Reviews / previews
Spice is the most powerful substance in this games universe, and the planet Arrakisa.k.a. Duneis its only source. In this fully 3D sequel to Dune II, the breakthrough real-time strategy game of 93, youll take command of one of the three very different Houses that vie for control of the harsh desert planet. Plus, you can ally with or fight against five other groups, including the Guild, in this nonlinear epic. A demo revealed some of the best-looking units and terrain in an RTS yet.
-- 0 / GamePro
The Emperors New Clothes
While Emperor is Westwoodsthough certainly not the worldsfirst 3D real-time strategy, this long-awaited sequel to Dune II is essentially an old-school 2D RTS in a prettier modern package. Not that theres anything wrong with that, of course.
The Emperor Giveth
The graphics in Emperor do look great, clearly inspired by the goofily surreal designs of David Lynchs film version of Dune (1984). The sounds of battle ring loud and clear, with some great unit-select one-liners and noteworthy technorific musical numbersespecially the Ordos House Mix that plays on Draconis. The single-player campaign features FMV cut-scenes that are insanely sillya strangely welcome throwback to the days when Mark Hamill hung out with giant cat puppets in Wing Commander III. Michael Dorn (YupStar Trek: TNGs Lieutenant Worf) plays the head of House Atreides, but it is creepy character actor Vincent Schiavelli as the Harknonnen Mentat advisor who is clearly having the most fun with his job.
If youve ever played Dune II (or its hi-res remake, Dune 2000), youll find yourself right at home with the games three armies. The Noble House Atreides, the vile Harkonnen, and the back-stabbing Ordos are back once again, and youll recognize a lot of the units from the games previous forms.
Emperors first noticeable gameplay tweak is the addition of a simple Risk Jr.like board game that ties together the missions in the single-player campaign, adding a nice element of nonlinearity to the game without sacrificing too much of the story. The games best tweak is the option to ally your house with up to two of five sub-factionsincluding the Ix, Tleilaxu, Sardaukar, Fremen, and Navigators Guildto help round out and customize your forces.
And The Emperor Taketh Away
Still, all is not right on Arrakis. A limited camera, slightly wonky unit A.I., and a few absent unit-handling features seem like a retreat from ground already covered by other, older 2D RTS games. And while three houses and five subfactions means there are lots of different units with which to play, House Harkonnen isnt really different from House Ordos or Atreidesespecially when compared to the faction differentiation in a game like Starcraft. When battles ensue, its not long before you lose track of whose units are whose in the chaos.
Emperor brings some cool little ideas to the table, but the game still feels more like a nifty 3D Dune-themed add-on pack for C&C than a whole new Westwood world. Its well-polished, fast, and funeven if its not particularly original. Dont mess too much with a good thing, the House Westwood mantra goes.-- 0 / GamePro
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