Space Siege

Some people value their humanity. But Ben Parfitt would happily give up every trace of his inherent manliness for a bionic arm, laser-vision and a back that doesn’t give up every six months…

That’s the crux of Space Siege – the toss up between preserving humanity and embracing the technologies necessary to defend it from an all-powerful alien aggressor.

The title certainly enjoys a strong heritage, as Sega product manager Ben Payne explains: “Space Siege is a totally new game from Chris Taylor. Obviously he and Gas Powered Games are known for their success on Dungeon Siege and more recently Supreme Commander.”

The title sees humanity fleeing Earth in the midst of a colossal alien assault. As a member of one of only five remaining human vessels, the player faces a dilemma – do you preserve the little that is left of humanity as you face off against the frankly quite rude alien attackers, or do you embrace a wealth of cybernetic upgrades to give yourself an advantage in battle, but risk losing the essence of what you are fighting for in the first place?

The route chosen by the player dictates how the story unfolds – though whether the player favours the luddite or the tech-head approach, the same depth of gameplay options remain. Gamers are able to lay traps or ambushes, or alternatively stick it to the (alien) man with weapon-based battles that cunningly incorporate a handy cover system, providing for some pleasingly tactical encounters.

In typical action role playing game fashion, character progression is paramount to the gameplay, with characters able to level up and specialise in specific disciplines. There’s also the chance to take control of powerful robot bodyguard HR-V. Encasing this all is what is described as a ‘chilling’ and ‘epic’ sci-fi story.

Also important, of course, are the expansive online options on hand. Payne adds: “Up to four players can join an online co-operative mode in a specially-designed version of the Armstrong ship from the single-player campaign, offering a completely different experience of the game specifically tailored for multiplayer co-operative play.”

Of the game’s marketing, Payne outlines Sega’s approach: “The PR for this title has been up and running for some time in the specialist press, with a cover on PC Zone already. The game was playable at E3 and previews are due to hit online and in print press. Marketing will be mainly PR-based, with an online campaign being targeted at fans of this genre. Retail-wise we’ll be using targeted mailers, as well as in-store activity for awareness ahead of launch.”

Though there’s still no word on a console version, the possibility has been hinted at – though it definitely won’t arrive in time to spruce up the typically bare summer release schedule. PC gamers, on the other hand, have less than a month to wait until Gas Powered’s latest hits retail shelves.