Dominant Species (video game)


Dominant Species is a real-time strategy video game developed and released by Red Storm Entertainment. It was published 15 October 1998 for Windows. It was one of the first RTS games to make the transition to 3D graphics.

Storyline

Players in Dominant Species control a Mindlord on the planet Mur, in constant battle over the precious resource Anima. In the single player campaign, this battle is first against free roaming creatures, presenting a tutorial for the game. The campaign usually follows the player's hive rescuing and destroying the invading army of humans.

Gameplay

Dominant Species is a traditional real-time strategy game, with resource gathering, production of battlefield units, a single-player campaign and multiplayer mode. There is an emphasis on efficient unit tactics rather than base construction.

Critical reaction

Strategy Gaming Online awarded the game 8.2 out of 10, finding it innovative and fun but with disappointing sound effects. CD Mag drew comparisons with the Myth graphics engine, highlighting the aesthetically pleasing and strategic terrain, fluid movement of the units models and the game's humour and atmosphere. However, the artificial intelligence was criticized for the occasional quirk in pathfinding.
Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "If evolution is survival of the fittest, Red Storm's Dominant Species has just fished itself out of the realtime strategy gene pool. While it is innovative in some ways, the end product isn't worth the trouble."