Perimeter is a real-time strategy game with a destructible world. Utilize the environment for resource gathering and defense against enemies. Immerse yourself in the millennia-spanning history of the Chains of Worlds and lead a faction in the struggle for survival.
Players can transform the terrain to obtain energy resources and use the environment as an offensive or defensive tool. The game allows you to raise, lower, or completely reshape the landscape to fit your strategic needs. This enables creative and dynamic base-building and combat scenarios, as you can mold the terrain to create choke points, elevate defensive structures, or open up new pathways for attacks.
The transformative unit mechanics offer a unique and flexible approach to commanding your forces. Instead of simply producing static units, the game lets you "reform" your troops, causing them to liquefy and recombine into different specialized unit types on the fly. This high degree of tactical flexibility allows you to adapt your forces to counter enemy threats or seize new tactical advantages.
Many reviewers note that the campaign missions often require a more puzzle-solving approach than a typical real-time strategy game. The unique mechanics around terrain manipulation and unit transformation mean that simply overwhelming the enemy with brute force is often not enough. Players must carefully plan their strategies and execute precise maneuvers to overcome certain challenges, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay.
The rich, psychedelic sci-fi setting of the "Chains of Worlds" is consistently praised as a major draw of the game's gameplay experience. The surreal, otherworldly environments and factions vying for control over the "Psychosphere" create a sense of mystery and wonder that complements the strategic gameplay in an engaging way.
Reviewers highlight the improvements made in the remastered edition as a key factor in their enjoyment of the gameplay. The updated visuals, support for modern hardware, online multiplayer functionality, and various bug fixes and balance adjustments have helped transform the original game into a much more cohesive and polished experience for both new and returning players.