Space may be the final frontier for sci-fi television serials but it has definitely been thoroughly explored by the gaming community. In fact, one of the earliest computer games had a space-oriented theme – anyone out there remember 'Space Invaders'?

Of course, things have come a long way since those early ventures. Today, when one wants to get into games with outer space themes, one is no longer restricted to taking pot shots at alien ships attacking the Eiffel Tower. The market is choc-a-bloc full with games that allow you to conquer new galaxies, indulge in combat with alien ships, build new civilizations on hitherto undiscovered planets, duel with Jedis, and god knows what else.

O.R.B. - – Off-world Resource Base, to use its full form – is the latest game to join the ‘space game’ community. After more than three years in development, it makes its entry in a genre – space-oriented RTS – where the likes of Homeworld and Starcraft have already set rather high standards. So, does O.R.B. measure up to them? Read on…

Installing O.R.B. was quick and problem free. There is only one CD and the game installed smoothly and, heaven be praised, without asking for a reboot. However, loading screens took a while. This is something one has to get used to but it's worth it because your first look at O.R.B. is sure to take your breath away.

Indeed, the first thing that strikes one about O.R.B is its sheer beauty. This is clearly a game for sore eyes. The graphics are quite stunningly beautiful and the cut scenes could be right out of some science fiction movie. Sure, the voiceover can sound a bit disjointed and almost too mechanized at times but that is only a minor blip.

The plot in O.R.B. revolves around the two races – the Malus and the Alyssians. These two races living on separate planets are all that survives of a mighty empire that once existed before disappearing in a catastrophe that destroyed solar systems and fried galaxies. Both worship Aldar, one of the most powerful gods in the cosmic pantheon. However, each race interprets the scriptures differently and this has led to more than just a spot of strife between them. And there is the essence of the game for you – a battle between the survivors of what was once a great empire.

That may not exactly sound like a great plot but, believe me, it keeps the game ticking over nicely. The cut scenes advance the storyline neatly, although they can drag a bit at times. The thrust is on getting and utilizing the resources available in space before the other race gets its hands on them. That calls for a lot of exploration, conducting research, building necessary structures, training people, developing technology and, of course, engaging with the enemy from time to time. The coup de grace inevitably consists of wiping out all the enemy bases in a sector.

Your resources comprise manpower and whatever you discover on passing asteroids. In keeping with classic strategy games, the idea is to make correct choices to ensure optimum utilization of resources. So, if you were thinking of launching into building ships straightaway, hold your horses. There are a number of interesting training options for the manpower resources. You can put them on to some research, teach them to fly ships, and even ask them to indulge in some covert operations involving spying, sabotage, stealing secrets, and yes, assassination. Research is also an essential activity as it enables you to learn and master new technologies. The more manpower you allot to research, the faster new technologies and prototypes become available. The game also has the construction activities that are integral to the RTS genre – mining, building structures, ships, et al. Of course, manpower and resources are restricted so do not expect them to keep growing indefinitely.

The gameplay is a bit on the complex side. So one would be well advised to go through the elaborate tutorial before launching into cosmic battle. It may take a bit of time, but, believe me, you will need it, especially if you haven’t played other space RTS games.

Once mastered, gameplay is thankfully smooth enough with the mouse and a few keystrokes doing most of the work. A tap on the spacebar allows one to switch between the 3D and the 2D mode. Of course, things are far more spectacular in 3D, but 2D does have its plus points. For one, you get a better idea of your location and more importantly, the location of the enemy. It would be a wise option to issue orders to units in the 2D minimap and then switch to the more grandiose 3D view for the action, thus getting the best of both worlds.

The battles themselves are rather spectacular with all the explosions and maneuvers that have become an integral part of space warfare. Ships can move in different formations, switch into ‘power down’ mode to evade enemy sensors, make a beeline to the nearest base to recharge and rearm, and even indulge in a spot of ‘harikari’ by hitting the ‘self destruct’ button when death seems preferable to dishonor (or handing over a decent ship to the enemy!). And if the sight of rays from your ship cutting a swathe through the enemy does not give you a buzz, then very little can.

So, is O.R.B. one long space joyride? Well, not quite. The ride does get bumpy more often than once. For one, it does require a rather powerful computer to run it – I have an Athlon 1.4 GHz PC and it just about crawled along on that. For another, after a while, things start getting a bit monotonous. Every mission boils down to the same old ‘ explore space, find resources, build fleet and destroy enemy’. It may be fascinating in the beginning, but the novelty does begin to wear off and soon one starts yearning for the eventual bash-up.

The cut scenes too lose their fascination after awhile and getting out of them can be a pain – hitting the spacebar does not always work. I eventually ended up disabling the ‘play movies’ option. Resources also seemed to be a bit hard to come by in some of the missions. Of course, it makes them that much more difficult, but I would rather be defeated by a skillful enemy than a limited resource base!

In sum, O.R.B. is quite a neat effort. It looks good and plays well, although there are times when one pulls out the odd fistful of hair in frustration. It is great game for those wishing to be initiated into the space RTS genre. If it has a weak point it is perhaps its tendency to be just a bit repetitive. But then, hey, which game is perfect?