Myth - The Fallen Lords Bungie Software by Mike Flaminio Bungie finally delivered the game that Mac users have been buzzing about for almost a year. No one over here is disappointed. Bungie’s latest game is a strategy war game with stunning 3D graphics. Users can play either a single or network game of fantasy warfare. Note that this is not a Magic role playing game with turns and magical books, but has real-time full-blown tactical battles. The realistic 3D terrain allow troops to traverse hills and valleys, riverbanks sloping into the water, sheer rock faces, polygonal structures, bushes and rocks of varying heights. With the 3D terrain, a multi-metric camera allows you to rotate, zoom, pan track and fly over the action. The camera point of view feature allows you to keep track of your units as they hide behind structures and trees. The physics in Myth are astounding. Arrows fly through the air just like they should. If you try to shoot arrows into trees, the branches will knock them down. Shooting arrows up a hill gives similar problems. As morbid as it sounds, when a Molotov blows a bunch of guys up, body parts roll around sometimes with a head rolling down a hill into a pond. If gore makes things more real, Myth doesn’t skimp on realism here either. When somebody blows up, their body parts, including armor and weapons, project radially from the blast, falling complete with bouncing thumps and stained grass. Carnage from past battles remain after a battle is finished, giving evidence of what the user’s army missed out on. Myth is different from other war strategy games like War Craft in that the strategy comes not in building up units and gaining new weapons. Myth concentrates on the front lines. You’re given X amount of resources and it’s up to you to deploy them the best way possible. You can put units in preset formation and redeploy them on the fly as the battle unfolds. When trying to describe the game to a friend, I compared it to the movie Brave Heart. The battles are just like that... Probably the coolest part about Myth is that the computer is pretty smart. The computer won’t allow you to lead the enemy into an ambush. In fact, a couple times I thought I was out-smarting the enemy only to find a surprise coming from my flank. Another interesting point is since you have freedom to run each scenario as you wish, each scenario unfolds a little differently each time you play. The enemy will react differently according to how you run your campaign. Some of the main characters: Forces of the Fallen include zombielike Thrall with axes, shadowy Menhir with poisoned daggers and nimble Ghols, who lope around the battlefield carrying huge cleavers. Forces of the living include Fir'bolg archers, doughty Warriors and the indomitable Dwarf, who throws explosive Molotov cocktails and can drop mine-like satchel charges. Network games can be played over LAN, direct-modem, direct Internet connection, Internet via gaming services or Bungie's own in-house server. Final Words: Myth is pretty tough. You’re going to have to think. The 3D world is amazing, the battles are gory, and the computer isn’t stupid. This all makes Myth a very realistic game unlike anything I’ve ever played. To best describe the battles, think Brave Heart. Did I mention it was realistic? This one's a keeper. Minimum System Requirements * Any PowerMac * 100Mhz. or faster * 16MB RAM * System 7.5 or higher * 4X CD-ROM drive Available at Cyberian Outpost