The visuals in Universe at War: Earth Assault shine. The game is presented in full HD up to 1080p, and both the in game graphics as well as the cinema scenes look sharp and very nicely detailed. The visuals are a definite help when it comes to how the game is played, simply because they give the battlefield a lot of room for detail, which allows you to zoom out more and get a bigger picture. This is a huge asset to the game because the levels are absolutely huge, and when you have enemies coming at your base from all sides, it is important to be able to see as much as possible.

One big concern I had before playing this game was about the control. So many RTS games rely on the point and click controls that I wasn't sure how this type of game would translate to the Xbox 360. Fortunately the game has made some control adjustments including an intuitive zoom system as well as a quick scrolling mechanism that allow you to quickly mobilize your troops at certain locations without actually having a mouse to point over the terrain. Most commands and menu buttons are brought up via the shoulder and trigger buttons and the A button serves the sector/action button. While the control in this game certainly takes some getting used to, I'm very happy that it has made some adjustments to make the game more compatible with the PC style of control. And while I still believe the PC controls are a little more fluid, the Xbox 360 controls do an excellent job of modifying the controls to a console setting, and I applaud the developers for doing a great job with this.

Overall, Universe at War: Earth Assault is a great RTS title. It has actually been quite a while since I played a game that was not a condensed or watered down take on the genre, and it was refreshing to see a console game branching out into what was previously a PC-only genre. The campaign mode is great, but it is the online modes that really make this a must-own title for RTS fans. So if you have a tactical flair, then you'll definitely want to check out Universe at War: Earth Assault!

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer