Tom Clancy's EndWar Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

System: X360, PS3, PC, PSP, DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Funatics	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Ubisoft	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 04, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Troops are composed of ground, air, and sea units, but the majority of the campaigns will feature ground units. Vehicles include tanks, jeeps, trucks, ships, submarines, and jet fighters. You'll have all kinds of artillery at your disposal including rocket launchers and missiles. Experience points are collected to increase your unit's overall effectiveness.

Tom Clancy's EndWar screenshot

Stars in the form of medals can be collected, up to five for each unit. Points are also awarded after successful missions. These can be used to build bases that will churn out more units, weapons, and vehicles, or help to repair damaged ones. With some good strategic planning, you can even capture enemy factories and facilities and use them to reinforce or replenish your war machine.

Battles become increasingly challenging but not always in an expansive way that would indicate greater depth, the difficulty comes in the form of more restrictions. In some missions you have to be virtually mistake-free right from the get-go. While there are different ways to win each battle, you don't want to lose any units since that can make all the difference. A handy tutorial guides you through the first three scenarios instructing you on the objectives as well as giving you tips on strategic deployment and the issuing of commands. If you're having troubles in some missions and have to replay them a number of times, the CPU will sense your weakness (and/or stupidity) and grant you some extra units to help you out. Overall, these are not incredibly difficult battles but some trial and error is required at times.

The two-player mode is technically sound with the exception of the control issues which occur occasionally. Sometimes commands performed with the D-pad just don't register. Fortunately, the gameplay is not adversely affected since it's not in real-time, but it's still annoying; as are the static graphics, the satellite transmissions during each battle, the radio-static chatter that passes as voiceovers, and the low-quality 2D graphics. The military-themed music is perfect, as it's well recorded and obviously relevant, but there could be more variation. The explosion sound effects are also worth mentioning, it's just too bad that the animation is not on par with the audio.

Tom Clancy's EndWar is not a bad game; even taken with a grain of salt it won't necessarily leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.3

Graphics
Awful, low-res, 2D graphics make this game look cheap and difficult to see units.

3.0

Control
Simplified control system lacks depth. Some commands don't register.

2.6

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Lack of voiceovers. Sound effects and soundtrack are good but repetitive.

3.3

Play Value
Decent strategy game with lots of variation including two-player mode.

3.1

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Strategy for the next generation, led by creative director Michael de Plater (Rome Total War), EndWar will redefine strategy gaming. Designed exclusively for the handheld systems, EndWar will create a theatre of war, immersing you in the drama of World War III in a way you never thought possible.

Fight For Your Nation Pick a side US, Europe, Russia - the fate of the world is in your hands. If you don’t step in to save your homeland, who will?

Command Your Army Grow your army into the most powerful force on the planet. Your army is completely customizable, and experience breeds strength - your units grow more powerful with every campaign you fight.

Light Up The City of Lights, Tom Clancy’s World War III won’t be won by capturing remote deserts or grasslands but by striking countries in the heart. Paris, Moscow, Washington D.C. will all erupt in flames as you battle your way through the destructive playground.

A two-player Ad-hoc multiplayer mode allows you to play against the best strategists in your sector of the world.