Galactic Assault: Prisoner of Power is the latest turn-based strategy game to come from developer Wargaming.net. Based on a popular Soviet novel, Galactic Assault is a sci-fi turn-based strategy set on a distant planet. While the game carries a license, it still does very little to offer a truly compelling sci-fi story or compelling gameplay, and is generally a ho-hum experience that even the most hardcore of strategy fans will have trouble staying interested in.

Drawing much of its concept from a successful and popular novel (Inhabited Island by Soviet writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky), you’d think that Galactic Assault would have some great story elements going for it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, as the story as presented in the game sells the book short, particularly if you have never read the book (something I admit). You are a soldier thrown into an epic conquest between four warring races vying for control over a single planet. The storyline isn’t anything new or terribly engaging (in fact, it’s somewhat convoluted and hard to follow), so the fact that the game wears its endorsement so proudly is a bit of a lost cause.

On the gameplay side of things, Galactic Assault does a few things pretty well. The camera angles are controllable with the WASD keys, and feel pretty intuitive when it comes to navigating around the map. The interface is a bit too simplistic for most hardcore turn-based strat-fans, but it actually helps the game become a bit more wieldy and easier for newcomers. Regardless, this development will turn-off turn-based fans, as it almost serves to make the game feel more like an RTS than a, er, TBS.

However, the game is just a bit too average after that. There really isn’t anything here that hasn’t been done better in another game previously. As far as the turn-based strategy genre goes, the game does not bring any new elements to the table. You have four different races to choose from the onset, each with their own recognizable units throughout the battlefield. You move these units around on a grid (even though it’s not lined out as such on screen, it’s still there), each with their own strengths and attributes. Not much in the way of creativity to be found in Galactic Assault.

Graphically, the game isn’t much better. The environments are bright and colorful, but not terribly detailed. The same goes for the units and special effects, as the presentation is generally ho-hum throughout, which is a disappointing development, especially considering what the strategy genre has been able to pump out over the past year or so.

The sound is not likely to impress you either. The music is very standard fare for the genre or for sci-fi games as a whole, and the sound effects aren’t likely to dazzle you.

So it is for Galactic Assault: Prisoner of Power. The game relies on its subject matter to pull it through decidedly average gameplay elements, but even then the story is too convoluted to really hold your attention. Considering that there are essentially two factions of strat-fans, RTS lovers and TBS lovers, this game’s average play when compared to RTS games will likely turn them away, while the simplified interface will likely shy away the hardcore TBS fans out there.

Gameplay: 6.5
The gameplay is turn-based, but feels more like an RTS due to pacing and the simplified interface. The game’s camera is pretty intuitive and easy to navigate around the battlefield, but other than that, the game does little to separate itself from the rest of the pack.

Graphics: 6.5
The graphics are nothing to get excited about, with some weak unit models and environmental textures.

Sound: 6.5
Standard sound effects and stock music line out the audio presentation.

Difficulty: Medium

Multiplayer: 6.0
One-on-one deathmatch, and that’s about it.

Concept: 5.0
Even though the storyline is drawn from a popular (in Russia, at least) sci-fi novel, the presentation makes it so convoluted that it’s tough to stay interested.

Overall: 6.5
A ho-hum experience throughout, Galactic Assault is average at best. The simplified interface will turn off TBS gamers, while RTS fans will find much more interesting options on the market.