A WW2 Strategy Game - R.U.S.E.

I recently purchased a WW2 RTS (Real Time Strategy) called R.U.S.E. created by French game producers UBISOFT. This game offers the opportunity to play as a host of combatants that fought during WW2. On the console versions the campaign focuses around the North African and European theatres, where as the PC version gives added campaigns in the Asian/Pacific theatre. I will focus on reviewing the console version available on PS3 & Xbox 360.

Front cover of Ubisoft 2010 release - R.U.S.E.

The nations available to the player in R.US.E. include the allies; Great Britain, France, the U.S.A and the Soviet Union. The Axis nations available are Germany and Italy.

The weapons and units available are accurate for the time but can be somewhat limited, for example if playing as the Germans, Luftwaffe fighter units available include the Messerschmit ME-109 from 1939 onwards, then in 1945 the ME-262 becomes available completely skipping the FW-190. Never the less, the units are quite satisfying and famous tank units such as the Sherman, Tiger, Churchill and T-34 are available as well as many others. Famous aircraft units include fighters such as the Spitfire, Mustang, Hurricane and ME-109, bombers include the B-17 and Avro Lancaster as well as the Heinkel HE-111. Unit classes are broken down into Infantry, Artillery, Tank & Anti-Tank as well as Aircraft and Special Units.

Game mechanics focus on taking control of various oil refineries located on the map that crucially fund your war machine as well as the use of  "R.U.S.E Cards". R.U.S.E. Cards allow the employment of deceptive tactics including the use of radio silence in a sector of the map, placing a camouflage netting over buildings, launching fake offensives as well as disguising units etc.

The ability for the player to zoom in and out of the map is quite impressive. Zooming in shows you individual units on the field. When zooming out units appear as counters, that are distinguishable by their colour and ensign that are placed on a commanders table miles behind the front line.

Zoomed into unit level,German armour is given the order to assault allied positions.

An allied general overlooks the North African battlefield.

The solo campaign/storyline is relatively weak in my opinion and is only really useful for training the player in the art of playing the game, understanding units and the different ruses available and when to use them. The most enjoyment I got was from the skirmish battles which can be set up as you desire. You can select maps, allies and opponents as well as the time limit and period of the war in which you wish to fight - 1939, 1942 or 1945.

Game graphics are pretty poor especially when zoomed in to unit level and the controls can be somewhat awkward, especially for beginners. However, on a more positive note, once the mechanics have been mastered this game can be quite refreshing and rewarding. For a WW2 strategist there is no better feeling than having two concealed six pounder anti tank guns mangle oncoming German Panzers in the Egyptian Desert or scrambling Spitfires to the front to intercept screaming Stuka's over the skies of North Western Europe.

For anyone with an interest in WW2 strategy this is a quick and easy way to set up a battle with a decent WW2 spin. Try a battle in 2-player mode or against your AI opponent on hard difficulty providing an intense challenge. I suggest sourcing this game on ebay or other online shops as finding copies in the game shops can be quite difficult.

This game is definitely worth a look for any WW2 enthusiast, I rate it 7.5/10.
I will write another post shortly on the real ruses used by the combatants during the Second World War which are quite impressive and required a lot of imagination and effort to prepare and utilise.

Link to the R.U.S.E. Official Web Site 

US Sherman's assaulting German positions.