Style over substance...

Byline: BEN CATLEY-RICHARDSON BATTLEFIELD GOTHIC: ARMADA 2 PC ....

BATTLEFIELD Gothic: Armada 2 is visually stunning, yet this real-time interstellar strategy adventure can feel disappointingly flat.

Deep space war is engrossingly involved, with three expansive and varied campaigns (the Imperium's standard soldiering, hi-tech power with the Necrons, and visceral ruthlessness from the Tyranids), a slight but taxing 'layer' between missions of territory management and galactic invasion, and thrilling moment-to-moment dogfights, where the weaponry and positioning of multiple gigantic craft must be fine-tuned simultaneously.

But while skirmishes can be balletic, each battlefield is a strictly 2D plane, stunting the opportunity for dramatic manoeuvres and ultimately leading to grimly attritional face-offs rather than exhilarating combat.

| The last word: A gorgeously detailed but sadly restrictive strategy romp.

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More stills from the beautiful Battlefield Gothic: Armada 2

Battlefield Gothic: Armada 2 looks stunning but sadly the gameplay could be better