Description
Scan an Installation while rumbling with enemy fighters.

Storyline:
The storyline is a horrible idea that is executed horribly. Apparently, almost all of our post-14 year War technology is powered by a rare element that we can't get ahold of now, so we're back to ML-16s and MX-50s. Yeah. Sure. This is made even less beliveable by the lack of shields on SHIVAN fighters - maybe we can't get this element, but hey, the Shivans can't either? I don't think so... there is <i>no</i> basis for this plot idea at all, and no explanation is given. The Vasudans are most definately <i>not</i> reduced to a few colonies, as the command briefing declares. Not to mention the total skeleton-ness of the in-game plot. After all, <i>after</i> I saw Shivan craft launch from the station, I scanned it... and was told that the readings were strange. No, really? Couln't have guessed that myself.

Balance:
Balance? Huh? There's balance here? All the player gets is an Apollo with dual ML-16s and a pack of MX-50s; why not a Ulysses, since there's only one launcher loaded with missles anyway? Noselection of ships is available, of course, and the enemy is present in such swarming numbers that I needed to play on Super Easy to win. Sad.

Design:
Well, from a technical perspective everything's peachy, but how is Beta wing supposed to arrive so quickly if they're on another mission? And why do the Shivan ships not have any sheilds? And <i>why the hell are there enemy Terran ships???</i> They're not even explained at all! This smacks of "Whee! I can do neat stuff with FRED!". The enemy comes in huge waves and the player - if he's only interested in winning; that is, not having fun at all - can simply dash to the station (12+ clicks away), scan it, and jump out. At the end, the bad guys win... but why? Isn't an Orion on the way? Why are so few fighters available to the GTA? I'd think that for a situation as important as recapturing a whole damn Arcadia, more would be provided...

Gameplay:
You've got a choice here. Dash-scan-jump... or "<CENSORED> <CENSORED>in <CENSORED>!!!!!!!!" Huge, frustrating fight among the enemy, or a sprint to victory, neither having any fun at all.

Other Thoughts:
Yawn.