Dominant Species (video game)
{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{other uses|Dominant species (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Dominant Species
|image = Dominant species pc game.jpg
|image_size = 200px
|developer = Red Storm Entertainment
|publisher = Red Storm Entertainment
|designer =
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|October 15, 1998|EU|1998}}
|genre = Real-time strategy
|modes = Single player, Multiplayer
|platforms = Windows
}}
Dominant Species is a real-time strategy video game developed and released by Red Storm Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.redstorm.com/index.php?page=history|title=Red Storm history|website=Red Storm Entertainment|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702040249/http://www.redstorm.com/index.php?page=history|archivedate=July 2, 2008|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 8, 2020}} It was published October 15, 1998 for Windows.{{cite web|last=Hulsey|first=Joel|date=October 5, 1998|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/014/148/Ds.html|title=Red Storm takes gamers to strange new world|website=Computer Games Strategy Plus|publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030702103353/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/014/148/Ds.html|archivedate=July 2, 2003|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 8, 2020}} It was one of the first RTS games to make the transition to 3D graphics.
Storyline
Players in Dominant Species control a Mindlord on the planet Mur, in constant battle over the precious resource Anima. In the single player campaign, this battle is first against free roaming creatures, presenting a tutorial for the game. The campaign usually follows the player's hive rescuing and destroying the invading army of humans.
Gameplay
Dominant Species is a traditional real-time strategy game,{{cite web|last=Brush|first=Ryan|date=November 9, 1998|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/092/dominants_review.html|title=Dominant Species|website=Computer Games Strategy Plus|publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030608122533/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/092/dominants_review.html|archivedate=June 8, 2003|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 8, 2020}} with resource gathering (anima), production of battlefield units (with a bio-engineered theme), a single-player campaign and multiplayer mode. There is an emphasis on efficient unit tactics rather than base construction.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| CNG = 7/10{{cite web|last=Rausch|first=Allen|date=November 24, 1998|url=http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2294,00.html|title=Dominant Species|website=Gamecenter|publisher=CNET|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816171023/http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2294,00.html|archivedate=August 16, 2000|url-status=dead|accessdate=April 13, 2021}}
| CGW = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Larka|first=Lance A.|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_176.pdf|title=Darwinian Loser (Dominant Species Review)|magazine=Computer Gaming World|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=176|date=March 1999|page=201|accessdate=October 8, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121080259/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_176.pdf|url-status=live}}
| GamePro = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Saltzman|first=Marc|url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/774.shtml|title=Dominant Species Review for PC on GamePro.com|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG Entertainment|year=1998|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041216035717/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/774.shtml|archivedate=December 16, 2004|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 8, 2020}}
| NGen = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_49/page/n107/mode/2up|title=Dominant Species|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=49|date=January 1999|page=107|accessdate=October 8, 2020}}
| PCA = 2/10{{cite magazine|last=Lee|first=Ed|url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL04Dec1998/page/n93/mode/2up|title=Dominant Species|magazine=PC Accelerator|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=4|date=December 1998|page=94|accessdate=April 13, 2021}}
}}
The game received mixed reviews. Strategy Gaming Online found the game innovative and fun but with disappointing sound effects.{{cite web|last=Dunlop|first=A.J.|year=1998|url=http://www.strategy-gaming.com/reviews/dominant_species/index.shtml|title=Dominant Species|website=Strategy Gaming Online|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118035422/http://www.strategy-gaming.com/reviews/dominant_species/index.shtml|archivedate=November 18, 2006|url-status=dead}} Computer Games Strategy Plus drew comparisons with the Myth graphics engine, highlighting the aesthetically pleasing and strategic terrain, fluid movement of the units models and the game's humor and atmosphere. However, the artificial intelligence was criticized for the occasional quirk in pathfinding. On the other hand, Next Generation said, "If evolution is survival of the fittest, Red Storm's Dominant Species has fished itself out of the realtime strategy gene pool. While it is innovative in some ways, the end product isn't worth the trouble."
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/windows/dominant-species}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Real-time strategy video games
Category:Red Storm Entertainment games
Category:Video games about extraterrestrial life
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games set on fictional planets
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