There are three factions to control (Vikings, Aztecs, and Chinese), each with its own 10-mission campaign, units, and spells. The campaigns always start you out slowly with just a few troop types but dole out new abilities at regular intervals. Swords & Soldiers gets a lot of mileage out of simple controls and limited mechanics. Objectives will vary slightly from mission to mission; you may have to destroy the enemy base, survive for a certain amount of time, or navigate a limited amount of troops through the enemy's defenses.
Like most RTS games, players have to mine resources, spend resources on troops and research, defend their territory, and overtake the enemy's land. But battles here are presented in 2D with the player's base on the left and the enemy advancing from the right. Zipping left and right on the map is effortless thanks to the left analog stick, and you can easily summon troops and spells with the L and R buttons. Whereas console ports of PC strategy games like Command & Conquer or Supreme Commander always feel a little handicapped, Swords & Soldiers feels perfectly natural on a console. You won't find the same level of depth as, say, Starcraft, but there is plenty of fun and challenge here.
Beyond the single-player campaigns there are local and online versus modes for two players, single-player skirmishes, and mini-game challenges. And because 3D is so hot right now, Swords & Soldiers supports a variety of 3D modes, from stereoscopic to plain old red/blue glasses.
Swords & Soldiers sports an attractive, cartoon art style. The orchestral soundtrack is rousing and there is a spattering of comical voiceover work. All of these little touches give the game personality and make it a standout PSN title.