Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy

Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy for PC, PS4 and etc. is a science-fiction strategy game created by an Australian developer known as Black Lab Games. The Vanguard Prophecy brings a continuation to Star Hammer Tactics (the studio's debut) – a game which came out in the Summer of 2010 for consoles and two years later for PCs. Contrary to the original game however, this second installment brings slightly different mechanics.

Plot

The game is set in the twenty-second century, when the humans have finally left the dying Earth in search for a new home in space. As it turns out, humanity chooses an unknown planet they call Novus, where more and more colonies are then established relatively fast. However, the planet is definitely not a perfect or peaceful place to live in, because the first larger encounter with the Nautilid (hostile species) results in huge numbers of human casualties. Fourteen years ago, political leaders did not notice a returning threat (they were engaged in political games) and Novus fell victim to the another enemy attack. Becoming the leader of Naval Strike Group 7, the player's goal is to tip the balance in favour of the Mankind's victory and eventually – to defeat the threat embodied by the Nautilid.

Mechanics

In terms of mechanics, Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy for PC, PS4 and etc. is a three-dimensional, tactical space strategy game. The player takes part in the Second Contact War against the Nautilid, which is divided into 60 missions sharing the same storyline. In contrast to the original game (strictly turn-based), The Vanguard Prophecy is played in the WeGo system – the player gives orders to their units, and afterwards, they observe the effects in real time and modify the orders in the so-called active pause mode.

The game features six different ship classes. One will find here both fast and agile fighters and powerful war frigates. Each of the units has its unique weaponry and both strong and weak spots; the key to success here is to choose wisely between different units, depending on the situation on the battlefield. The game brings a profound tactical element and many different factors can affect the course of the battle. For instance, the player can do reconnaissance (through adequately selected support) in order to learn about the enemy's weak spots; also, typical tactical maneuvers can be applied here, such as an attack from the flank. It is important to care about the soldiers' morale – each of them has their own personality, strong sides and biography.

Game modes

Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy for PC, PS4 and etc. offers a singleplayer experience exclusively. Apart from the standard campaign, a skirmish mode was also included. In this mode, the player can create their own scenarios and compete against the AI in single encounters.

Technical aspects

The second installment in the Star Hammer series brings noticeably improved visuals. Two-dimensional battlefields covered with nets were replaced here by a fully three-dimensional environment, which brings the classics of the genre into mind, such as the Homeworld series.

Last updated on 17 October 2016