14 DAY TRIAL // R.U.S.E. is an interesting attempt to innovate in the real time strategy genre and we took a look at how it played back when an open beta stage was offered through Steam. The game was supposed to come out in June but was delayed, with developer Eugen Systems and publisher Ubisoft saying the extra time till the new fall date would allow them to create a better experience for the player. Now, there are signs that gamers will have a chance to see what the changes are ahead of the launch date in a new, open beta phase.
Mathieu Girard, who is a senior producer working on R.U.S.E., told Strategy Informer that the team has been talking about the need for a new beta stage, “It’s something we’ve been thinking about, but I cannot announce it officially. You will have to stay tuned in the coming weeks.” This probably means that clear information will be coming at the E3 presentation where Ubisoft is set to show off its latest and greatest videogames.
A demo might also arrive ahead of the launch date to show gamers how R.U.S.E. plays and why it's different from other real time strategy titles. The experience is built around World War II, allowing the player to take on the role of great and medium powers in multiplayer. A single player component is also planned, showing off some of the most important engagements of the war.
As the name implies, R.U.S.E. focuses on the way military might was complemented and sometimes even defeated by clever use of misdirection, traps and false signals. The game allows each player access to a number of powers, which recharge constantly and can be played to affect sections of the battlefield.
The initial beta stage lacked variety and flavor for each of the sides, making the same tricks available to all of them, a flaw that might be remedied in time for the new beta stage.