PC Game Roundup

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Fortunately, this is a space-based RTS and not a pop management game about Phil Collins making a comeback with his old band. Genesis Rising is actually about the search for something called the "universal heart", some sort of powerful artefact which will save humanity blah blah. The plot and cut-scenes are best escape-keyed through at warp factor nine, but the single-player campaign isn't without its charms.

It's branching and persistent, with some varied, not to mention challenging missions. However, part of Genesis Rising's problem is it's tricky for all the wrong reasons. There are no difficulty levels to adjust, no in-mission saves and no pausing the game, which makes the already tough battles it throws at you arduous tests of clicking dexterity and micromanagement.

And there's a lot of micromanagement... Every vessel has special powers which need to be activated by clicking icons above them, and other considerations are thrown in, such as manually moving ships to dodge incoming enemy missiles. The end result can be something of a headache - especially as the interface is quite clunky all round.

Despite all this, the game design boasts some interesting elements. The resource collection system and unit upgrade paths are novel, as the organic HR Giger inspired spacecraft can actually have genes implanted in them to customise their abilities, and you can steal this DNA from the husks of dead enemies (or indeed trade for it using the simple diplomacy system). Aesthetically, these ships are rendered in some fine detail, too.