Ten-hut! Military Madness, the classic turn-based strategy game published by Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American publishing arm of HUDSON SOFT, is coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. This new version of the strategic combat simulation game includes an all-new graphical barrage, a regiment of new units, online co-op and vs. multiplayer and a platoon of other new features. Due to be ready for deployment this summer, Military Madness: Nectaris has been rated E10 for Everyone 10+ by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

“Since its original release on TurboGrafx-16 in 1989, Military Madness has stood the test of time as one of the longest-lived turn-based strategy games in history,” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “The new Military Madness will give fans of the original a modern version of this classic strategy game, while gamers new to the series will get to enjoy being armchair generals for the first time.”

With new features such as the commander unit, four person online multiplayer gaming and a 3D view of the battlefield, Military Madness has been modernized to meet the needs of today’s gamer without straying from the strategic elements that earned the original version awards for the “Best Military Strategy Game” and “Best War Game” within a year of its release. For those who want to know who is the “best of the best”, detailed stat-tracking leaderboards can be reviewed online.

One of the longest-lived turn-based military strategy games for consoles, Military Madness, also known as Nectaris, first signed up for active duty on the TurboGrafx-16 in 1989. Within a year of its release, it won awards for “Best Military Strategy Game” and “Best War Game”. Last seen on consoles on the original PlayStation, Military Madness has been running covert ops until now.

We here at XBLArcade.com got a chance to get a hands-on preview of the game at the Penny Arcade Expo this year, and we can honestly say that this is going to be a great strategy game. The gameplay is comparable to similar games like Commanders Attack and the recently released Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commanders Challenge on the Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Military Madness takes place in the year 2156, where the Earth has become vastly overpopulated. In an effort to preserve the population, Earth establishes lunar penal colonies to remove convicted criminals from the population. Although it's rough treatment for the criminals, the method proves to be effective. Soon however, the prisoners begin to rise up against the minimal security detaining them on the Moon, and begin to threaten the entire planet with a weapon so powerful, it could obliterate all of the Earth's population. The newly founded Xenos (as the prisoners refer to themselves), are determined to take revenge on the planet that cast them onto the cold lunar surface.

This is where you come in. As commander of the Union army, you take part in a mission to take back the lunar surface by outsmarting the Xenos army. The new generation of Military Madness brings classic turn-based strategy gameplay with a fresh coat of paint to bring the universe to life. You've never seen action strategy look so good! Several factors on the battlefield add to the dynamic decision making you'll have to do throughout the course of conducting your operations on the Moon. Unit placement and movement, terrain advantages, and predicting enemy movements all come into play when trying to outsmart your enemy.

The game features two opposing forces with near-future military equipment battling it out on the Moon. Each level is a distinct map with a hex grid, on which players take turns moving their units in an effort to win by destroying all enemy units or taking over the enemy headquarters. The newly implemented 4-person multiplayer, you can coordinate strategies or taunt foes in co-op or vs. multiplayer modes! Whether it's locally or online, no two battles will be the same! You can also choose commanders with 20 different unique abilities to lead your forces. Along with online leaderboards which track every detail and statistic, you'll even earn experience in each match like a true general on the field. Additionally, multiple command views let you strategize in 2.5D and let you see your battles unfold in 3D in cinematic camera action. With the all-new graphical barrage, a regiment of new units, online co-op and vs. multiplayer, and a platoon of other new features, this is the maddest game in the series yet!