World War II Online: Blitzkrieg

There were prettier games at E3. There were more popular games at E3. There were even more innovative games at E3. But nothing at the show had me more excited to actually play it than World War II Online: Blitzkrieg from Strategy First. War game, simulation, and first-person shooter fans will all want to take a close look at this massively multiplayer game, as it has the potential to combine all these game elements into a cohesive whole unlike any title ever seen.

Developer Cornered Rat Software is attempting nothing less than simulating the entire Western Front of World War II, letting thousands of players duke it out simultaneously. All of Europe is represented at half the scale, providing an enormous amount of terrain for players to conquer and defend. There are a number of strategic points, such as airfields, that players must take and hold to gain and maintain supremacy. To accomplish these goals, both the Axis and Allied teams have access to a variety of resources, ranging from basic foot soldiers to tanks, bombers, and fighter aircraft. A planned patch will add naval units to the game, letting budding admirals command everything from landing craft to aircraft carriers. The design team has taken pains to model everything in great detail, and the experience of flying or commanding a vehicle seemed particularly authentic.

It should be noted that players can't simply jump into the best vehicle and drive or fly to the frontlines. They must earn the right to use these valuable assets. The war is always raging, whether you are logged in or not, and a player's success in missions can lead to promotions within the game. Beginning infantrymen can only gain status by successfully participating in the raids commanders order. With a sufficient amount of prestige, players can begin to plan offensive and defensive actions and allocate troops, vehicles, and aircraft. The game is designed to really reward skill, letting the most capable players become virtual generals if they choose. Of course, players always have the right to stay in the trenches with the rest of the grunts if that's how they prefer to play, but it's nice to see that talented team players will reap appropriate rewards.

The game's biggest asset could become its most damning handicap. Aside from purely defensive structures and guns, there are no AI-controlled opponents. That means every plane, soldier, vehicle, and ship you see in the game has a human lurking behind the controls. It also means that if the game doesn't reach a certain level of popularity, there will be very little to do. Judging from the look and feel of the game at E3, popularity shouldn't be a problem, and I anticipate spending much of my free time helping my fellow teammates secure our objectives. Here's hoping it's worth the $10 monthly fee. --T. Byrl Baker

World War II Online is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Strategy First charges a small monthly fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play. After your first month, you can use your credit card to buy more time.