Virgin PLAY today announced the signing of its publishing contract with I - Imagine studios to publish Final Armada for PAL territories PlayStation 2 and PSP. Here is more info on the game:
Overview Final Armada is a mission - based vehicle combat game. Players will battle in a war for a newly discovered and immensely powerful crystal energy resource.
PS2 Screens:
Packed with ferocious combat action, shock and awe special effects and a filmic story line, Final Armada is sure to be wildly addictive and explosive good fun.
The player will control ?The Aggressor? a transforming hovercraft that can be upgraded by collecting alien technology crystals. Players will also be able to take command of the mothership?s gun turrets.
During the game missions, the player will be able to issue commands to his wingman. The wingman can be used to attack specific targets or to unleash a super attack.
Unique Selling Points (USPs) ? With both wheeled and hover modes the Aggressor vehicle gives the player realistic multi-mode physics and strategic choice for vehicular combat ? Issue commands to your wingman for aerial cover, attack support, and delivery of super attacks. ? Battle enemies using the turrets of the Monolith mobile base ? Earn numerous vehicle upgrades by collecting alien Nano-techs dispersed in levels throughout the game ? Explosive vehicle combat action: fight and destroy squadrons of enemy vehicles as well as colossal bosses. Battles are jam-packed with explosions and flying missiles.
Game Modes Single Player Story Mode
In this mode players take on the role of Lt. Zake Andersen as he battles to regain control of Taro-469 after a devastating alien assault.. The story mode contains 20 levels filled with a variety of mission objectives and battles.
Story Mode Overview The story mode will begin with Zake in a training simulator. Here Lieutenant Hawk will guide the player through a series of handling and combat manoeuvres to familiarize the player with the gameplay controls.
Most missions will have the player controlling the Aggressor ground vehicle. However some missions will allow the player to control a turret.
During the briefing, mission objectives will be highlighted to the player. These objectives must be met in order to successfully complete a level. In some missions new objectives will be added midway through the mission.
In addition to completing the mission, players can collect Nanotech gems. Some gems will be hidden in the level while others will become available after destroying enemies.
Story A guerrilla war is raging on Taro-469 between the human-owned Ecco Corporation and the ruthless alien Naz?Ha over the Lazari crystals, a unique and powerful energy source that seems to be found only on Taro-469.
The Naz?Ha invaded the former corporate colony, massacring the colonists. With their superior technology powered by the Lazari crystal, the Naz?Ha have annihilated four waves of Ecco?s retaliatory attacks over the past six months.
It was only after Ecco was able to capture a Naz?Ha vehicle that the corporation?s scientists were able to unlock the secrets of utilising the energy source and thereby meet the aliens on an equal playing field.
The Background
ECCO Corporation: The ECCO Corporation is one of Earth?s five main Megacorps. As one of the big 5 the ECCO Corporation together with the other Megacorps dominate all economic activity within the Earth Co-prosperity Sphere. Currently employing over 60 million staff across 52 company colonized planets. Being the ?youngest? of the Big 5, ECCO Corp has invested Trillions of e-dollars in planetary explorations and development. Prepared to take more risks then the more conservative Megacorps, ECCO has explored, colonized and set-up mining operations in regions much further out from the Earth Co-prosperity Sphere then any other Megacorp, and is the only Megacorp to have explorations teams and colonies in the Orion Nebula, some 1500 light years from Earth, and over a 1000 light years further away then the furthest earth Colony
Earth Co-prosperity Sphere:
The ECS encompasses 168 planets in a region centred on Earth that stretches out 500 Light years. With 42 major planets each with populations exceeding 1 Billion and tied together by vast networks of interstellar travel lanes. The Megacorps dominate the majority of trade and control all travel between planets. The ECS government although democratically elected, is controlled by the Megacorps.
ECSDF: The ECS Defence Forces have a two-fold mission. The primary mission is the protection of the economic lifeblood of the ECS, the shipping lanes and the vast fleets of trade transports that move between planets. The secondary mission is the protection of the major planets from the unlikely event of a hostile alien force.
To date the EDF has primarily been engaged in anti-piracy mission, and the suppression of labour revolts on smaller colonies.
The EDF is fully funded by the Megacorps, and all Megacorps have to contribute fleets of Battle Armada?s for use by the EDF. The Big 5 Megacorps each have to contribute 10 Armada?s, each Armada consists of 25 Battle Ships and over 50 thousand combat troops. The EDF forces are used only for planetary defence and patrolling the space lanes of the ECS. Planets that are outside of the ECS are protected by the Megacorps Military divisions own Armadas. Each Megacorp is restricted to a maximum of 5 Armada?s that are not under the direct control of the ECS.
Orion Nebula: A Luminous cloud of gas and dust 1,500 light years away, in the constellation Orion, from which stars are forming. It is about 15 light years in diameter, and contains enough gas to make a cluster of thousands of stars. At the nebula?s centre is a group of hot young stars, called the Trapezium, which make the surrounding gas glow. The nebula is visible to the naked eye as a misty patch below the belt of Orion.
Taro-469: Taro-469 was discovered when the Exploration Probe EP-469?s FTL star drive failed and it re-emerged into normal space not far from the planet. The Recovery ship under commander of Captain Mellisa Taro, was dispatched to recover and repair the probe. The newly discovered planet was named Taro-469 after Captain Taro and the exploration Probe EP-469.
Taro-469 is unique in that it is the only planet in the solar system and has 6 moons in close proximity, one of which is being pulled apart by tidal forces. The sun, a white Dwarf star has not been named yet as the ECCO Corporations Naming committee is still investigating whether Captain Taro naming the Star ?sleepy? after one of the Dwarfs in the Snow White Fairy tale is appropriate.
The mineral survey team dispatched to Taro-469 found a vast array of previously unknown minerals that have proven to be highly useful. The mining and colonization of Tar-469 was accelerated. The first mining of the planet started only 6 months after its discovery.
In the fifteen years since its discovery Taro-469 had become the single most profitable planet within the ECCO Corporation.
Conveys of robotic freighters have been delivering mega-tons of minerals from Taro-469 uninterrupted for the past 12 years until they suddenly stopped 3 years ago together with all communications with the colonists and miners.
The story so far:
After losing communications with Taro-469, the ECCO Corp regional HQ, diverted the exploration probe EP-1843 to investigate. When communication with the probe was abruptly lost, alarm bells started going of, and the 1st ECCO Armada was dispatched to Investigate. The 1st Armada abruptly vanished as soon as they transited out of Sub-Space in orbit around Taro-469.
The 2nd Armada was sent, this time with orders to transit into the outer reaches of Taro-469 and investigate from a distance. When the 2nd Armada failed to report, panicked management sent in the 3rd & 4th Armada together with orders to annihilate everything in site.
Only 2 badly damages cruisers managed to transit back to HQ, with the devastating news of the complete destruction of the combined Armada?s and the occupation of Taro-469 and the surrounding space by unknown superior Alien Force.
The destruction of 4 of its 5 Armada?s was a significant blow to the ECCO Corp, sending shockwaves through senior management, and precipitating an attempted boardroom coup by middle management.
With most management either ducking for cover or fighting corporate boardroom battles the ECCO Military took direct control of all remaining combat forces. Their first task was to investigate and find out more about this unknown alien race.
With only one last Armada left, and no hope of the ECS Military allowing the ECCO Corp to withdraw any of its Armada?s committed to the ECSDF the company was forced to improvise new tactics.
The ECCO Corporation Military sent in the Planetary Scouts, an elite mobile fighting force, whose mission was to scout, find out more about this alien menace and to discover what is actually happening on Taro-469.
The penetration by a small number of Planetary Scouts was successful and it was discovered that the aliens had invaded the planet, destroying most of the colony and its mining facilities. All that was left of the previous 4 Armada?s sent by the ECCO Corp, was a debris field of wreckage strew in orbit around Taro-469.
The Planetary Scouts discover that the aliens are harvesting and using the Lazarus Crystals and this seems to be their primary motivation for the attack on Taro-469 and the destruction of the ECCO corps mightily armadas.
The ECCO CORP and its colonists had previously ignored the Lazarus crystals as just an interesting phenomenon on the planet and nothing as important as the minerals that had been mined by the ECCO Corp.
The Alien Naz?Ha:
The Naz?Ha, are an ancient migratory race. They traverse the galaxy in enormous swarms of thousands of spaceships, stopping only every few thousands years, to harvest the Lazarus crystals, on planets that had been seeded Millennia before, in previous migrations.
The Lazarus Crystal is more the just a power source for the Naz?Ha, it is used in almost every aspect of Naz?Ha life. Ecco?s Scientist?s studying the unique properties of the crystal believe that it may even be a new form of life, or maybe even part of the Naz?Ha reproductive cycle, but these are only speculations.
Ecco scientists have discovered that the crystals have enormous energy storage capacities, and believe that crystals not only grow as they store more and more energy, but that they do so over thousands of years. Absorbing, all forms of radiation and converting that into energy
Characters:
Col. Zake Andersen, 26. Zake has always been a loyal Company Man. He was orphaned at 11 when his parents, who both worked at Ecco Corp. were killed in an industrial accident..
Zake was taken in by Ecco and raised in one of the corporation?s private schools, where youth are trained to serve the company. Based on his skills, intelligence and potential, he was recruited for the corporation?s elite security forces.
Flight Lt. Jenna Madrid, 19 Jenna is a prodigy. Young and fiercely competitive, she?s a bit of a hothead, but her superb piloting skills make up for her bravado ? at least most of the time. There is some real chemistry between Jenna and Zake.
Lt Hawk Lieutenant Hawk is a veteran fighter. His knowledge of battle tactics and his unbelievable skills in attack vehicles makes him a highly sought out fighter pilot. On board the Monolith Lieutenant Hawk helps put pilots through their paces in the simulator room.
Professor Zulman Deemed a genius at the age of 12, Professor Zulman was the youngest graduate from Stellar University. His extensive knowledge in nano-technology, led him to join an exploratory mission to Taro-469. Zulman will be key to building new upgrades for vehicles using Nanotech?s discovered on the planet.
Commander Commander Gorgon is here to oversee the mission. He?s a veteran of many company campaigns and perhaps getting a little over the hill. He?s a hard man, but fair.
Vehicles
Aggressor The Aggressor PS-CV is the main player vehicle that is utilized in the majority of missions of the game. The vehicle can transform between two modes, driving mode and hover mode.
In driving mode the Aggressor navigates the terrain using highly durable all-weather wheels. In this mode the vehicle is able to travel faster and recharge its shields.
The hover mode is ideal for combat as it allows for faster turning and also strafing which maybe crucial during a head to head encounter. The vehicles main speed is slower in hover mode, and shield regeneration is disabled as all energy is routed to the hover capability.
Aggressor in hover mode
The Aggressor weapon systems consist of both primary and secondary weapons. There are two primary weapons, one in each of the vehicle modes. The driving mode is equipped with the T12 Gatling Gun, which is highly effective against enemy armour, while the hover mode utilizes the Rapid Burst Laser weapon system, which is more effective against shields. Both these primary weapons need to remain within acceptable temperature ranges in order to function. Hence if they are continually fired these weapons may overheat and will require time while the weapon electronic cooling system brings the temperatures back to acceptable levels.
The secondary weapon system has up to five weapons that can be interchanged during gameplay. Each weapon has its own characteristics, such as homing, damage and range.
The player throughout the game can upgrade the Aggressor vehicle. Upgrades can be acquired for armour, shield regenerations and weapon systems.
Annihilator The Annihilator Airborne Assault Vehicle is a high altitude hover vehicle that is controlled by the wingman.
Annihilator Airborne Assault Vehicle
Much like the Aggressor the Annihilator has both primary and secondary weapons. In addition the Annihilator can be upgraded with up to three super attacks.
The player can command the wingman to attack specific targets or call the wingman back to defend the Aggressor.
The three super attacks are as follows: Laser Spin This attack can be used against all nearby air units
Bombing Run This super attack can be used against all nearby ground units
Shockwave This super attack effects all nearby air and ground enemy units
Monolith Mobile Base The PS-MB Monolith is the mobile base from which Ecco Corps assaults are launched. Different areas of the mobile base will be visited during the cut-scenes in between missions. When the player is on the mobile base he will be presented with the game menu where he will be able to save the game, change the game options or start the next mission.
The mobile base consists of the following main rooms:
1. Crew quarters This is where the crew sleeps in between missions. Each bunk has its own LCD HUD display, used for private communication.
2. Scientist Lab Once the scientist has been rescued, the scientist lab will become accessible to the player. This is where the player will come to acquire new upgrades for the vehicle.
3. Simulation Room The simulation room is a holographic room with a VR-simulator. This room will be used for training and will also contain a variety of mini-games that the player can compete in. When training is not required, a menu will appear that will allow the player to select the simulation of their choice.
4. Briefing Room Most briefings for each mission will take place in the briefing room. The briefing room seats multiple pilots and has a screen projector that displays the mission waypoints and objectives.
5. Turret Stations The mobile base has numerous turret stations. These are usually controlled by the onboard systems. However during a malfunction the turrets can be controlled manually. When a malfunction occurs Zake will be ordered to take control of a turret and will have to defend the mobile base.
6. Docking Station, Launch Tube & Repair Bay The vehicles are stored in the docking station where repairs are also routinely carried out. Vehicles descend by elevator to the launch tube and are then cleared for departure by the command deck.
7. Bar/Canteen When not in combat most pilots take a well-deserved break at the bar and canteen area. Top pilot scores are recorded on the electronic screen. The pilots like to compete for the number one spot. Part of the story will unfold during conversations between Zake and the other pilots.
8. Command Deck This is where the commander can usually be found. The room consists of the command chair along with stations for communications, navigation and radar.
Vehicle Attributes: Vehicles can have the following attributes: 1. Armour Strength This value determines the strength of the armour. Each weapon can inflict variable damage to the armour. Only once armour reaches 0 is the vehicle destroyed. Vehicles can be upgraded with new and stronger armour types. 2. Shield Strength This value determines the strength for the shield. Most weapons will first need to deplete a vehicles shield in order to penetrate the armour. Shield can be upgraded with new and stronger shield types. 3. Shield Regeneration Vehicles equipped with shield regeneration technology can restore their shields. The speed at which regeneration occurs is dependent on the regeneration upgrade that has been acquired. The Aggressor is limited to regeneration only in the standard driving mode.
Nanotech Upgrades Final Armada will have numerous upgrades for both the Aggressor as well the Annihilator vehicle. A menu with the available upgrades is displayed when the player selects the upgrade option from the main game menu.
Each upgrade requires a fixed number of nanotech crystals in order to be produced. During a game mission players will be able to collect nanotech crystals strewn throughout the level as well as those awarded from destruction of certain enemies and objects.
All of the upgrades will be visible in the upgrade menu from the start of the game, however the stronger the upgrade the higher the amount of nanotech crystals required. Players may choose to forgo simple upgrades in order to acquire stronger upgrades earlier.
Mine Launcher Type: Secondary Weapon Vehicle: Aggressor Nanotech Cost: Weapon Energy Drain: Description: This weapon launches multiple mines ahead of the Aggressor. The mines are proximity based and will explode when vehicles are within their range.
Multi-Plasma Type: Secondary Weapon Vehicle: Aggressor Nanotech Cost: Weapon Energy Drain: Description: This weapon fires six homing plasma projectiles at once. The longer the player holds down the secondary fire button, the more targets will be locked (up to six). When the player releases the fire button the plasma projectiles are launched.
Discharge Type: Secondary Weapon Vehicle: Aggressor Nanotech Cost: Weapon Energy Drain: Description: The discharge weapon is used to disable enemy vehicles. When a vehicle with no shield active is hit, it is disabled for 10 seconds. If a vehicle has shields active then the discharge weapon will drastically reduce the shield, as it is a high impact weapon on shields.
Energy Blast Type: Primary Weapon upgrade Vehicle: Aggressor Nanotech Cost: Weapon Energy Drain: Description: The energy blast is a secondary fire for the primary energy weapon. The player needs to hold down the primary fire button while the energy blast charges up. The longer the player holds the button the stronger the blast.
CEArmor Type: Armor Vehicle: Aggressor and Annihilator Nanotech Cost: Description: This upgrade increases armor strength on both the Aggressor and Annihilator by 50%.
CE Shield Type: Shield Vehicle: Aggressor and Annihilator Nanotech Cost: Description: This upgrade increases shield strength on both the Aggressor and Annihilator by 50%.
CE Weapon Charge Type: Secondary Weapon energy Vehicle: Aggressor and Annihilator Nanotech Cost: Description: This upgrade increases the secondary weapon energy strength on both the Aggressor and Annihilator by 50%.
CE Hover Type: Hover energy Vehicle: Aggressor Nanotech Cost: Description: This upgrade increases the hover energy strength on the Aggressor by 50%.
Laser Spin Type: Annihilator command Vehicle: Annihilator Nanotech Cost: Recharge time: Description: This super attack for the Annihilator will affect air units.
Bombing Run Type: Annihilator command Vehicle: Annihilator Nanotech Cost: Recharge time: Description: When commanded the Annihilator will head off on a bombing run effecting ground units ahead of the Aggressor.
Shockwave Type: Annihilator command Vehicle: Annihilator Nanotech Cost: Recharge time: Description: When commanded the Annihilator will release a shockwave attack that will emanate from its centre. The shockwave will spread out and damage all units within the shockwave radius. The damage effect decreases over distance on the world x plane.
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