Metal Fatigue

Metal Fatigue (released in Europe as Metal Conflict) is a 2000 real-time strategy computer game developed by Zono and published by Psygnosis in Europe and TalonSoft in the United States. Players assume the role of one of three factions named CorpoNations: RimTech, Mil-Agro and Neuropa, each locked in conflict on the planet Hedoth Prime to claim its alien technology. Players build structures and recruit units to overpower computer or multiplayer opponents. The gameplay occurs over a map with multiple layers, including ground, underground and orbital levels. Key units include combots, which are robots with customisable limbs that can be assembled by players, and upgraded by taking pieces of enemy combots on the battlefield. Metal Fatigue was the first computer game released by the developer, who aimed to innovate on the genre by introducing multiple layers to real-time battles and the inclusion of combots. The European publisher, Psygnosis, closed its North American division shortly before release, leading the game to be published by TalonSoft in that region. Upon release, the game received average reviews, with critics directing praise to the customisability of the game's combots and their impact on the gameplay, although critiquing the game's difficulty and lack of distinction from other contemporary strategy titles.