For most of us, it wasn't enough to be a supreme commander. Whether it was the overwhelming management of hundreds of units or frying your PC, Gas Powered Games had overwhelmed with its complex and overbearing strategy game. More power, it seems, is the solution as Demigod raises you to an all-new level of control. Gone are the niggles of unit micromanagement and dizzying scale, replaced by a sleek strategic style that proves less is sometimes more.

In Demigod, your goal is to ascend into the pantheon of gods following an unexpected vacancy. This open spot causes an upwelling of aggression among the demigods, who are all seeking the position themselves. Through the course of the single player campaign, you take on the role of a demigod in an effort to seize the ninth spot in the pantheon. Naturally, getting there involves beating back each of your rivals on your way to the top. It's a demigod-eat-demigod game where skill, strength, and cunning mean the difference between deity and dejection.

Eight demigods and eight maps translate to as many variations of the campaign. Each demigod triggers a distinct ending, so you're able to play through the single player game in eight instances to receive each unique ending. Along with possessing their own story, each demigod also engenders a distinct style of play. The Rook, for example, can be fully customized with weapons and other add-ons to fit your strategy. This walking fortress essentially acts as a blank slate upon which you can construct various upgrades. Learning how to use each demigod in battle is critical to developing winning strategies.

During battles, you only control your demigod. Minions stream in from portals situated throughout the map. You start each battle with possession of a single portal and can capture other neutral ones, if the map houses any. Units appearing from a portal act independently of your control, so you're free to engage in battle against your opponent's demigod or take out any of their subordinate units. Experience earned in battle allows you to purchase upgrades, which naturally boost your attack, defense, speed up the rate at which units stream out of your portals, or even unlock new abilities. Interestingly enough, you can even purchase upgrades that affect your competitor. For instance, you might want to reduce the rate at which enemy units appear from portals or decrease their health to get an edge. It's a devious strategy, but one that adds an extra dimension to the game.

Of course, the game has to be tailored for multiplayer, which leaves the campaign more of a warm up competition. Head-to-head matches all the way up to five-on-five battles are supported, with variations in between. Gas Powered Games promises fully scaling maps, so you can jump in for a quick 20 minute round against a buddy or spend more than an hour with a larger map. Universal achievements tracking your performance across every multiplayer match you play reward you with persistent bonuses and upgrades. There's also a meta-game in which each player can associate with a demigod and battle on its behalf, each game contributing to that demigod's chances of being chosen for ascension. Every few weeks, the meta-game resets and you're free to choose another demigod.