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2011 · First-person shooter · Real-time strategy

Nuclear Dawn

Nuclear Dawn is a Source engine based Multiplayer game that combines the visceral action of a First Person Shooter with the deep branching gameplay of a Real Time Strategy title

Released: 1 April 2011
Platforms: Linux Windows macOS
Genres: First-person shooter Real-time strategy Shooter Strategy Tactical
Developers: —
Publishers: Iceberg Interactive
Modes: Multiplayer
Perspective: First person
Themes: Action Science fiction Warfare
Engine: Source
Country: Netherlands
Age ratings: ESRB M
Languages: Czech, English, German, Korean, Russian, Spanish (Spain)
Time to beat: 1hmain story28hcompletionist

About

Nuclear Dawn is a hybrid first-person shooter real-time strategy multiplayer video game. It was originally announced in February 2006 as an amateur mod for the Source engine, but in April 2009 was revealed to have become Source-based project for Windows and Mac OS X. It was released on 26 September 2011.

›Story

Forge your own destiny on the field of battle with every tactical decision, and ensure your faction’s survival with each headshot, capture buildings and bring the fight to your enemies’ strongholds riding the future’s machines of destruction.Exploit the terrain and resource point locations to block your enemies’ tactical advance, and crush their plans in an iron fist. Research and implement new technology to give your soldiers the edge on the battlefield, and set up forward bases to lead the assault on your enemies, with full defensive and offensive structures to choose from and upgrade to build your perfect fortress.The world has changed, it has been swept clean by the winds of change. Do you think you can survive it?

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

One randomly selected player on each team is a commander, who directs the team from an overhead view. This player sets up infrastructure and spawn points. The remainder are soldiers who play it as a first-person shooter. These players can choose from four classes: stealth, a quick class who can turn invisible; exo, a slow heavy weapons specialist designed to destroy enemy buildings; assault, a player versus player class who can see invisible units; and a support class who can heal teammates or repair buildings constructed by the commander.

New abilities become available to each class as the commander researches technologies and erects buildings. Each side comprises 16 players. A team wins when they destroy the other side's base. There are six post-apocalyptic maps.

Reception

Nuclear Dawn received mixed reviews on Metacritic. PC Gamer found the perks "muddled and unclear" and disliked how there is no way to practice the commander role outside a live game. However, they called it "surprisingly deep and well-designed" and praised the map design, technology tree, and first-person elements. GameSpot praised the design, game balance, and maps, but they criticized the lack of a tutorial or solo play.

They said players' experiences will likely vary according to how experienced their teammates are, ranging from "a white-knuckle tactical struggle" to "a sloppy brawl". Although they felt there were still balancing issues that needed to be fixed, Rock Paper Shotgun recommended it to fans of Savage and Natural Selection.