Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde blends the strategic depth of real-time strategy with the immediacy of action-oriented gameplay. Players assume control of up to three distinct goblin clans, each consisting of ten rambunctious warriors. You can direct these squads with traditional waypoint setting—click on an objective, and watch your goblins swarm in formation—or drop into “commander mode,” where you literally grab the reins of a clan leader and wade into battles yourself. This hybrid approach keeps every skirmish dynamic, whether you prefer high-level tactics or hands-on mayhem.

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The game’s pacing never lets up. Each clan is equipped with its own unique defensive Turret and a colossal Titan monster. Turrets can be deployed at chokepoints to stem enemy advances, while Titans serve as living siege engines, trampling fortifications and sowing chaos among enemy lines. Deciding when to place a Turret for a long-range advantage or call in your Titan for a frontal assault becomes a thrilling tactical puzzle. And because environments are highly destructible, walls crumble, trees uproot, and watchtowers topple in satisfying showers of debris.

As you progress through the 17-mission single-player campaign, you’ll encounter varied objectives—from defending a fortress siege to escorting vital resources across hostile terrain. Each map’s layout encourages experimentation: stealthy night raids in dense forests, all-out brawls in molten lava caverns, or guerilla tactics in sprawling swamplands. For those who prefer competing with friends, Goblin Commander delivers 12 split-screen multiplayer arenas on each console version. Whether you’re up against AI or challenging a friend on the couch, the learning curve is approachable, and matches never feel repetitive.

Graphics

Visually, Goblin Commander embraces a stylized, cartoonish aesthetic that perfectly suits its mischievous protagonists. The goblins themselves sport exaggerated features—huge ears, crooked teeth, and makeshift armor—that give each clan its own personality. Titans tower above the battlefield with rumbling footsteps and glowing eyes, and watching them smash through enemy barricades never loses its thrill. Even under heavy debris, frame rates stay smooth, maintaining a responsive feel throughout.

The environments are where the game truly shines. From dense forests and marshy swamps to volcanic ridges and ruined castles, each locale bristles with detail. Trees shudder and break into splinters, rocks fracture under Titan stomps, and earthen walls collapse in dusty plumes. This high level of destructibility not only looks impressive but also impacts your strategy—new paths open when structures fall, and foes can be funneled into kill zones created by collapsed terrain.

Lighting and particle effects add further polish. Flaming arrows arc through dusky skies, torches cast flickering shadows across ragged battlements, and magic spells ignite sparks along the ground. While the console versions occasionally exhibit minor texture pop-ins at longer draw distances, these issues are rare and never detract from the overall spectacle. The vibrant color palette and clever design choices make every map feel like a living warzone.

Story

Set in the fractured realm of Ogriss, Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde tells a tongue-in-cheek tale of goblin clan rivalry and conquest. You begin as a lowly chieftain seeking to unite—or dominate—three disparate tribes. The narrative unfolds through quick, witty dialogue and animated cutscenes that set up each mission’s stakes. Though the story doesn’t aim for epic grandeur, its lighthearted tone and goblinish humor keep you invested in every twist.

The campaign’s structure mirrors the goblin mindset: unpredictable alliances, backstabbing on a whim, and unconventional warfare. One mission might have you forging a shaky truce with a rival clan to fend off a massive orc incursion, while the next sees you turning on that same ally to nab their prized Titan for yourself. Each of these scenarios is tied together by an overarching plot to claim dominion over Ogriss and prove who truly deserves the title “Goblin Commander.”

Character development is surprisingly sharp for an RTS. Clan leaders bicker, bribe, and bluff their way through negotiations, and minor sub-plots involving goblin engineers, potion-making shamans, and pirate-like raiders add flavor between combat segments. Although the storyline remains light and occasionally silly, it never feels shallow; instead, it provides enough motivation to carry you through the entire campaign’s seventeen missions.

Overall Experience

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde stands out as a console RTS at a time when few developers attempt this genre outside of PC. The control scheme—melding cursor-based commands with direct character control—is both innovative and intuitive. Whether you’re brandishing your joystick to direct Titans or issuing strategic waypoints with precision, the game feels responsive and fun. It lowers the barrier for RTS newcomers without alienating veterans looking for intricate battlefield tactics.

Multiplayer adds significant replay value, especially for couch co-op or competitive showdowns. Twelve bespoke maps ensure varied skirmishes, and local split-screen support brings back the golden era of shared-screen rivalry. While online play is limited (focused mainly on matchmaking for quick skirmishes), the core gameplay loop remains engaging enough to keep you returning for more goblin mayhem.

At its heart, Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde delivers a uniquely goblin-flavored take on real-time strategy. It combines chaotic action with thoughtful resource management, all wrapped in a visually appealing, destructible package. Whether you’re campaigning through the lush forests and volcanic crags of Ogriss or outsmarting friends in split-screen battles, this title offers a refreshing twist on RTS conventions that’s sure to entertain fantasy and strategy fans alike.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10