The only thing that uses these advantages with any skill are the pre-built turrets. The AI is where this game really falters. The same blend of units attack every mission at roughly the same time, wave after wave. The very first time I played the game was in this mode, and I won easily and despite building a base resembling a Picasso. Any veteran of any RTS will no doubt do better, while people who've fought the often terminally efficient AI in Dark Reign will romp through this game with ease, at least until the late missions in the campaign.
Skirmish mode is essentially useless, which really hurts the game's replayability.
In other games at least all the computer players would join forces to destroy you and I wish they would do the same in Machines . Once 20 missions in the campaign are over anyone left hungering for more will have to switch to multiplayer. A maximum of four players is accommodated, with a few options and several maps, although with no map or scenario editor and a lack of diversity in sides and units, Machines cannot compete with other games in this area. The audio in the game is only ok simply because there isn't enough of it. The usual pings, bangs, shazams and pops are included for gunfire and are all good quality, and I still hear that sound of that vortex gun firing in my sleep.