The story, while very basic in terms of the whole storytelling aspect, has dramatic effects on the gameplay of Earth 2150. In a somewhat unconventional plot, Earth 2150 has players scrambling units in an effort to escape the planet, not take it over. War has apparently created so much global damage that the Earth is moving closer to the sun, a lot closer. To avoid becoming crispy critters the leaders tell you to resource ore, unfortunately that is the primary goal of the other two factions. This of course leads to conflict, which forces the player to prioritize resources not only for their base, but for the escape effort as well. The dual need for resources, as well as other added enhancements is what creates a few new play mechanics into the older real-time strategy model.

There are three sides to the war, each distinct in their own way. One faction uses older technology like tanks and helicopters, another uses mechs and other robotic drones, while the last race uses hover vehicles and ballistic missiles. The methods of resource gather for each faction differs depending on the technology. The unit balance for the most part is still pretty solid, all units are able to hold their own, but each side still demands its own style of play.

The most important thing to remember is that there is always one existing main base aside from the base camp you build in each mission. The function of the main base is to allow players to research new technology, gather resources more efficiently, and build troops for the next mission. This area is very safe, and allows some planning to be done. In most respects this would make the game too easy, allowing the player to simply amass a large force and transport them to their mission base using the landing pads. The twist that keeps this from occurring closely relates to the story itself. The planet will explode in roughly 180 days. The player has 180 days to gather the required resources by participating in missions and the time slowly counts down during and between missions. This means players can't spend a lot of excess time or resources to accomplish their goals, they need to play smarter than that.

The addition of these two extra victory requirements aids the balance of the single player game quite a bit, but also creates a few issues that at times can be maddening. A game can be lost easily despite the fact the enemy forces are being driven back, and at times the demand for resources from the main base are far too demanding considering the attacking force. The game becomes more about smart resource management and less about combat. Combat becomes the secondary condition that backs up the main goal of gathering and maintaining the proper resource limit. Although this type of gameplay is inventive, the strain of a proper defense/offense can lead to the instant loss of a game.

The game is displayed with really well done 3D terrain, units, and buildings. The weather effects are actually a really nice addition visually, but they also play a tiny role in the game with the changes they have on visibility. Topware has also added the daytime/nighttime effects, which naturally has the night lending its cloak of darkness to any battle strategy, while the daytime makes for more risky assaults.

Some of the more impressive aspects of Earth 2150 are the research/upgrade options. While the title follows suit with most real-time strategy titles by offering tech upgrades that offer completely new units, Earth 2150 allows the upgrade of existing units/buildings as well. This adds a few new options to the direction the construction of a strong offensive force will move to. It is also important to remember that while new technology may be available, the proper resource flow must be maintained, and the clock must be watched. Getting off the planet is far more vital than defeating the enemy on the battlefield.

The sounds for the most part are standard fare. The unit's acknowledgements tend to fade in an out, which could be some sort of bug, but the music at times can be very overpowering, another possibility. The in-game briefings are pathetic; the most a person gets is Earth 2150's version of a readme file, filled with the mission description. The game itself starts off with an intro that hints at something epic, but quickly turns into a techno dance rhythm with a lot of mechs shooting things. The story's presentation itself disintegrates beyond that point leaving the main goal of escaping the planet the only constant in the game's universe. This is something that could leave a lot of players wanting halfway through the title.

As I have pointed out a few times, resources are key, and this changes the name of the game completely. The type of foresight and micromanagement required lends more to the type of concentration required for titles like anything found in the Close Combat series. There are a lot of things to keep track of, and the player must keep a head for resources above all else, and that alone may be hard for some gamers to do. The game's different approach does offer a very solid game, but don't be fooled by looks, this game is a lot deeper than Total Annihilation.

Take away the intense (for a real-time strategy title) micromanagement and add some plot and this is what Command and Conquer 2 should have been. While other games have leapt to the completely 3D realm, Earth 2150 does show a good amount of visual polish in this already conquered visual perspective. The camera works well, but could use some work on the zoom feature. The story is really weak beyond the main goal, but the gameplay is challenging in its own right. Topware Interactive has made a solid real-time strategy title with some interesting gameplay elements, but buyers should research a little and know what they are buying into before the final purchase.