{{Short description|1997 strategy video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Conquest Earth | image = Conquest Earth.jpg | alt = | caption = | developer = Data Design Interactive | publisher = Eidos Interactive | series = | engine = | platforms = Windows, DOS | released = {{vgrelease|NA|September 18, 1997<ref>{{cite web|first=Harley|last=Jebens|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_09/18_conquest/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19981201053930/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_09/18_conquest/index.html|title=Conquest Earth Ships|website=GameSpot|archivedate=December 1, 1998|date=September 18, 1997|accessdate=August 6, 2022}}</ref>|UK|September 26, 1997<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 26, 1997 |title=Dixons Deal 97 - Latest PC Software Releases |pages=5 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/752119312/?terms=%22conquest%20earth%22&match=1 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |quote=Now Out - ''Conquest Earth'' £29.99 - New}}</ref>}} | genre = Real-time strategy | modes = Single-player | director = | producer = | designer = | programmer = | artist = | writer = | composer = | arcade system = }}
'''''Conquest Earth''''', also known as '''''Conquest Earth: First Encounter''''', is a real-time strategy video game, published in 1997 by Eidos Interactive, in which aliens from Jupiter invade Earth.
==Gameplay== In ''Conquest Earth'', the player can choose to play as Jovians, aliens from Jupiter, or humans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/strategy/conquese/review_cgw.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816004944/http://www.gamespot.com/strategy/conquese/review_cgw.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |title=Conquest Earth |accessdate=June 10, 2019 |first=Mark|last=Clarkson|date=November 21, 1997 |publisher=Computer Gaming World}}</ref> Humans and Jovians have different menu layouts and tactics which they can employ for offensive and defensive actions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gamezilla.com/reviews/c/conquestearth.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208182250/http://gamezilla.com/reviews/c/conquestearth.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2002 |title=Conquest Earth by Eidos |accessdate=June 10, 2019 |first=Daniel|last=Staub|publisher=Gamezilla}}</ref> Also, the Jovians must deal with the atmosphere of the Earth, which obstructs their view, by using special troops; the humans also face a problem in the sulfur shrouds of Jupiter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=38649&type=software |title=The Personal Computer Museum, Brantford, Ontario, CANADA - Recycle, donate, and browse your old computers, electronics, video games, and software |accessdate=2015-11-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192751/http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=38649&type=software |archivedate=2016-03-04 }}</ref> The player can take direct control over any unit, or delegate control to commanders.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay018/page/n49 |title=Conquest Earth|magazine=PC Powerplay|issue=18|publisher=Future Australia|date=November 1, 1997|page=50}}</ref> There is a system called "way-points", which allows the players to bind together multiple locations and thus directly give the units a path which they will follow.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Ultra_Game_Players_95_March_1997_U/page/n43 |title=Conquest Earth: Eidos successfully invades the strategy genre|magazine=Game Players|issue=95|publisher=Imagine Publishing|date=March 1997|page=42}}</ref> The Jovians have several tactical maneuvers, including transforming into vehicles and other objects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/conquest-earth-review/1900-2538456/ |title=Conquest Earth Review |accessdate=June 10, 2019 |first=Greg|last=Kasavin|date=May 1, 2000 |publisher=GameSpot}}</ref> All enemies will adapt to the moves made in the game, while actively testing the defense or ambushing the troops.<ref name=Zone/>
The game uses DirectDraw to enhance the game's terrain and unit visuals, and real-time stereo distancing for the sounds.<ref name=Zone>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_47_February_1997/page/n17 |title=Jupiter Attacks!|magazine=PC Zone|issue=47|publisher=Future plc|date=February 1997|page=18}}</ref><ref name="NGen24"/> It implements its own view system for battles. A picture-in-picture option allows the player to view 3 locations at the same time. The player can choose from two modes of play, normal real-time strategy, or a more complicated variant.
==Plot== ''Conquest Earth'' tells the story of a futuristic war between humans and Jovians, the gaseous inhabitants of Jupiter.<ref name="NGen24">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration24Dec1996/page/n197 |title=NG Alphas: Conquest Earth|magazine=Next Generation|issue=24 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=December 1996|page=197}}</ref>
==Soundtrack== Eat Static produced the soundtrack for the game. The game media also contains the music in Red Book audio format, allowing it to be played back in any standalone CD player.
== Reception == The game was released to negative reception. ''GameSpot'' named ''Conquest Earth'' as the worst game of 1997.<ref>{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |year=1998 |title=GameSpot's Best & Worst Awards for 1997 (Worst Game of the Year) |url=http://gamespot.com/features/awards97/worst.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980213120737/http://gamespot.com/features/awards97/worst.html |archive-date=February 13, 1998 |access-date=November 14, 2021 |website=GameSpot |publisher=Ziff Davis}}</ref> == Planned Ports == The 1997 Eidos product catalogue states the game was planned to be released on Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn but this never happened. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Interactive |first=Eidos |date=1997 |title=Eidos Interactive Produktkatalog - Promo Booklet 1997 |url=https://archive.org/details/eidos-produktkatalog/page/n11/mode/2up |url-status=live |access-date=March 22, 2026 |website=Archive.org}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{mobygames|/conquest-earth-first-encounter}}
Category:1997 video games Category:Data Design Interactive games Category:DOS games Category:Eidos Interactive games Category:Real-time strategy video games Category:Science fiction video games Category:Single-player video games Category:Video games about alien invasions Category:Video games about extraterrestrial life Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom Category:Windows games
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