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Maelstrom: The Battle for Earth Begins

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Strategy
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: KD Labs
Release Date: Feb. 20, 2007

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'Maelstrom' Vehicles - Screens & Trailer

by Rainier on Aug. 23, 2006 @ 1:03 a.m. PDT

Maelstrom is a strategy action epic which takes place on a devastated future Earth. In the wake of an apocalyptic ecological disaster, the planet is threatened by an alien invasion, thus becoming the battleground as a divided human race fights for survival.

Get the Maelstrom trailer off WP (20mb)

The vehicles of Ascension Industries represent the most technologically advanced weapons and armor on the planet. Their shining achievement is the flawless transformation ability which has become the staple of all their military activity. The duality of function has become the calling card of this faction, producing lightning quick changes in the heat of battle has turned the tide of battle in many situations.

Manipulator is primarily meant for gathering resources from Survivor Compounds and bringing them to the command core. This unit can also terraform land and repair nearby vehicles. The Manipulator can also be upgraded to have a laser weapon for defensive as well as offensive purposes.

Vanguard is the basis of all Ascension war machines, a transforming unit that creates all Ascension buildings. The Vanguard can be upgraded to the Mk2 and Mk3 models allowing transformation into more advanced buildings. The Vanguard, like most Ascension vehicles is armed with standard laser weapons mainly for defensive purposes.

Viper / Viper Sting

The Viper is a small, lightweight attack vehicle outfitted with standard laser weaponry. The Viper is capable of transforming itself into a stationary gun called the “Viper Sting.” Further upgrades can produce stronger weaponry as well as hover capabilities. The Viper Sting stationary gun is equipped with the same standard laser as the Viper; therefore upgrades will apply to both weapons. Hover capabilities produce an electric field that damages nearby enemies.

Crusader / Crusader Lancer

The Crusader is a medium weight tank with standard laser weaponry. The Crusader is capable to transform into a mech called the “Crusader Lancer.” Further upgrades allow for stronger weaponry and hover capabilities. The Crusader Lancer is outfitted with a high powered sniper rifle attached to its right arm. Because of its dexterity, the Crusader Lancer excels at hand to hand combat and crushing its enemies.

Phantom / Phantom Enforcer

Phantom is a stealth aircraft capable of functioning as both tank and plane. It is equipped with high-yield plasma bombs that emit a powerful shockwave to devastate the area. The Phantom is able to move freely on the map without detection; however it will be visible when firing. Phantom Enforcer is a heavy tank and is the secondary transformation of the Phantom stealth plane. It is outfitted with standard laser weaponry and with hover ability can create an electric field that damages nearby units.

Stormwalker / Stormbringer

Stormwalker is a heavy mech designed to transform into the Stormbringer tactical air unit. Outfitted with laser weapons that are fully upgradeable, the Stormwalker represents the best of Ascension technology. Stormbringer is equipped with the same laser weaponry and is the ideal aerial support unit for any attacking ground force. Further upgrades can produce upgraded armor and weapons.

Pegasus / Pegasus Strike

Pegasus is an aerial transport unit capable of transporting up to 10 infantry units. Armed with standard laser weaponry that is fully upgradeable. The Pegasus is also able to transform itself into the Pegasus Strike, a long range artillery turret. It can be upgraded to drop an impulse bomb to clear the ground before deploying transported troops.
Pegasus Strike is a stationary heavy artillery turret. Utilizing its massive howitzer it can hurl plasma bombs great distances. Hover capabilities offer an electric field that damages enemy units in close proximity.

Colossus represents the biggest and best that the Ascension military force has to offer. The Colossus is just that – a massive bipedal mech doling out wholesale destruction and domination at every turn. Outfitted with advanced electro-weaponry and high-yield rockets the Colossus has considerably more firepower than any other unit on the field. However, the Colossus is only capable of being used for a short period (hit points degrade with time), so it is recommended it be used in conjunction with strong offensives and with plenty of support.

Hai-Genti Vehicles

Unlike the other factions in Maelstrom, the Hai-Genti follow a different path – one of complete biological engineering. Rather than traditional vehicles of war, the Hai-Genti have engineered gargantuan beasts. Their weapons and abilities range from melee attacks to long range death beams.

Progenitor a large and somewhat slow moving unit, the Progenitor relies on its colony of small subterranean aliens for attack purposes. Utilizing these swarms of burrowing creatures, the Progenitor calls them to the surface, to break out of the ground and cause damage to enemy units. Further upgrades include a worm-like appendage that can be launched from long distance, erupts from the ground unleashing great damage on unsuspecting foes.

Scuttler is a fast moving suicide unit that has a number of different payloads to inflict damage on varying enemy units. Scurrying at high speed, the Scuttler excels at head on surprise attacks. This unit can be upgraded to spread alien slime that slows down the opposing units or acid to increase damage to enemies.

Salamander is a large, lumbering creature that breathes alien fire on its enemy. Much like napalm, the alien fire adheres to the surface of enemy units causing massive damage. Opposing forces would be wise to keep themselves out of a Salamander’s range. This unit can be upgraded to “fan the flames” to cause greater damage to enemies.

Crusher is a very large, slow moving beast that inflicts massive damage with its powerful jaws. Like the Devourer troops, the Crusher is well suited to grabbing opponents and throwing them, as well as crushing them in its jaws. The unit’s acid breath can be deadly to any who come in contact with it.

Scorpion is a deadly unit with a potent sting at the end of its tail, anyone foolish enough to stray too close will get a taste of its deadly poison, which will mutate enemy infantry into Alien Spawn. As a secondary bonus, the ranged weapon fires Alien incendiary bombs at a long range.

Pestilence is an airborne unit that commands a swarm of leech-like creatures that swarm over their enemies. These leeches will attach themselves to the enemy doing damage over time. An upgrade allows this unit to warp to another part of the map along with any units in close proximity.

Raptor is a flying unit that is armed with a powerful energy beam that can sear most enemy units and buildings. Raining down death from above, the Raptor is a formidable adversary for any ground unit.

Remnants Vehicles

The meat and potatoes of any good military force is always going to be the vehicles that tear up the combat zones. Since the Remnants battle with weapons from the past, they utilize familiar vehicles of today to fight in the future. Many of the vehicles are based off of current military technology from around the world.

Scavenger builds remnant buildings, collects resources, terraforms the land and repairs nearby vehicles. The main use for this vehicle is repair and building, but it is also capable of hand to hand combat with enemy units.

ATV is a small, lightly armored and extremely fast moving vehicle with a rear mounted gatling gun. The ATV can also be upgraded with hydro-propulsion for travel over and through water.

Rocket Storm is a fast and lightly armored vehicle equipped with twin rocket launchers that fire high-explosive rockets that are inaccurate but very powerful. In order to improve on accuracy, the rockets can be programmed to the specific frequency of Ascension shields, which the rockets will automatically seek. The Rocket Storm is a worthy adversary for both ground and aerial units alike. Like the ATV it can be upgraded to travel through water.

Jackhammer is a medium armored vehicle which is armed with a mounted artillery gun for long distance destruction. It is also outfitted with a rocket launcher for anti-tank and anti-personnel fire. The Jackhammer is also capable of massive damage once it reaches ramming speed. Like other wheeled vehicles the Jackhammer can be upgraded to travel through water.

Ironside a heavily armored unit armed with a large caliber gun, suffering from a slow rate of fire, the Ironside makes up for it with the devastating power when it scores a direct hit. Like most vehicles on tracks, it can be upgraded to produce a ring of protective fire around itself.

Paladin is a long-range mobile artillery unit that doesn’t have any direct combat with enemies. The Paladin is based on the American made Paladin and shares many similarities. It can be upgraded to use a plethora of various shell types to optimize destructive capabilities. The Paladin can be upgraded to “dig in” to surrounding dirt which will provide it with extra cover.

APC is a heavily armored amphibious unit designed for rapid movement of up to 10 soldiers across the battlefield. Equipped with a medium caliber mounted gun with rapid-fire rate, the APC provides effective transport cover. Like other vehicles with tracks, it can be upgraded to discharge a ring of fire around the vehicle.

Valkyrie is the one airborne vehicle, a versatile helicopter that has transport capabilities for up to 10 infantry units. It is equipped with standard small caliber weaponry combined with high-explosive rockets slightly inaccurate but very powerful.


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