Joystiq impressions: World in Conflict: Soviet Assault controls (360/PS3)

by Zack Stern { Apr 28th 2008 at 4:00AM }

If you remember World in Conflict from last year, expect more of the same in this fall's World in Conflict: Soviet Assault. If you don't remember it, you might have been washed over by a dozen other great games. The real-time battle strategy takes gamers into an alternate 1989; the Cold War turns into a firefight.

Two changes define this update: 360 and PS3 gamers can play, and a new campaign lets you play from the Soviet perspective. PC gamers who have the original can opt for a download-only Soviet expansion, while those new to the title can get a bundled, PC edition. Console gamers will get the full, original game in this version, too.

The control scheme is the big challenge for console gamers. I tried flying the camera around and issuing orders on a 360, and it generally worked well. The movements were mapped to fairly standard first-person-shooter commands, although gamers won't be able to reassign the layout. I nudged the sticks to fly around, and selected troops with the A button.

I had a few ways to select multiple units, including D-pad hot-key assignments and a way to expand the selection cursor into a large circle. This worked, but it's just not as easy as a keyboard and mouse. It's close. It could suffice. But it's not the same.

I'd expect PC gamers trying to adopt the controller to complain the most. If you're not used to PC RTS games, you might not notice a difference. While not demonstrated, developers said they were adding optional voice commands to issue certain attacks, so that might also help make up for a mouse.

360 and PS3 multiplayer matches will allow five-versus-five battles between like-consoles. PC gamers will get 16-player fights. All editions will ship in Fall, 2008.

Tags: cold-war, sierra, sierra-spring-event08, strategy, world-in-conflict, world-in-conflict-soviet-assault

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kujel @ Apr 28th 2008 4:21AM

It looks like the dev for this game isn't smart enough to build on what universe at war did, which is the best RTS control scheme ever!

knightsray @ Apr 28th 2008 5:45AM

world in conflict is by far a better RTS than universe at war..that game isn't all that great! I do have them both and world in conflict is just one of the best! After playing it you won't even care about whatever control scheme they give you

rockintom @ Apr 28th 2008 3:08PM

Of course they didn't adapt the controls. This has the same layout as a first person shooter, remember? The PC version even uses WASD.

Korova @ Apr 28th 2008 5:11AM

Two Soviet-based games in 24 hours. What's next, Mario Party Moscow edition?

Virduk @ Apr 28th 2008 5:41AM

Or smart enough to include mouse support in the PS3 edition.

daniel @ Apr 28th 2008 8:38AM

when i played ground control i remember thinking the camera and control set up would be well suited to consoles, so i think world in conflict should work well on consoles as it uses an updated version of ground controls inteface

RabanastreRat @ Apr 28th 2008 10:09AM

Now here's a game that could use a giant Stalin, or a colossal Mikhail Gorbachev.

Deck @ Apr 28th 2008 11:20AM

I have always been weary of picking up a RTS for my 360 and always end up getting them for my PC. Even though with this aging machine I have to really turn down everything. Normally it still plays but it isn't the greatest experience ever to arrive.

I've really wanted to play this game though, so perhaps I will make the plunge and give it a go on the 360.