Chris Taylor introduces the factions of Supreme Commander

Supreme Commander, the spiritual successor of the real-time strategy classic Total Annihilation, features three distinct factions for the player to take command of, each one featuring a different style of strategy and tactics. After Supreme Commander went gold, the Staff at Gamespot had a few questions for brilliant game designer/comedian Chris Taylor about Supreme Commander.

So the three factions are the United Earth Federation, the Aeon Illuminate, and the Cybran Nation. Each faction has a unique command hierarchy: President Riley of the UEF, Princess Burke of the Aeon Illuminate, and Dr. Gustaf Brackman of the Cybran Nation (well, what’s left of him). There is no bad side and no good side. Apparently all sides are fighting for what they believe to be “true and just”.

The UEF wants to unite the galaxy under the original Federation. The Aeons coexist with both the UEF and the separatist Cybrans, but they wish to end the conflict in between the two through “cleansing” (probably not as pleasant as it sounds). The Cybrans just wish to separate from the UEF and free their brothers and sisters.

The UEF is a good starting faction for new players to the unique gameplay of Supreme Commander. But it is also a good faction for the early-rush commanders, especially with the Tech 2 and 3 UEF Gunships. The Cybrans have extended, if strange, capabilities, such as bringing their destroyer over land by sprouting legs. Like the old Total Annihilation, your forces are joined by a single commander on the field, aboard an ACU or Armored Command Unit. The ACU can fight, and it is a very important asset to the faction it commands.

The Aeon Illuminate, on the other hand, have a complete out-of-the-box concept (much expected from a religious-like order). They are considered the hardest to master, but come with extended mobile units that can travel over land and water. Balancing between the factions has been tricky in development but Chris is confident that any new issues will be addressed and adjusted as they watch more people play.

The game will slap the player as a pretty green supreme commander at the beginning of the story, and will continue through surprising twists and turns to emerge victorious as a hero of the Infinite War. How it ends, only the real supreme commanders can tell.

Supreme Commander, the spiritual successor of the real-time strategy classic Total Annihilation, features three distinct factions for the player to take command of, each one featuring a different style of strategy and tactics. After Supreme Commander went gold, the Staff at Gamespot had a few questions for brilliant game designer/comedian Chris Taylor about Supreme Commander.

So the three factions are the United Earth Federation, the Aeon Illuminate, and the Cybran Nation. Each faction has a unique command hierarchy: President Riley of the UEF, Princess Burke of the Aeon Illuminate, and Dr. Gustaf Brackman of the Cybran Nation (well, what’s left of him). There is no bad side and no good side. Apparently all sides are fighting for what they believe to be “true and just”.

The UEF wants to unite the galaxy under the original Federation. The Aeons coexist with both the UEF and the separatist Cybrans, but they wish to end the conflict in between the two through “cleansing” (probably not as pleasant as it sounds). The Cybrans just wish to separate from the UEF and free their brothers and sisters.

The UEF is a good starting faction for new players to the unique gameplay of Supreme Commander. But it is also a good faction for the early-rush commanders, especially with the Tech 2 and 3 UEF Gunships. The Cybrans have extended, if strange, capabilities, such as bringing their destroyer over land by sprouting legs. Like the old Total Annihilation, your forces are joined by a single commander on the field, aboard an ACU or Armored Command Unit. The ACU can fight, and it is a very important asset to the faction it commands.

The Aeon Illuminate, on the other hand, have a complete out-of-the-box concept (much expected from a religious-like order). They are considered the hardest to master, but come with extended mobile units that can travel over land and water. Balancing between the factions has been tricky in development but Chris is confident that any new issues will be addressed and adjusted as they watch more people play.

The game will slap the player as a pretty green supreme commander at the beginning of the story, and will continue through surprising twists and turns to emerge victorious as a hero of the Infinite War. How it ends, only the real supreme commanders can tell.