We loved this because the asymmetry offers players an even better experience based on their preferred playing style. A player chooses between the invading Strogg with advanced alien technology, or the human Global Defense Force with more conventional military kit. The alien Strogg team has access to Goliath Walkers, Bosonic Orb weapons and vehicles with Gravitonic Repulsors, while the human Global Defense Force team uses conventional trucks, tanks, rocket launchers and assault rifles, providing a much more military experience.

The player then chooses their specialist combat role within the team, but this "character class" selection is not just a different weapon load-out. Each character class in ETQW features unique items, tools, weapons, abilities and rewards.

On the GDF team, a player can choose a character class that is suited to fighting right in the thick of it such as the Soldier, while as Field Ops he can rain down artillery hell from his position on top of a hill, or get down into the battle and call in air strikes. As a Covert Operations Specialist, the player can infiltrate the enemy base, place third-eye cameras that relay intelligence to his team, and then snipe the enemy from afar, or play Medic and support his teammates in a hero's role, regularly risking personal sacrifice in the pursuit of keeping his teammates alive with health packs, revives and supply drops. This is deepened by the asymmetry that exists between the two teams' classes too; the Strogg feature similar combat roles to the GDF, but their classes are augmented with advanced alien technology -- their items include Remote Repair Drones, Violator Orbital Strikes and Teleportation Devices, while their nefarious abilities allow them to create Spawn Hosts and extract Stroyent from unconscious or dead GDF players. This wide range of choice almost guarantees that you'll find a combination of team and combat role that's absolutely perfect for your preferred playing style.