Pick of Field Commander

[T.Tashi]

It's pretty cool. You can play an opponent in real time, or you can play it like chess over a longer period. So, who on VGR do I get to slap around? :)

[Gadfly2317]

I'm not that far into the game yet, but my very early impressions are positive. This game totally left me cold when I played it at G.A.M.E. last year (it even crashed on me), but it's really the kind of game you can't get a sense of in a short demo.

So far, it is EXACTLY the same gameplay as Nintendo's Advance Wars (the original, not the DS version which added a lot of new stuff to the formula). This is AWESOME--if Sony was going to copy a Nintendo game for their handheld, this is the one most suited to the PsP! So far, I've only noticed tiny tweaks, like the ability to destroy forests, and the ability to move one unit off a building mid-capture, and move another one on and continue capturing without having to restart with the city at its full hit point level. While I'm hoping the game will reveal better AI or some more advanced strategy down the road, I'm pretty ok with it taking the course it has.

So, why not just pick up Advance Wars? Graphics. Even if it's just a cosmetic thing, the look and style of this game is really tight, even nice water effects. The top down view is more or less the same as AW, but for battle sequences, instead of cutting away to an animation, the camera dramatically swoops down from above for a close up shot of the playing field, where you can see the units attack each other.

Also, the music blows Advance Wars away. I've always hated Advance Wars goofy repetitive music--always have to turn it off. In this game, the music is very dramatic and suited to what the game is about: war. Stylistically, this game is a little more generic, but also a little more appropriate to the subject matter.

Story in these tactics games is kind of a wash. While AW was overly cheery-anime-war, Field Commander tries to be a little more realistic, but is still kinda of adolescent in its goofy machismo. Regardless, those little interspersed bits of story are just there to set up the gameplay, and once you are in the game, these games are basically just glorified chess.

This is all early impressions. The Advance Wars series offers incredibly deep gameplay and lots of modes. I haven't gotten to explore the other modes in Field Commander yet, or try out the level editor.

Based on what I've played, I'd recommend this one to all PsP owners looking for a deep strategic game. This one goes next to Lumines and Hot Shots Golf as reasons I'm glad to have a PsP.

The way field commander looks and plays on this system has re-inignited my desire for a hand-held Star Craft. Seeing how the RTS "Age of Empires" was adapted as turn-based on DS, but seeing the graphics, voice-acting and sound of a strategy game on PsP. . .I now believe the best handheld possible would be a turn-based Starcraft for PsP.

Pick up Field Commander. Support the genre. This one is well worth the $39.

[Glockstar]

Okay then. I guess it's decided: I'm getting this game.

[T.Tashi]

Just to confirm everything Gadfly said. That pretty much describes it to a T. So far the AI is a little weak. Maybe it gets harder later on, but I made a huge mistake and the AI should've wiped the floor with me, but I managed to recover with little effort.

Sony really put their foot in the multiplayer aspects. Even if you only have one psp, you can just pass it between you. Of course there's the age old problem of people disconnecting on you online if they're losing. I think there are rankings at fieldcommandergame.com, but I haven't checked that out yet. And yeah I think the PSP is screaming for a RTS space opera, or even a Star Control would be sweet.

[Glockstar]

Got the game.

And am loving it!


Also, the music blows Advance Wars away. I've always hated Advance Wars goofy repetitive music--always have to turn it off. In this game, the music is very dramatic and suited to what the game is about: war.

Yeah, there's this one song they play that sounds very... Terminator-ish. It's awesome!


The game-save prior to my last said I was only 14% done with the campaign... but I am ready for some online mano-to-mano! Who wants to go?!

[Gadfly2317]

The enemy AI in this game really is terrible. More than once I've been like "oh, I'm screwed now. . .made a stupid mistake, left myself wide open, all the enemy has to do is waste these two units I left wide open" . . . but then, the AI will just ignore it, or for no reason retreat, or chase some grunt or something instead of taking out my rocket launchers.

So many comsetic improvements, but this one is light years away from dethroning Advance Wars or Fire Emblem in the handheld strategy arena. Still, I'm enjoying it anyway, flaws and all, B- game that it is. God, if only we'd get a FF: Tactics or a Nippon Ichi game for the PsP.

I'd love to take Field Commander online. I never did set up an actual wi-fi network at home, I just have the DS USB stick since until now I never had any reason to take anything else online.

[Glockstar]

God I love these missions!

You guys ready to take back your comments on the enemy A.I. yet?

[T.Tashi]

God I love these missions!

You guys ready to take back your comments on the enemy A.I. yet?

Hehe... nope. Not quite. Although they do get tougher. There was one mission that put its foot in my butt twice before I figured out a strategy that worked.

[Glockstar]

Well, it's erratic.

So I guess I need to hold off on judging it myself.

There was one mission that I thought the A.I. played to perfection. They didn't waste any movements; they sent the appropriate unit - and when applicable, the appropriate strengthed unit - against mine; and they bought smart (even having me on the defensive in that regard as well)... they did everything I would've done. Much to my dismay. So many times that mission I thought: "As long as he doesn't do this, I'll be okay here. Omg, he isn't... yep, he is... I can't believe it. I'm effed."

But then the mission right after that the computer was back to it's stupid ways. Attacking with innapropriate units, etc. The wasting of moves is particularly bothersome - because I'm not a child anymore and I don't want anybody letting me win anything, and they seem like such a waste.

I have to wonder tho'... if maybe it's all by design. There are dozens of different types of military units to choose from to take into battle, and it seems like every mission they're introducing a new enemy unit lead by a new bad guy. Well, they differentiate the units by giving them each different strengths and weaknesses, and they (attempt) to differentiate the enemy unit leaders by giving them a (supposed) personality. (This is one way of how they work a story into the otherwise simple mission structure of the campaign mode.) So an example here is: 'For this mission you'll be going up against the such-and-such company, lead by so-and-so. The such-and-such company has immense firepower and is tough defensively, but so-and-so is a rookie, and is liable to make a few mistakes - make sure you capitilize on them if/when he does.' You know?

I haven't paid close enough attention to check this theory for accuracy myself tho'.

I'm also reluctant to play the game online at this point, because I'm still at a point where they're still introducing new units and commanders every mission. At the end of which, as you know, these new units and commanders become available for use in the game's other modes - i.e. multiplayer.

Also... how do you know who you're going to play against online? I'm not about to start up a game that some jackass is just going to quit about halfway thru. I'm used to Xbox Live and the Friends List - does the PSP have such a network? Could we even setup a game between us?

[Gadfly2317]

It's not perfect, but I'm still loving it.

Field Commander has reminded me why I even bought a PsP, and I can't wait for some more of my favorite handheld genre on the PsP. The next one that I have high hopes for is Dungeons and Dragons Tactics.

[T.Tashi]

Well, it's erratic.

So I guess I need to hold off on judging it myself.

There was one mission that I thought the A.I. played to perfection. They didn't waste any movements; they sent the appropriate unit - and when applicable, the appropriate strengthed unit - against mine; and they bought smart (even having me on the defensive in that regard as well)... they did everything I would've done. Much to my dismay. So many times that mission I thought: "As long as he doesn't do this, I'll be okay here. Omg, he isn't... yep, he is... I can't believe it. I'm effed."

But then the mission right after that the computer was back to it's stupid ways. Attacking with innapropriate units, etc. The wasting of moves is particularly bothersome - because I'm not a child anymore and I don't want anybody letting me win anything, and they seem like such a waste.

I have to wonder tho'... if maybe it's all by design. There are dozens of different types of military units to choose from to take into battle, and it seems like every mission they're introducing a new enemy unit lead by a new bad guy. Well, they differentiate the units by giving them each different strengths and weaknesses, and they (attempt) to differentiate the enemy unit leaders by giving them a (supposed) personality. (This is one way of how they work a story into the otherwise simple mission structure of the campaign mode.) So an example here is: 'For this mission you'll be going up against the such-and-such company, lead by so-and-so. The such-and-such company has immense firepower and is tough defensively, but so-and-so is a rookie, and is liable to make a few mistakes - make sure you capitilize on them if/when he does.' You know?

I haven't paid close enough attention to check this theory for accuracy myself tho'.

I'm also reluctant to play the game online at this point, because I'm still at a point where they're still introducing new units and commanders every mission. At the end of which, as you know, these new units and commanders become available for use in the game's other modes - i.e. multiplayer.

Also... how do you know who you're going to play against online? I'm not about to start up a game that some jackass is just going to quit about halfway thru. I'm used to Xbox Live and the Friends List - does the PSP have such a network? Could we even setup a game between us?

So far the only thing I looked at online was the custom maps you can download. I'll check it out and get back to ya.

[Renzatic Gear]

I'd love to play this game, I really would. But unfortunately I accidently broke my PSP by....er....turning it on. My power switch now floats somewhere above where it's supposed to set, and I can no longer turn the damn thing on or charge it.

I'm thinking about going to Wal-Mart wearing a pair of dirty overalls and doing the "my electric movie machine dun got broked" spiel, and see if they let me return it. It's either that or pay Sony an arm and a leg to fix a problem that shouldn't have been there to begin with.

[Gadfly2317]

I'd love to play this game, I really would. But unfortunately I accidently broke my PSP by....er....turning it on. My power switch now floats somewhere above where it's supposed to set, and I can no longer turn the damn thing on or charge it.

I'm thinking about going to Wal-Mart wearing a pair of dirty overalls and doing the "my electric movie machine dun got broked" spiel, and see if they let me return it. It's either that or pay Sony an arm and a leg to fix a problem that shouldn't have been there to begin with.

The power switch broke? That sucks. It always seemed like an odd switch; I don't like the fact that the DS now uses a similar type of spring switch.

[Glockstar]

Aaaaaaargh! How the #@$% do you get online with this thing?!

Wtf are they talking about, "password"?!

[Gadfly2317]

I'm still having a lot of fun with this one in single player mode. It's my sit-at-coffee shop game of choice right now. Next time I'm at a wi-fi spot I'll try online and see if I can answer your question.

I tried out the editor yesterday, and was pretty dissapointed. It isn't a map editor; you can't create your own terrain designs like you can in advance wars, you can just place buildings and units around unlocked maps, and then set the conditions. Pretty damned skimpy. BOOOO.

And I was going to see what other missions aside from the campaign were like, and mostly as far as I can tell so far, it looks like you just replay missions you've beaten. The other maps are for multi-player. Can you play these multi-player maps against computer controlled enemies like in Advanced Wars?

I know it may seem like harping to keep bringing up "well advance wars had. . . " but they did it to themselves by copying so much of the formula, but leaving out so much of the meat.

[Glockstar]

Okay, I've signed up with Station.com, let's see if that does anything.

Tho' that was a pain in the azz, let me tell you what. It's harder to pick a username for that network than it is for Xbox Live. Glockstar was taken; MisterUnlucky was taken (you're not allowed spaces); DoctorDetroit was taken; Hooloovoo was taken... I tried over a dozen different "clever" names... #@$%! And it's one of those poorly done login dealios too, where you have to re-type your password and re-click boxes and whatnot everytime you try a new name. :mad: Anyways, so I went back to Glockstar and put a number on the end: GLOCKSTAR11 (I put it in all caps too, because by now I was pretty pissed) is my Station.com Player name.

Have you guys checked out the Field Commander official website? http://fieldcommander.station.sony.com/

Sign up, and then do a player search on me. I tried to do one on myself, but it says, "player not found".

So I see that they keep stats on everybody - and that they have a leaderboard - now I just need to figure out how to get a game going...

[Glockstar]

Well #@$% me all over. Accessing the Station.com Forums requires another totally seperate registration! Which is another pain in the azz process - capped off by a deadend webpage upon completion: no links; no nothing. :mad:

[Glockstar]

Well, I guess that did it. I enter the username and password I created for Station.com into Field Commander and that gets me online.

I'm still not sure what's going on tho'.

I checked out the Transmission games - there were three showing. The first one I clicked on came back, 'no longer available' - or something like that. The second was good tho'. And I got right up to the point just before launching it... before I backed out. It was determined that I would command The Regulars division, with Brick as my CO... well, who determined that? Did the other guy? Did I? Can that be changed? And how?

Then for shucks and clucks I downloaded some guys map. I thought I did anyway. Now I can't find where it is; I can't play it. Right after it downloads you can Rate It... but wouldn't you want to play it first? Oh I think so.

Wtf, man.

[Gadfly2317]

Wow. And I thought exchanging friend codes and setting up meeting times in the DS Forum here was inconvenient! If you get a game going, tell us about it. Thanks for the updates, Glock11.

[Gadfly2317]

Played my first online match today. I'm not sure what all that stuff was you were talking about, Glock. All I did was go into the neighborhood wi-fi coffee shop, sit down, go to "infrastructure mode" and then there was a lobby. At the bottom of the screen it showed twelve players were online, but none available to compete against. About 2 minutes sitting there, this guy "Ralph" hosted a game, I joined it, and a few seconds later we were playing.

It was great; pretty evenly matched competitor it seemed like. I was unexpectedly nervous--my virgin match. But it rocked; a lot of back and forth over the center turf area in our 90 minute match but my early wreckless aggression and some better decisions regarding how to handle his Stealth fighters handed me the match. He disconnected when he was down to his last two units so I had to "save match." I can't blame the guy, there was no need to draw out the last few minutes of agony, but I wish he could have just "surrendered" or something so I could have gotten the win (maybe you can.)

I actually think the guy I was playing was a little more experienced, because he did several things I wouldn't have thought of, but I did good at paying attention when he made a really smart decision and tried to counter with a similar move (like building the appropriate units to what he was deploying.)

None of us have actually read the instructions on the online mode have we? I was joking about Nintendo's crappy friends code, but then, the way I was randomly matched with this guy was about like any Nintendo game; but does Field Commander have a method of letting you hook up with your friends?

Anyway, THAT was a freaking blast. I was playing with headphones, hoping my battery would last the match, totally adrenalin despite the turn-based play. Whatever the sales of this game turn out to be, it's a killer app to me.

[Glockstar]

Played my first online match today. I'm not sure what all that stuff was you were talking about, Glock. All I did was go into the neighborhood wi-fi coffee shop, sit down, go to "infrastructure mode" and then there was a lobby. At the bottom of the screen it showed twelve players were online, but none available to compete against. About 2 minutes sitting there, this guy "Ralph" hosted a game, I joined it, and a few seconds later we were playing.

Huh? You didn't have to enter in a username or password?(!) (I'm not sure if I even want to know the answer to this.)


It was great; pretty evenly matched competitor it seemed like. I was unexpectedly nervous--my virgin match. But it rocked; a lot of back and forth over the center turf area in our 90 minute match but my early wreckless aggression and some better decisions regarding how to handle his Stealth fighters handed me the match. He disconnected when he was down to his last two units so I had to "save match." I can't blame the guy, there was no need to draw out the last few minutes of agony, but I wish he could have just "surrendered" or something so I could have gotten the win (maybe you can.)

I actually think the guy I was playing was a little more experienced, because he did several things I wouldn't have thought of, but I did good at paying attention when he made a really smart decision and tried to counter with a similar move (like building the appropriate units to what he was deploying.)

None of us have actually read the instructions on the online mode have we? I was joking about Nintendo's crappy friends code, but then, the way I was randomly matched with this guy was about like any Nintendo game; but does Field Commander have a method of letting you hook up with your friends?

Anyway, THAT was a freaking blast. I was playing with headphones, hoping my battery would last the match, totally adrenalin despite the turn-based play.

Cool.

Thru all of my trials and tribulations yesterday I did learn a few other, valuable things on the side. Important things to watch out for:

- Pay attention to the "Details" of the match you are about to join. There are reports of hosts stacking the decks in their favor (like, having you start out a with just a couple of infantry and $2000, while they start out with snipers and $40,000), trying to catch people unawares and insuring themselves of an easy victory. (#@$%ing people, man.)

- Also, because many games get interrupted in progress (either by internet disconnects - either intentional or unintentional - or by design (break-time)) some of the matches you will see in the lobby could be "Saved" games: you could be taking a spot that is "reserved" for someone else.

- Or not. There are, as we knew there would be, reports of a lot of quitters out there. So the host might welcome you finishing up the game for someone else. Of course, there might also be a good reason for that as well (i.e. he's just a couple of turns away from assured victory... good for him; not-so-much for you).

- Instant-messaging of any kind is not supported by this game. Nor are there "friends-lists". So what people are doing is setting up threads/forums where they can meet up to arrange or discuss matches. We'll probably want to do that, if the three of us ever want to play against each other.


Whatever the sales of this game turn out to be, it's a killer app to me.

Shoot, I'm thinking it's a veritable GOTY candidate. (Of course, a lot of that will depend on how this online portion of the game turns out for me.)

[Gadfly2317]

Huh? You didn't have to enter in a username or password?(!) (I'm not sure if I even want to know the answer to this.)


Well, it populated a username and password "Valis" and a generic numerical password which I just hit "OK" on or whatever and it worked. Maybe I've gamed online via PsP already and forgotten. VALIS must have been what I named my PsP, because it is from a Philip K. Dick Novel and stands for Vast Active Living Intelligent System. I just thought it was catchy. I myself am far from a "Vast Active Living Intelligence System" but am not quite as far gone as a remote control that has been thumb-rubbed of all its numbers.



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Pay attention to the "Details" of the match you are about to join. There are reports of hosts stacking the decks in their favor (like, having you start out a with just a couple of infantry and $2000, while they start out with snipers and $40,000), trying to catch people unawares and insuring themselves of an easy victory. (#@$%ing people, man.) Arrgghh!!!! Well, sounds like you have hooked up with some online experiences and they weren't quite as lucky as mine . Let's all keep pushing for better AI, because sorry, I'd rather have truly deep AI in my gaming than a sloppy randmom "human."


- Also, because many games get interrupted in progress (either by internet disconnects - either intentional or unintentional - or by design (break-time)) some of the matches you will see in the lobby could be "Saved" games: you could be taking a spot that is "reserved" for someone else.

- Or not. There are, as we knew there would be, reports of a lot of quitters out there. So the host might welcome you finishing up the game for someone else. Of course, there might also be a good reason for that as well (i.e. he's just a couple of turns away from assured victory... good for him; not-so-much for you).

- Instant-messaging of any kind is not supported by this game. Nor are there "friends-lists". So what people are doing is setting up threads/forums where they can meet up to arrange or discuss matches. We'll probably want to do that, if the three of us ever want to play against each other.




Shoot, I'm thinking it's a veritable GOTY candidate. (Of course, a lot of that will depend on how this online portion of the game turns out for me.)

Good to see you digging a game that is not Oblivion. I think you are going to vote Oblivion as GOTY!

[Glockstar]

And things continue to go poorly for me. :(

First of all, I have to login and accept the user agreement thingie everytime I want to go online or even switch from Infrastructure mode to Transmission mode and vice-versa. What a pain.

But I finally started an online match (yay for me!). I waited for about five minutes to see if a room would pop up, but when none did I decided to start my own. After about five minutes of waiting there, someone joined. I didn't recognize the name as being one of the assclowns to watch out for, so I accepted him (the host has the option to reject joiners and wait for someone else to come along) and away we went. And all was going smoothly... for three rounds. At the end of my opponent's third turn my PSP all of a sudden froze up on me. (Why?!) And I had to restart the game from scratch - and by that I mean, power the whole damn system back up and go thru the games' title sequence and everything. When I went back online (which, again, meant signing on and accepting the user agreement) and went back to the Infrastructure mode I saw an option to 'continue a saved game'... which I thought, "whew"... but when I clicked on it it said there were no saved games. So that was the end of that. :(


P.S. Oblivion is probably my leading candidate for GOTY, but that's not saying much really. Yes, I've put in over 300 hours into it, and overrall I'd say it's an incredible experience, but there are way too many technical issues with the game that I would actually be uncomfortable giving it the GOTY Award. Something better has to come along.

[Gadfly2317]

Yes, I've put in over 300 hours into it, and overrall I'd say it's an incredible experience, but there are way too many technical issues with the game that I would actually be uncomfortable giving it the GOTY Award. Something better has to come along.

My inner fanboy wants to blurt Zelda Twilight Wii. . . but, I'm hoping Ps2's Okami takes me somewhere I've never been before.

I had to do the user-agreement thingie. I guess I lucked out first time with a solid connection and a good opponent. Maybe it helps that I live in the wi-fi capital of the US.

Good luck getting an online match of Field Commander going, because it is worth it. That one match alone, along with the caffeine, really gave this game the handheld edge in my eyes, and puts it up there with the very best of what handheld has to offer.