Galatic Reign is a cross-platform space strategy game that is available on both Windows 8 and Windows Phone. The game is turn based, which means it possible to play a turn on one device e.g. PC), then switch to another device (e.g. phone) to play the next turn. This multi-device, or multi-screen, gaming scenario is an area that Microsoft is keen to push as it emphasises the cohesiveness of the wider Microsoft ecosystem. 

The game is fairly typical of the turn-based space strategy genre, with resource management, research and developer, fleet building, fleet deployment and colonization game-play elements taking place across a pre-defined map (galaxy). 

There is a single player game mode, Battle Academy, that has 60 levels (challenges), but it's best viewed as training for the main multi-player event. In multi-player games players start on opposite sides of the galactic map, with command of up to four fleets, and then plot their moves turn-by-turn. Essentially the race is on to colonise the map and then defeat the opposing player. The key moment is nearly always going to be a battle between two players, but how you get there will dictate victory or defeat.

The cross platform elements aside, Galatic Fire doesn't really stand out as being particular innovative. That is until you see the rather impressive full motion combat sequences videos that occur when there's a battle. While totally unnecessary in game play terms (they're the equivalent of cut-scenes videos), these go far beyond what you would usually associate with a game of this type, as the video reflects the actual battle that's being fought. The secret behind this is that the videos are rendered in the cloud and then streamed to the device. 

Like a cut-scene video you can opt to skip this element of the game, but there's no denying it's a clever idea, and a resourceful way to get round some of the limitations of the hardware that's the game is running on (incidentally the approach is just as much about getting a good experience on Windows RT devices, as it is on Windows Phone devices). And to be fair it's not just a cut scene video - you can pick up important information about the opposing player and their tactics (especially when using the optional scan tactical overlay) - plus you can also share the videos with your friends via social media.

Galatic Reign, which is available for both Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8 can be downloaded from the Windows Phone Store. As noted above the game is also available for Windows 8 / Windows RT. You only need to pay for one version of the game (download on the other platform in trial mode and the full content will be available), but do note you'll only be able to collect achievements on the platform for which you have paid for the game.