This is not a game about tank rushes and the game’s producer, Ashton Fletcher, made it clear, “that the right units are needed to complete a mission. An all-out assault isn’t usually the right way to win.” Some of the missions require using a quick-moving armored vehicle to take out missiles followed by using an airborne assault from helicopters to mop up the remaining forces. As Fletcher further says, “this is a game about the right choice of tactics.”
Players can command up to 100 units in each hard fought and often confusing battle, with 30 different unit types from quick moving APCs to stealthy snipers - not to mention the diverse insect warriors that the Mantai have to offer. Using a simple point and click interface, Dogs of War is an easy game in terms of control, allowing players to spend those precious seconds making those life and death decisions.
The game features a zoomable map with a wide bird’s eye view of the action that can be zoomed to a close up 3D battlefield perspective. Dogs of War is also reminiscent of BattleZone for the PC as it allows for not only an isometric view, but direct command via a 3rd person of individual vehicles. While this allows for some stunning visuals and the graphics are lushly rendered, it also can make for some extremely confusing gameplay and players should expect a bit of learning curve. The previewable version of Dogs of War was by no means a jump in and play game and it did require that some of the missions to be played several times.
