Dark Reign 2

Dark Reign 2 had a lot going for it at launch near the new millennium however it failed to captivate the audience of the original game which is what ultimately lead to its failure in the market. It shows that AAA (for its time) graphics are only part of the equation to making a successful product. The SIGS (Sierra Internet Gaming System) lobby service passed hands through a few different companies before it became known as the WON (World Opponent Network) service - ultimately it was shut down around 2015 and the Dark Reign 2 community was no longer a thing. Until today... I'm currently working on making the game compatible with current systems, fixing bugs and game-play issues - specifically the single file unit path finding issue is no longer a problem and the mouse input doesn't freeze on higher mouse DPI settings. I'll be uploading releases to https://github.com/razodactyl/darkreign2/releases Instructions are to replace your files with the files found here - these releases fix bugs, add improvements and ultimately allow online multiplayer. Have fun.

I bought this game on a whim the moment it popped up here on GOG. As a fan of the RTS genre, it appealed to me. The game looks very good for its age, and the story is interesting enough. My only real problem with the game is the AI. Pathfinding seems almost non existent. Many times your units just run at an enemy one at a time, which works out the same way as in Kung Fu movies...in the sense that it doesn't actually work out at all. If there is a patch or tweak to address this issue this game should definitely be a part of your collection. Even as it stands I still enjoyed it, but the extra micromanagement you need to do to keep your units alive keeps it form getting 5 stars.

I think this game was very underrated when it came out. One of the early 3D RTS games, it has an excellent graphics for its time - its low-polyness actually adds more style to it, and there are also some nice particle effects. Art direction is very nice - each of the factions (sadly, there are only two of them) have their own distinctive and very memorable visual style. The game world is very atmospherically designed. You'll direct your units - ground, air and waterborne - through the snow-covered mountains, barren deserts, river-swamped-jungles and the dying cities of the future. I liked the energy implementation in this game - power from your solar panels gradually drops at night and rises again at daytime. The ability to terramorph the map to some extent is also nice. Units types and available tactics could be more varied and the AI could be much better, but still I've found the gameplay enjoyable, especially in the campaign. You'll be able to play one of the two plotlines that take place at the same time, and the story is very interesting. I really enjoyed watching the cutscenes. And the voice acting is done good too. The music deserves a special mention. It's a really good well-composed techno, and you'll probably find yourself listening to it even after you've finished the game. Overall - Dark Reign 2 has its flaws, but still is a very good game.

Dark Reign is an amazing RTS. Two very distinct sides with multiple tactics available for each side lends an incredible amount of replay value. Dark Reign 2 on the other-hand was well-intentioned but ultimately fell quite a long way short of doing much to improve or even equal its predecessor. The good: The music. Actually good doesn't quite do this justice. The soundtrack is downright excellent. Have a quick hunt around on youtube for a few songs and sample for yourself. The mod ability. DR2 came with a mod kit that the community took and made several good unofficial expansions and 'gameplay' videos (the only time the zoomed in camera was worth anything). The graphics. The poly count is nothing to shout about but zoomed out the energy beams, explosions and death animations are by no means shabby. The scenery is also good with a nice range from desicated deserts, to lush jungles, blizzard enduring mountains, run-down urban sprawls and the pristene shine of the buildings inside one of the domes for the rich. [Some of the] Single-player missions. Some are really well thought out and will make the player work hard to win that victory. Some of them could have been livened up a lot more but there's a nice progression. The bad: Pathfinding. It's been mentioned before and likely to be mentioned again. It's infuriating. Large groups are fodder for turrets as they run all neatly in line into range. This actually came up in DR but the units reacted quick enough for it to never be much of an issue, But in DR2 the engine just can't handle it. The 3D terrain becomes a giant obstacle course with baby-friendly bumpers on the sides of everything - buildings, cliffs, other units. A unit will work itself up to a run then stop. Turn. Perhaps turn again. Take a step. Turn again. Take a step...all while being merrily pummeled by the amused defenders. It's the game's biggest detractor for me. The camera. It's clunky. Aircraft can go out of sight if they go over a sheer cliff unless you're in the bird's eye view and then that covers any buildings or units below them. In some of the internal missions - in a sewers, Togran temple, for example - there are parts where the camera just can't seem to give a good vantage point - and you'd think with 4 angles, each with mulitple elevations that wouldn't be a problem... Unit design. Some of the units are very well executed. Some are pretty woeful and won't see any game time. Beware of explosive weapons. Friendly artillery damaging your own units is nothing new but there are several low level units that are toting rocket launchers that will keep shooting until the enemy death animation has finished (stupid or blood-thirsty?). This presents a problem if units are advancing, especially with pathfinding as it is. Units are very fond of running full pelt into a dismembering death if you don't tell them to stop moving anywhere right away. Getting them to turn round is just an exercise in frustration. So, in conclusion, I wouldn't recommend this game. It's getting three stars primarily for the music and its link to the original DR. DR2 tried to raise the bar but focused on the wrong things. It's selling point was the camera and the visuals which probably should have raised alarms bells - if the core mechanics like unit design, pathfinding and gameplay aren't being touted then it was always likely to have a rough ride. Save your money and get DR the original. Give the soundtrack a listen though. I just hope it didn't get panned hard enough for Activision to dismiss giving DR3 a go.