You will be overwhelmed by the real time strategy games

Harvest is an example of how wrong first impressions can be. Initially let down by the gameplay, I was convinced by the polished graphics and slick GUI to give it a chance. It wasn't until I took a peek at the high score list, however, that I began to realize the depth that the game had to offer. What I thought had been a good score was less than a tenth of what some other users were racking up, and I found myself wondering how that was even possible.

It was that curiosity which got me hooked, burning the midnight oil to play game after game, searching for the elusive secret to these astronomical scores. It was challenging, but never overwhelming. Level 21 was about the limit of how far I could get before the aliens would breach my perimeter defenses, after which the end comes rather quickly.

To get further, I was forced to call upon the miracle of YouTube, where I watched a couple of videos made by more experienced players. The strategies I saw these players using really opened my eyes to the possibilities of the game. Soon, I was reaching level 41, then level 70, enjoying every minute of it.

The interface, although accessible to a newcomer, never feels patronizing to a more experienced player. Most importantly, it never gets in the way of what is a really immersive experience, with plenty of room for innovation on the part of the player.

To get to the higher levels, I experimented extensively with different configurations for the laser towers. After I felt that I'd found a near-optimal setup, I began testing all the different ways to flow energy to the towers. Lately I've been experimenting with the energy node overload bomb, and I still feel that there are more things I can try, to inch my score ever higher.

Harvest: Massive Encounter is nothing less than a work of art. It's a game that I would recommend unconditionally to strategy lovers. A great deal of effort obviously went into stripping this game down to the minimalist elements that make it so great. Oxeye has done a wonderful job, and I pray that they make massive piles of money so we can see what they do next.

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