S.W.I.N.E. - Single Player Demo

Strategy games feel the same regardless of whether you have to control hordes of zerglings as you assault the protoss base, or if you have to help the Allies defend against the Nazi blitzkrieg. Hence, as long as the game in question has sturdy mechanics and it allows you a satisfactory degree of freedom when it comes to tactics, then it can certainly be called strategy.

S.W.I.N.E. is more of a real-time tactics game that a classic RTS, mostly because it doesn’t involve resource gathering, or troop training. Instead, you have to manage with the units you have and fight as well as you can in order to complete the missions, which in turn awards you with strategic points, the game’s currency when it comes to purchasing abilities and better units.

As far as the background story is concerned, S.W.I.N.E. is actually an acronym for Strategic Warfare In a Nifty Environment, which doesn’t explain very much, come to think of it. In essence, the conflict is between a race of invading army pigs and a somewhat joyful bunch of rabbits, which may not be as tactical and military-like, but they can certainly move fast and take advantage of it.

The tactical aspect is mostly visible during the battles, because each member of your army is valuable and you must take full advantage of everything they have to offer. As it happens, every kind of unit has a unique ability that makes them useful on the battlefield, even if it may seem rather useless at a first glance, such as the ability to pass rivers. If used correctly, such minor skills can turn the tide of an entire battle.

When it comes to the technical aspect, the game certainly does not revolutionize the industry in any way, but it looks nice enough not to be a bother on the eyes. Hence, every silly animal is nicely detailed and well animated, which makes for some pretty intense confrontations. Not only that, but the sound department received a lot of attention as well, which is clearly visible from the fact that every type of soldier has a specific response for your orders, which depends on multiple factors.

S.W.I.N.E. is definitely a new sight in the genre, even if it doesn’t get everything right. On the other hand, it is pretty complex and well thought out, especially when you consider the fact that the main participants are pigs in uniform and weird-looking bunnies.