Summary
- Release Year: 1998
- Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Dreamworks Interactive
- Publishers: Hasbro Interactive
Small Soldiers: Squad Commander (1998): A Detailed Overview
Introduction
Small Soldiers: Squad Commander is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by DreamWorks Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in 1998 for the PC and PlayStation. The game is based on the 1998 movie Small Soldiers, which starred Kirsten Dunst, Gregory Smith, Phil Hartman, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Gameplay
Small Soldiers: Squad Commander is an RTS game in which the player controls a squad of small toy soldiers. The player’s goal is to defeat the enemy’s squad by destroying their base or capturing all of their units. The game features a variety of units, each with its own unique abilities. The player can also build and upgrade structures to help their squad in battle.
The game’s campaign mode consists of 15 missions, each with its own unique objectives. The player must complete each mission in order to progress to the next one. The game also features a skirmish mode, in which the player can battle against the AI or other human players.
Units
There are a variety of units available to the player in Small Soldiers: Squad Commander. Each unit has its own unique abilities and strengths. The following is a list of the units in the game:
- Commando: The Commando is a basic infantry unit. It is armed with a rifle and can throw grenades.
- Heavy Trooper: The Heavy Trooper is a more powerful infantry unit. It is armed with a machine gun and can withstand more damage than the Commando.
- Sniper: The Sniper is a long-range unit that can take down enemy units from a distance. It is armed with a sniper rifle and can camouflage itself.
- Rocket Soldier: The Rocket Soldier is a powerful unit that can launch rockets at enemy units and structures. It is slow and vulnerable to attack, but it can deal a lot of damage.
- Flamethrower: The Flamethrower is a short-range unit that can incinerate enemy units. It is effective against large groups of enemies, but it is vulnerable to attack from a distance.
- Grenadier: The Grenadier is a unit that can launch grenades at enemy units and structures. It is effective against both infantry and vehicles.
- Mortar: The Mortar is a long-range unit that can launch mortar shells at enemy units and structures. It is slow and vulnerable to attack, but it can deal a lot of damage.
- APC: The APC is a transport unit that can carry infantry units. It can also be used to attack enemy units.
- Tank: The Tank is a powerful unit that can deal a lot of damage to enemy units and structures. It is slow and vulnerable to attack from a distance.
- Helicopter: The Helicopter is a transport unit that can carry infantry units and attack enemy units from the air.
Structures
The player can also build and upgrade structures in Small Soldiers: Squad Commander. Structures provide the player with a variety of benefits, such as increased production, research, and defense. The following is a list of the structures in the game:
- Barracks: The Barracks is a building that produces infantry units.
- Factory: The Factory is a building that produces vehicles and aircraft.
- Laboratory: The Laboratory is a building that allows the player to research new upgrades and technologies.
- Academy: The Academy is a building that allows the player to train new units.
- Command Center: The Command Center is the player’s main base of operations. It produces resources and allows the player to build other structures.
Reception
Small Soldiers: Squad Commander received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the game’s graphics and gameplay, while others criticized its repetitive missions and lack of innovation. The game was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.
Legacy
Small Soldiers: Squad Commander is a solid RTS game that is still enjoyed by fans of the genre today. The game’s graphics and gameplay have held up well over the years, and its campaign mode is still challenging and engaging. If you’re a fan of RTS games, then Small Soldiers: Squad Commander is definitely worth checking out.
Here are some additional details about the game:
- The game was developed by DreamWorks Interactive, which was a joint venture between DreamWorks SKG and Microsoft.
- The game’s engine was based on the Quake II engine.
- The game features the voices of Tommy Lee Jones, Kirsten Dunst, and Phil Hartman.
- The game was released on the PC, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color.
- The PC version of the game was released on two CDs.
- The PlayStation version of the game was released on one CD.
- The Game Boy Color version of the game was released on one cartridge.
Review Score
7.5/10