Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy

Company type	Expansion pack
Industry	Video games
Predecessor	Ground Control (2000)
Founded	2000
Parent	Sierra Studios

Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy serves as an expansion pack for the 2000 real-time tactics title Ground Control. Created through a collaboration between Massive Entertainment and High Voltage Software, and distributed by Sierra Studios, this expansion was provided at no extra cost with new copies of the original game. Existing owners could obtain it via an online application, and it was also sold as a hard copy in certain retail boxed sets.

This expansion introduces a fresh faction known as the Phoenix Mercenaries alongside a 15-mission single-player campaign that extends the initial narrative. Additional multiplayer maps, new units for the established factions, and diverse terrain types enrich the gameplay experience. A notable feature is the inclusion of full motion video sequences produced by Blur Studio, which differ from the base game's pre-rendered engine cutscenes.

Plot

Taking place several months after the events of the original game, the campaign centers on Major Sarah Parker and her team stranded on Krig-7b. They confront surviving elements of the Order of the New Dawn and emergent forces from the Crayven Corporation while striving to reestablish deep space communication links. Following the presumed death of Deacon Jared Stone, an enigmatic Order battlecruiser appears to extract Parker.

Commanded by Cardinal Kila Balor, this cruiser’s leader enlists Parker for a secret mission to eliminate a rogue faction named the Second Dawn, which is implicated in a "dark conspiracy" jeopardizing the Order’s stability. Equipped with covert resources, Parker forms an alliance with the newly introduced Phoenix Mercenaries.

The storyline unfolds across three planets, culminating in the downfall of both the Second Dawn and its leader. During this campaign, Parker uncovers Enrica Hayes—former Crayven director and antagonist from the original game—detained among captured assets. In return for her freedom, Hayes discloses that Stone remains alive on Calliope’s moon.

Parker then spearheads an operation on Calliope’s moon to rescue Stone but simultaneously faces assaults from Cardinal Balor’s forces seeking to eliminate him for treason. This conflict escalates into a three-way battle involving Crayven Corporation, Order of the New Dawn, and Phoenix Mercenaries. Ultimately, Parker succeeds in rescuing Stone while Balor falls in combat.

The expansion concludes with a cliffhanger revealing that the so-called "dark conspiracy" was fabricated by a shadowy individual known only as "M," suggesting further developments ahead.

The Phoenix Mercenaries

According to the game manual, this faction consists of Crayven dissidents exiled to the heavily mined world Crim-12. As former corporate employees disenchanted with Crayven’s hierarchy, they established a new community by repurposing scavenged and seized equipment left behind by both Order and Crayven forces.

Their numbers grew as other disillusioned individuals joined, eventually drawing corporate scrutiny. To prevent conflict, an agreement was reached whereby Crayven would leave them undisturbed in exchange for mercenary services. Due to limited natural resources on Crim-12, they uniquely accept scrap metal as payment. Under leadership from an ex-soldier, they forged a resilient yet capable military force.

Their ground vehicles resemble hovercars characterized by high maximum speeds but modest acceleration. Reflecting their "Phoenix" moniker, much of their weaponry centers on incendiary technology—featuring plasma-based arms and specialized units such as the Pyro-Dyne flame tank and white phosphorus artillery systems.

Gameplay

Although their forces resemble those of other factions, distinctive units such as the Plasma Grenadiers stand out as the only infantry equipped with weapons similar to mortars. Their artillery units discharge single rounds instead of rapid bursts, allowing for faster target changes despite a slower rate of destruction.

They are unique in deploying an aircraft known as the Swarm, capable of engaging both aerial and ground targets, though it cannot attack infantry. Each squad consists of six small planes that individually have limited strength but are highly effective in large numbers, delivering overwhelming guided missile attacks.

Reception

The title was met with generally positive feedback on Metacritic, achieving an aggregate score of 77 out of 100. Additional notable evaluations include a 7.9/10 from GameSpot, an 8.5/10 from GameZone, and an 8/10 rating by IGN.