Gameplay
Like many other real-time tactics games, S.W.I.N.E. focuses on the tactical aspects of the battle. There is no building construction or resource gathering. Instead, the player is given a determined amount of Strategic Points (or SPs) after the accomplishment of a mission, and these points can be either used to buy new units or to activate certain special abilities possessed by some units during battle. It is possible, however, to buy units during the missions.
Like many other 3D strategy games, it is possible for the player to zoom in and out of the battle, as well as rotating the camera around the battlefield. When selected, the units make random statements based on a wide variety of circumstances, such as the time of the day, the type of the terrain or its current health.
Each type of unit has its own special capacities and weaknesses. Scouts, for instance, are great for exploring or luring the enemy and are the only unit capable of traversing water, but have little armor so they do not last long on the frontline, meanwhile tanks, in spite of having both a good offensive and defensive capability (which its increased by its capacity to burrow on the ground) are vulnerable against units which have greater sight.
The rabbit campaign deals with the aftermath of the Pig's initial offensive and Carrotland's attempt to cut off the N.P.A. supply lines; the Pig campaign shows the final battle against the rebels of New Porkshire and the initial offensive against the Rabbits, as well as the continuation of succeeding combat operations as if the Pigs had won the war. The pig campaign is aimed at experienced players, and has a greater difficulty level compared to its rabbit counterpart.
One of the special and innovative features of the game engine is the direct display of the minimal and maximal firing range of a unit by dotted lines surrounding the unit. These lines fully adhere to the terrain just above the texture layer and are displayed in red for minimal and yellow for maximal range. While obvious, this tool from the world of turn-based strategies was most likely the first implementation in real-time tactics. The feature greatly enhances the game play and is also a signature component of the following Stormregion's Codename: Panzers series.
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