Set a few hundred years into the future, which gives the creators carte blanche to throw some exotic futuristic firepower into the mix, MAN2’s simple storyline revolves around two universal superpowers – the Free Nations Union and the sinister sounding Phantom League – in a battle for supremacy across several new found planets. Turns out, through some nice covert operations, both sides have managed to scout one another’s technologies, which by sheer coincidence, of course, makes for a nicely balanced skirmish between you and your opponent; whichever side you take.

I LOVED the first Massive Assault game and I really want to love this one. Unfortunately I'm on Windows 7 and after patching the game with the latest available patch I am having technical issues running the game. When I do get the game to run, I have to say I'm not too fond of having to be logged in to their servers to play. I'm not one who enjoys a lot of multiplayer so there is no logical reason for me to be logged in to their servers just to play against an AI.

The gameplay however, is pure Massive Assault. It's addictive. It's complex. It's engaging. It can be tough at times.

I personally had to give the game 3 stars, losing 1 for requiring internet connectivity and 1 for the technical issues. If not for those, I'd easily give it a 5. If you're a fan of turn-based multiplayer games and you're on an earlier OS, you'll love it.

Another successful strategy game for GamersGate.

Man2 is a very deep game that, in principle, is a variant of a spicy chess game.

No dice, no luck, only moves: pure strategy for a simple game, yet so complex and so rewarding when mastered fully.

These tiny robots are under all aspect chess pieces playing on different maps each with rivers, gorges, mountains, roads that require different strategies but the longevity doesn't just come from how your opponent moves but also how each time the nations appearing on the map get shuffled, which is particularly important with the secret allies you may disclose when fruitful.

The units have each a different set of attributes making them suitable for defense or offense but it's up to you how to move them. Some are long range attackers, some others can move swiftly on rugged terrain...some have multiple attack capability and some others are transports whose strategic value is always misinterpreted. You will have to lay a masterplan and adapt to the circumstances sometimes with few turns in advance and you will sometimes sacrifice a nation and battle long to see this sacrifice fulfilled while fighting on the ground, at sea, in the air.

Your opponent is the key factor in this game. He has different robots at disposal but they follow your same rules and attributes.

Variety and improvisation are essential...and if you play your cards right, you can use your secret allies to lie ambushes, traps, lure enemies forward and then cut off their retreat routes.

It is a RTS but not only that...it makes use of a gameserver where you can find opponents and play. You can play against a decent AI but the game will be so much more rewarding when you beat your first human opponent!

Tired of PBEM and opponents dropping before you can claim victory? Tired to wait a week for next turn?

Imagine engaging in 4 games, 1 against the AI 2 against the same human opponent and 1 against your buddy.

You will drop in and out of these games when you receive the moves for the turn or you can just focus on one of your opponents and get back to the other games when you feel comfy.

That's right, you can play multiple games at the same time even with chess clock in a thorough ranking system and there are also tournaments going on!

Amazing, truly amazing what these guys did.

Massive Assault was a superb strategy game but Man2 is by far even better.

Go to their website and download the demo, you will not regret it.