead of controlling troops from a detached point of view, Stormrise enables players to lead their troops from the frontline of the battlefield. Using an element of “verticality,” players will be able to command units in the air, across rooftops, on the earth’s surface and even underground, all using an effective control system including easy unit selection, rapid navigation and precise deployment.

The game is set on a barren earth, destroyed by an ancient war, and sees the Echelon and Sai battling to survive. The Echelon have survived using technology while the Sai have adapted to the environment but now the difference between the two factions threatens the earth’s existence.

“The Creative Assembly have proven their general leadership in developing RTS games through the award winning ‘Total War’ series on PC”, commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe.

“However, Stormrise has been built from the ground up specifically for high def consoles to provide a more intense, frenetic style of game that, coupled with the all new control mechanic, will revolutionise the way RTS games are played.”