Tom Clancy's EndWar is shaping up to be a spectacle of epic proportions. Harcore combat, glittering graphics and intense tactical gameplay will satisfy the most obsessed Tom Clancy fan; even if the voice command does feel a little too intense. Here, we take a look at the nuts and bolts of combat that'll bring World War III to your 360 or PS3 in all its vivid, visceral glory.

Actual on-field conflict largely boils down to a massive brawl for possession of territory. Each of EndWar’s forty (!) battlefields is littered with uplink beacons, all just begging to be realigned to your nation. Capture (or lose) a certain number and it’s Game Over, yet there’s also a massive resource-based bonus to be had from stealing the initiative from your opponents by snagging these bad boys quickly. For instance, the Ruskies will gain access to tactical nuke strikes, while the Yanks receive the ability to wreak napalm-related red ruin on their foes. It gets better; command more than 50% of the uplink points on any given map and it’s satellite-guided laser cannon time... Mmm, tasty.

EndWar’s standout levels involve mass firefights that decimate renowned capitals including Paris, Moscow, Washington DC and New York. The battle for the Big Apple is particularly memorable as it takes place on an aircraft carrier so gargantuan it makes your tooled-up tanks resemble harmless ants.