Dark Reign 2

Reviews / previews

Preview: Dark Reign 2

Pandemic Studios is looking to reinvent the real-time strategy (RTS) genre with Dark Reign 2, the first RTS game set in a completely 3D world. Battling as the technologically advanced Jovian Detention Authority or the mystical Sprawlers, gamers will command a myriad of units - including tanks and infantry, long-range snipers and spies that can take the form of enemy soldiers and infiltrate their bases - as they wage war on land, on sea, and in the air.

The interface allows you to manage your forces from the heat of the battle without missing any of the action - something never before seen in an RTS game. And while Dark Reign 2 will be playable from the traditional top-down perspective, gamers will be able to take advantage of the fully 3D world to put themselves right onto the battlefield and get an edge on their opponents. If it plays as good as it looks, Dark Reign 2 may be a contender for best RTS game yet when Activision releases it this June.

-- Brian Wright / GamePro

Review: Dark Reign 2

With its spectacular graphics, awesome sound, and easy-to-use interface, Dark Reign 2 is a perfect example of how to make a great 3D real-time strategy game, but the gameplay may be too familiar for gamers who have grown tired of the genre.

A war is raging between the bureaucratic Jovian Detention Authority and the rebellious Sprawlers. Both groups are searching a mystical mountain shrine for an ancient technological artifact, which just might be the key to winning the war. Think Star Wars meets Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Dark Reign 2 starts with the basic gameplay elements of the standard 2D RTS game (establish a base, harvest resources, build infantry and vehicles), adds some nifty new interface features like the Building and Squad Managers, and puts it all in a beautiful 3D world.

The new interface additions are especially cool. The Building Manager depicts each of your buildings as an icon in the corner of the screen and shows how many units are currently queued for production, allowing you to see at a glance which of your buildings are idle and require new orders. You can then order the production of new units straight from the Building Manager without having to return to your base. You can also set rally points this way - a much-needed feature.

The Squad Manager works in a similar manner. When you assign troops to a squad, an icon appears that shows the health of your units, so you can keep an eye on their status. An Orders Menu allows you to assign your troops different behavior patterns--Scout, Defender, Skirmisher, Warrior, or Terminator--and you can now set your units to auto-repair, so they will search for the nearest healing station when their health gets low.

A few new units introduce some interesting strategy elements to the game. Spies, like the Shadowhand and Infiltrator, can take on the appearance of enemy units, while the sniping Skulk is great for taking out enemy infantry from afar. The Scaver, meanwhile, has the ability to lay mines and traps, such as the Time Bomb, which attaches a ticking bomb to enemy infantry unfortunate enough to walk over it.

The 3D battlefields are beautiful with snow-covered landscapes, desert islands, and lush tropical jungles complete with waterfalls, and the bright colors of the areas create a futuristic, alien feel that fits the game perfectly. The vehicle and infantry models look superb, from the scarecrow-like Infiltrator to the mech-style Watchman, and the day to night transitions create a moody atmosphere. The cinematic cut-scenes using the in-game engine move the story along without removing you from the action. An awesome soundtrack combines pumpin' electronic beats with haunting vocal choruses for a dramatic effect and the voice-acting and sound effects are top-notch.

Controlling the action with the mouse and a few keyboard commands is a simple affair and anyone familiar with RTS-style games will be able to jump right in. Even neophyte gamers will be able to pick up the controls with ease.

But here's the bad news: Even with the welcome new additions and fabulous graphics and sound, the familiar gameplay of Dark Reign 2 begins to grow tiresome after a while. Anyone who has had their fill of games like StarCraft, the original Dark Reign, or any other 2D RTS game won't likely find enough new gameplay elements here to revitalize their interest.

But for gamers who can't get enough real-time strategy games or anyone just getting into the genre, Dark Reign 2 is as good as it gets.-- Brian Wright / GamePro