I want to preface this saying that I am a huge believer in games as a form of cultural expression, nor do I have any interest in censorship, and oppose it wherever I can. Inquisition is pure propoganda. Pagans are evil, their magic can only be mastered by evil alignments, and your role is a sadistic member of one of the most historically vile and reprehensible groups the planet has seen. Remember that many, many innocent victims died to this racial and religious oppression. There are plenty of games where you can kill others without uplifting the ideal of genocide and torture a moral path. I love fantasy, and would that the developers could have moved away from real-world religious politics, or at least attempted to distance themselves, this game could have been a different story, but they didn't, so replace 'Pagans' or 'Heretics' with Homosexuals, Women, Muslims, and Jews, innocent of any charge, because that's what this game is about. Everyone has to draw the line somewhere. The only difference between this and one where you take on the role of a Hitler Youth who begins a quest of training to operate gas chambers to save the world from impurity is the span of a few hundred years. I don't see that difference as a meaningful one. I don't like saying these things. I want games to be supported in society, not condemned, but this bothered me deeply.
The Settlers 2 has always been my favourite in the series, having played every one since the very first on an Amiga 500. For those who may have played some of the newer titles, the differences in the earlier iterations make this more like a simulation than traditional RTS, and your enjoyment will probably vary accordingly. Blue Byte has recently returned to the military strategies of the first two games in its seventh release, where orders are issued but military units engage on their own. Micromanagament here is that of the development of your empire. The graphics are adorable, and individual citizens will not only travel to and from their work, level fields for building, cut down trees and mine for gold, but individually seed crops, grow pigs, bake bread, and hammer away at a smithy's anvil. This is still a rare feature these days, even more so when first released. You may find some elements similar with for instance Lords of the Realm, or Stronghold, but the Settlers takes the city building more seriously, and your troops are individual heroes who level up and duel each other. Those who are lovers of guerilla warefare may be dissappointed at first, but on a closer look this is another area where the game truly shines, with its own tactical and strategic nuances which play a huge part in offence and defence. If you can find a weak spot in your rivals fortifications, a small force can target that specific entrenchment, effectively destroying supply lines, bottlenecking cities, and finding your way to victory. I mention this because it is perhaps the unsung strength of The Settlers, which surpasses the unfortunate mass and rush tactics of many strategy games. Of course, the joy in developing your own city is a huge strength as well, and watching your cute denizens (and donkeys) go about their tasks amuses no ends. Think of the lemmings or smurfs and you begin to get a good idea. Now give them swords. :)
