Dominant Species is a Real Time Strategy game that resembles the Command & Conquer style. It is one of the first RTS games that are totally in 3-D. When released, Dominant Species wowed the gaming community with its 3-D graphics. Unlike many games before, the graphics are smooth with clean animation and remarkably detailed figures and terrain. In this game, you have to harvest resources so you are able to construct your base and create units so you can fight.
The game takes place on the planet Mur, which is inhabited by several groups of Mindlords who rule the planet.
They are an ancient race who use telepathy—a way communicating using one’s mind to “talk” to someone else’s mind. The different groups of Mindlords battle each another to have control of Anima, the main resource of the planet. Anima is used to create buildings and other beings that you can use against your opponent. But something has disrupted this battle—humans, so this means war! The humans, who are known as the Invaders, travel around Mur in vehicles and killing the Mindlords while they steal Anima. Oh, yea, you are a Mindlord, not a human! So it’s your job to protect your planet from the Invaders.
In the single player mode you begin with three training missions. (Multiplayer is also an option for the
game.) They teach you the basic controls of the game, which can be a bit tough even for experienced RTS players. How you progress though the game is to go on missions. The missions can have easy goals such as to kill all enemies. Or you will encounter more complicated goals such as one where you have to find a friendly Mindlord and take him back to your camp. But it doesn’t end there. Once you find him, Invaders start shooting at him, so you have to protect him…and you don’t have many weapons at this point. Luckily, as the missions progress you obtain more and more units—27 total. Units include dog-like animals that are three times as tall as a man and a flying dragon that shoots lightning.
In gathering your resources, you will find certain points such as the Fountains that will give you an enormous supply of Anima. Most of the battles happen as you are trying to obtain the Anima or defend what you already have. The maps help you out with knowing where resources are, where you can hide out to defend the Anima, and the best places to attack the enemy. The terrain varies greatly with a variety of hills, cliffs, oceans, and plants that are quite detailed.
The only weak points of the game are the sound and music. But with the strong gameplay and innovative 3-D graphics, Dominant Species should be a no-brain download to those who are true RTS fans.
