Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
File:Supreme Commander- Forged Alliance Box Art.jpg
Developer(s)	Gas Powered Games
Publisher(s)	THQ
Designer(s)	Chris Taylor
Engine	Moho Engine
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release	November 6, 2007 (US) November 23, 2007 (Europe)
Genre(s)	Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is a standalone real-time strategy computer game expansion to Supreme Commander (released in February 2007), developed by Gas Powered Games and published by THQ, and the second title in the Supreme Commander franchise. Because it is a standalone expansion, it is possible to play without owning Supreme Commander. Along with the new faction, called the Seraphim, Forged Alliance adds new gameplay features to the game, and is further optimized for increased performance, in response to issues with the original. In online multiplayer, playing as the three original factions requires a valid CD-Key for Supreme Commander.

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay of the original Supreme Commander

Supreme Commander is focused on using a giant bipedal mech called an Armoured Command Unit (or ACU) to build a base, then upgrading units to reach higher technology tiers, and conquering opponents. Forged Alliance uses the original game mechanics, and expands them with new possibilities, strategies, and improvements. Of this expansion, the addition of a new faction, the Seraphim, is the most notable. All of the old factions, the United Earth Federation, the Cybran Nation and Aeon Illuminate, return and receive a number of new units. Other new content includes new maps.

The original Supreme Commander allowed the player to employ all four traditional battlespaces - air, information, land and sea. The fifth and last battlespace, space, could only be used indirectly. Forged Alliance expands upon space warfare, by adding orbital weaponry to the player's arsenal. Several improvements to the controls and behind the scenes mechanics have been made as well. The interface has been revamped, as well as improved pathfinding and aircraft flight dynamics.

Setting

The setting of Supreme Commander is a future where humanity is able to travel through the galaxy quickly using a quantum tunnel, which is a portal opened from the fabric of space leading to a designated location potentially light-years away. All of the colonies created by quantum-travelling humankind were governed by the Earth Empire, until the events that created the Cybran Nation and the Aeon Illuminate ruined the empire, and the infinite war between these factions began. The Cybran ending shows QAI (a HAL 9000-like computer) calling in unidentified enemies. The teaser Aeon ending simply depicts princess Rhianne, the leader of the faction, opening her eyes in shock and saying "...no!", while the UEF teaser ending shows many unidentified radar signatures appearing. In the campaign missions of the original, the player put an end to the infinite war, but each of the three factions had a "teaser ending" as a reference to the (then unannounced) upcoming expansion.

Plot

Forged Alliance takes place in the same setting. Shortly before Black Sun was fired, QAI made contact with the leader of the Seraphim, Seth-Iavow. Being based on ancient seraphim technology, the Seraphim had detected QAI operating on the Quantum Realm and reprogrammed it to spy on Brackman, allowing the Seraphim to prepare an invasion force, and eventually turn traitor.
The firing of black sun weakens the barrier to the Quantum realm - where the Seraphim inhabit - and allows the Seraphim to create a rift, which allows them to begin their invasion. Earth is left in ruins and President Riley is killed. They quickly spread and conquer the UEF core worlds and pushing the humans to the edge of colonised space. A sect within the Aeon illuminate overthrows the princess and allies with the invaders.
A month later, the Cybran military was crushed and in disarray from attacks co-ordinated by QAI.
Three months later, and the UEF have also suffered heavy losses. Both the UEF and the remnants of the Cybran forces being pushed to the edge of the galaxy, ally and form the Colonial Defense Coalition. They form a unified command structure to conduct operations. Rhiza and the Aeon loyalists eventually join the coalition. One year after, the Coalition launches its first offensive, and despite suffering heavy casualties, scores the first victory against the Seraphim. Over two years after the invasion began on X-day, the UEF begins construction on Fort Clarke, a new base of operations located on the planet Griffin IV.

However, old grudges remain, and throughout the campaign, you can play from the point of view as either the UEF, Cybran or Aeon commander, and your actions determine how the other characters react to you.

New Faction

The new faction is the Seraphim, the alien race that the xenophobic human settlers had wiped out, and that had given rise to the Aeon. With help from QAI, they came back from another galaxy and intend to purge the galaxy. The Seraphim, being technologically superior than even the Aeon, have stronger units, but fewer of them than the other races.

New units

Each faction receives ten new units, including one new experimental each. New units for the Cybran faction include the Brick, a heavy assault bot, and the Megalith - a new spider bot that is twice as large as the previous cybran mega-unit, the Monkeylord. The Megalith is a mobile amphibious factory sporting 12 torpedo launchers, heavy lasers and a flak cannon. Among the new units the Aeon receive are the Sprite Striker, a fast moving sniper bot ideal for high-value targets, and a "Quantum Resource Generator" which produces unlimited mass and energy. Finally, some of the new UEF units are "Percival", an amphibious, heavily armored assault bot, as well as the experimental-class "NOVAK", facility which launches a sub-orbital drone which is capable of firing a high-powered laser: The drone cannot be engaged by enemy units, and can only be destroyed by eliminating the launcher facility

Reception

Pre-release

On June 28, 2007, the first 5 screenshots were released on Gamespot's Q&A with lead designer Bradley Rebhn.

On July 7, 2007, its first trailer was released, along with 8 screenshots from the trailer.

On July 11, 2007, Gamespot had another preview, revealing that there are 110 new units, including a new experimental unit for each existing faction.

On July 12, 2007, Gamershell released a HD version of the trailer; an additional 5 screenshots were released on Gamespot, IGN released 12 old & new screenshots.

On July 14, 2007 , Gamespy's preview tells of the backstory & campaign.

On July 16, 2007, info on some of the 'old' factions' units, including space warfare/orbital weaponry, were posted on GPGnet.

On August 18, 2007, Gamespot had a 'profile preview' in which characters & a timeline was revealed.

Release

On November 7, 2007, Gamespot review gave Supreme Commander Forged Alliance 8.5 out of 10.0.

External links

• Supreme Commander Official Site
• Forged Alliance Knowledge Base - a forum thread on the official game forums.
• Official Forged Alliance forums
• The Supreme Commander wiki in Wikia
• Gamespot faction profiles: UEF, Cybran, Aeon