Cert: 16+
Platform: Xbox 360, PC, PS3
Genre: Strategy
R.U.S.E. is an unusal WWII real time strategy game from Ubisoft which revolves around using ruses or bluffs to fool or trick the enemy. The nuanced game rewards those who go into cover, recon their environment and strategically position their troops. In other words it's for gamers with patience.
Halo Wars aside, these types of games rarely work well on consoles but R.U.S.E's interface is suprisingly intuitive and players can select units and give orders using their controller with ease. The zoom feature is one of the game's best traits. Zoom in to watch the units move and fire; zoom out to see the whole map as if it were a Risk style game-board.
Skip the single-player campaign however. The storyline is bland, the cutscenes rough and the voice acting the wrong side of hammy. R.U.S.E. is much more enjoyable when playing online or against a friend and the various ruses make for unpredictable matches. Players can pick between six different nations and there's a wide variety of units which keep things interesting.
R.U.S.E. is an interesting take on real time strategy and while it may be a little too hard-core, and ugly looking, for casual gamers it's still a welcome addition to an oft-neglected genre.
Rent or Buy: Rent
Graphics: 2/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Replay Value: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Reviewed By: Bryan Collins
