I thought this was just one of those oddball videos that circulates around the net, but it really is a trailer for the upcoming Stalin vs Martians computer game.

Due for release in just a couple of weeks, Stalin vs Martians is a real time strategy game that does pretty much what it says on the tin – lets you pretend to be Stalin in 1942, commanding the glorious Red Army in a battle to the death against evil invading Martians. Or, in the words of Dreamlore, the game’s developers:

Year 1942. Summer. The martians suddenly land somewhere in Siberia and attack the glorious people of Holy Mother Russia. It is a hard time for USSR as you might know from the history books if you ever attended school. The situation is really fucked up, so comrade Stalin takes the anti-ET military operation under his personal control. The operation is a top secret and virtually nobody knows about the fact of extraterrestial intervention.

Those of you who are sticklers for historical accuracy (you know who you are) will no doubt be reassured to know that a great deal of research has gone into getting the period detail right:

The Russian units are 100% historically accurate (we even use the early version of T-34 tank, since it’s 1942 in the game). And that’s one of the weirdest things about the game. You have authentic Red Army units and use them to fight something absolutely inimaginable. Martian units are less historically accurate, only about 80%.

Although I am slightly concerned to hear that the game featured a 200-foot high Stalin who can step in to save the day when the going gets really tough – I had previously heard that he wasn’t exactly the tallest dictator around.

Stalin vs Martians release date (yes, this really is a real game!) is apparently 20th April. So, not long to wait now. Look out for it in all good PC game retailers.

Oh, just one more thing – heavy metal band ANJ have been signed up to provide some of the in game music, including their hit song Gorbachev. I’m especially thrilled about this, because it gives me the chance to feature their crazy Stalin zombie video classic one more time.

(First spotted on Evgeny Morozov’s excellent new blog.)

Tagged as: Stalin vs Martians