Metacritic Games

Universe at War: Earth Assault (Xbox 360)

Developed by Petroglyph, this combat-intensive real-time strategy game enlists players in an epic struggle to prevent total alien domination of planet Earth. Universe at War: Earth Assault is set in the near-future when multiple factions from across the galaxy have come to Earth to wage epic warfare. Containing numerous features and customization options never-before-seen in the RTS genre, Universe at War: Earth Assault creates an exceptional strategy experience for single-player and especially multiplayer battles. The game employs a unique balance system called "Tactical Dynamics" that allows players to retrain and customize units in the midst of battle to better cope with enemy forces and tactical situations. Weaponry and defenses can be modified in true real-time to take advantage of constantly shifting battlefield conditions. Fully customizable tech trees allow players to control the development of technologies that they deem key to victory. Battles in Universe at War: Earth Assault are large in scope and take place in malleable and deforming environments. Deadly sci-fi weapons and alien powers will allow players to destroy cities and whole territories on a global scale. Because the world of Universe at War: Earth Assault is persistent, players can revisit previous battlegrounds to find them still smoldering in ruins. The game gives players achievements points, rewards, and medals in a balanced environment to further encourage players to move forward in the game. Players from around the world battle in persistent-style online campaigns for ultimate faction supremacy across a virtual representation of the Earth. The Xbox 360 game employs a control scheme built from the ground up to ensure smooth gameplay and ease of command for console gamers. [Sega]

Sega
Real-Time Strategy
Players: 8
T (Teen)
Developer: Petroglyph
Released March 25, 2008

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

66 / 100

Critic Reviews

88 Cheat Code Central
The campaign mode is great, but it is the online modes that really make this a must-own title for RTS fans.
85 Play Magazine
Earth Assault does a fairly good job of translating a PC real-time strategy's mouse-and-keyboard controls to the Xbox 360 controller, but players should be aware there's a lengthy tutorial required to get them up to speed. [Apr 2008, p.48]
83 1UP
Universe at War does what they said couldn't be done, and it makes a large-scale real-time strategy game -- of the sort thought to be exclusively a PC domain -- fun to play from the couch.
80 Totally360
Overall, Petroglyph have proved that console-based RTS games can work successfully. PC owners might not think that there's much to crow about but for 360 owners this is a genuine step forward.
80 Games Radar
For hardcore fans, the deep options and completely unique factions will be a revelation. For newbies, it will be a graduation.
80 Gameplanet
At its heart, this is a well-developed and in-depth RTS game. Highly recommended for hardcore RTS fans - but perhaps a little too complex for beginners to the franchise or genre.
75 Official Xbox Magazine
If Petroglyph can fix the single-player AI, smooth out some of the game’s graphics slowdowns, and provide a camera that zooms back more than a few inches, chapter two of Universe at War could well challenge Battle for Middle-earth II for overall Xbox 360 RTS honors.
75 GameTrailers
In spite of its technical flaws, Universe at War deserves merit twice over for not only presenting an RTS with a fresh spin on races, but also doing so with a neatly accessible control scheme.
74 Games Master UK
This is one of the better RTSs on console[s] at the moment. but there are more on the way. [June 2008, p.78]
74 Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Starts off bravely but gives way to 'fraidy cat design. Balls of steel, knob of butter. [June 2008, p.86]
72 GameZone
A good RTS game that is held up by performance and graphical issues.
72 Electronic Gaming Monthly
Sure, the controls aren't perfect--selecting units usually boils down to an all-or-nothing strategy--but that issue aside, UAW is a triumph. [May 2008, p.85]
70 GameTap
Though this RTS-interface-for-consoles is pretty good on its own, it's crippled by the poor framerate. Basically, anytime you have one or more Hierarchy walkers on-screen, plus any other units, everyone starts looking like they're moving underwater. Which isn't conducive to an RTS game with crazy units that sparkle and shine.
70 360 Gamer Magazine UK
No RTS fan could fail to be impressed by the massive choice in tactics and strategy as well as the intuitive and fast control system. A lacklustre story and limited story mode only slightly mar an otherwise excellent strategy game.
70 GameDaily
Its control scheme is admirable, and while not technically impressive, there is plenty of content to warrant a purchase if you can see past its flaws.
70 AceGamez
Excellent implementation of an intuitive control system, an engaging storyline and the many tactical differences between the three factions on offer all add up to make Universe at War: Earth Assault a fairly good game.
70 X360 Magazine UK
Mechanically and stylistically it's bloody marvellous, but serious technical issues and overzealous handholding stunt its path to greatness. [Issue#32, p.87]
68 Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s such a shame to see what could have been a splendid old-school RTS with mostly decent presentation (aside from the fact that the camera doesn’t zoom out enough) and three imaginative and well-balanced factions being ruined because of so many niggling problems.
65 PALGN
There is a very playable game hiding underneath some serious issues here. Whether you can overlook them is up to you.
65 NZGamer
There is definitely room for improvements in the graphics department and any straight-from-PC gamers will still need plenty of time to adjust to the gamepad clunkiness.
65 PTGamers
Universe at War doesn't embody the best translation of a RTS to a console. However, if you're tempted to try some strategy, it could be something to check.
65 GameSpot
Technical problems mar what should have been a solid addition to the Xbox 360's growing library of strategy games.
63 IGN
From the gossamer winged Interceptors of the Masari to the hulking crimson Walkers of the Hierarchy, Universe at War is chock full of well-designed units, structures and ideas. However, Universe's technical problems, precision control issues and hackneyed storyline dull its shine, resulting in a less-than-great RTS experience.
60 Gamervision
The excellent control scheme and shiny units aren’t enough to save UAW from its own flawed code.
60 GameSpy
But the 360 version's clunky control scheme and savage technical problems bring the game down, and none of the key issues from the PC release have been changed. The problems here don't outweigh the fun, but the margin is very thin.
60 Team Xbox
The whole experience of Universe at War ends up being one big chore. If the single player is dull, and the multiplayer is broken, all you’ve got left is playing skirmish mode by yourself. And that will get old after a while anyway.
60 Official Xbox Magazine UK
It's a solid attempt at bringing this sort of game genre to the 360, but it still appears that, much like sleeping with a robot behind your partner's back, controlling an RTS with a joypad will always be a clunky affair.
60 G4 TV
Universe at War: Earth Assault isn't the game that proves that the real-time strategy can really work on a console. It's not a failure by any means, but neither is it a resounding success.
60 Worth Playing
Universe at War: Earth Assault is a fantastic game marred by technical issues aplenty.
60 GamerNode
If the game took a quick breather and realized that it's about robots, world-conquering aliens, and ancient elfish-looking mystics under the sea, then we might be left with a better game; maybe, maybe not, but it worked for "Earth Defense Force."
60 Game Over Online
So, as to whether or not Petroglyph Games and Sega redefined console RTS games: not exactly.
60 Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
This is a genre craving for more quality titles on the 360. And with three distinct races, a global conquest mode and almost thirty Skirmish maps, Universe at War could have been one of those titles. But sadly, it fails to attract any new players. [May 2008]
58 Game Chronicles
Universe at War: Earth Assault just never grabs your attention or enthusiasm to want to play and with all the problems you can just leave this one alone.
54 Console Monster
The controls are a brilliant crossover from the PC version, but there are too many issues that make this game verging on the unplayable.
50 Game Informer
It’s a shame this port was released in a worse technical state than many beta builds I’ve played, because the core design of Universe at War (minus the lame by-the-numbers scripted campaign) is quite good.
50 GameShark
Identity issues aside Universe at War has a great concept, and is commendable for not only it’s control scheme but also in that it has three distinctly unique sides and not one of them is the human faction crutch that plagues the genre. At the same time the title has many technical flaws.
50 MS Xbox World
Universe at War at times feels too simplistic and yet overwhelming with confusion at other points in the game as you are trying to keep track of multiple things and constantly having to shift your view of the map.
40 Gamer.nl
Universe at War: Earth Assault is a bad game, just as simple as that. The controls work, but the framerate and camera ruin the party. So again we keep waiting for a good strategy game on the console.
40 Thunderbolt
The art, the audio, the level design, it’s all just sorta “there”, and feels creatively bankrupt.
40 EuroGamer
For all the control innovations that come tantalisingly close to solving the riddle of joypad RTS play, Universe at War is constantly blighted by unforgivable slowdown that, at its worst, all but breaks the game.

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