Remote control robot mayhem

In the future humanity has freed itself from its bodies, allowing brains to roam free, inhabiting and controlling artificial bodies instead. These brains then set forth into space, discovering other civilizations and beings. These stories rarely end well, and Cortex Command is no disappointment: Humanity is in space, and ready to shoot first, ask questions later.

In Cortex Command, your disembodied brain takes control of a variety of remote bodies on an alien planet, which you must mine for precious metal while defending yourself from other competing life forms.

This is a work in progress, with a training mission and skirmish mode, which allows you to set up battles for up to 4 players, with a 6 minute time limit. Control is with the mouse and keyboard and is fairly easy to pick up – basically you move with the keyboard and aim with the mouse. The 2D world has a good physics model, which gives a nice feeling to controlling your remotes – they are fun, though much less use than real humans!

Getting used to the game takes a little time, but destroying enemy remotes is satisfying, as is killing your opposing disembodied brain. Cortex Command is a nice mix of action and strategy, which will definitely entertain for a while. The difficulty level may be off putting, and it can be irritating when your lone robot dummy is caught by a fast drawing alien with a shotgun.

Cortex Command is a quirky, slightly gory 2d action strategy game, best played with friends.