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Empire Earth II

EMAIL PRINT pc

6.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 39 critic reviews
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Based on 41 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Vivendi Universal / Sierra

Developer: Mad Doc Software

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy

Players: 10

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: April 26, 2005

Summary

Prepare to serve up worldwide conquest on an epic scale once again with Empire Earth 2. Become the greatest conqueror of all time by creating, building and forging the grandest of all empires as you progress through 15 epochs that span more than 10,000 years of history. Introducing new units, powers and leaders through 3 expansive campaigns, Empire Earth 2 will once again set the standard for real-time strategy games with the latest technology and features that expand both the single-player and multiplayer experience. Relive more than 10,000 years of history as you lead one of 14 different civilizations spanning 3 distinct campaigns that feature all-new units, powers and leaders under your control. Challenge an all-new reactive and dynamic artificial intelligence system that will adapt to your every move and test the limits of your strategic warfare knowledge. Adapt to ever-changing weather conditions and constantly revolving seasons that will impact your civilization's growth and necessitate new tactical initiatives. Engage your opponents over a LAN or the Internet within nine types of games featuring improved tournament support, multiplayer co-operative scenarios and all-new features including a new reward system for demonstrating superior military, economic, and empire-expanding strategies and a tactical planning map to coordinate efforts with your team. [Vivendi Universal]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Empire Earth Empire Earth II: The Art of Supremacy Empires: Dawn of the Modern World

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: GamerFeed Preview Games Domain Preview GameSpot Hands-On GameSpy Hands-On IGN Hands-On Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Detroit Free Press

We especially liked the intense array of challenges always pressing in on our fledging world. Empire Earth II is a real-time strategy game on steroids.

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PC Gameworld

Far exceeds the original and establishes itself as a classic of the genre.

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PC Gamer

This is rip-roaring strategy for gamers who love the RTS genre and have been waiting for it to get on with growing up. [June 2005, p.78]

3DAvenue

Mad Doc have done what many may have thought they couldn't, taken another developers baby and produced one of the finest RTS games you will play this year.

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Cheat Code Central

One of the most epic, detailed, varied and deep RTS games ever created. It's going to challenge all gamers of all skill levels, from hardcore strategist and newbies.

GameSpot AU

Put away your social calendar strategy fans - this game will eat out months out of your life.

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IGN

A deep and satisfying real-time strategy game. The campaigns are great, the multiplayer is super fun, and skirmish allows for tons of single player satisfaction thanks to some terrific AI that'll give you fits.

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ActionTrip

The advanced diplomacy options, the solid AI and the inclusion of some realistic elements, such as weather conditions, make it truly enjoyable to play. On the other hand, its complexity will tend to bore you rather than intrigue you after some time, and I cannot tell why it is so.

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Game Chronicles

I am certain that Empire Earth II will someday make it to the RTS Hall of Fame. It has surpassed the original in almost every way possible. It has become a new force to be reckoned with in the RTS genre.

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GameZone

A game that has tremendous scope and hours of replayability. At the same time, the sheer number of things to do are also a drawback, as it can get confusing.

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Warcry

The technology progression in Empire Earth II is nothing short of spectacular.

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GamingTrend

A fantastic real-time strategy game that is a little overwhelming to those just moving into the series.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

While Empire Earth II may not have the sense of character that a more era-focused RTS brings to the party, it scores big for its naked ambition. If you've got the staying power, it will reward you with months of sabre-rattling goodness. [PC Gamer UK]

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Armchair Empire

A fantastic game. Save for the somewhat dated look of the game, there is just too much being offered by Empire Earth II for RTS gamers not to take notice.

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Next Level Gaming

I had to pull myself away from the game to actually write this review, how is that for a recommendation.

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PC Format

What it does introduce is a level of pervasive professionalism, and in-depth statistical geekery that's been reserved for "Football Manager's" army of devotees until now. [June 2005, p.94]

Game Revolution

The strategic possibilities are limited only by the skill of the player. It’s likely too complex for some and isn’t without a few hiccups, but those with patience to burn will find this a bright candle indeed.

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Total Video Games

A game that should just ages (excuse the pun.) At its core the game is a standard RTS title, but Mad Doc has added so many unique features to it that EE2 certainly stands out amongst the crowd.

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Computer Gaming World

Empire Earth II builds upon many of its predecessor's strengths to deliver a sprawling RTS conquest game that is still remarkably user-friendly.

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Computer and Video Games

Empire Earth II may not be the best historical strategy game on the market, but it is bloody good all the same, and points to a bright future for the RTS. [PC Zone]

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The New York Times

Empire's elegant interface does its best to help the player consolidate power. Drudgery like reassigning workers to new tasks can be done instantly, and a small window allows you to keep an eye on hot spots. Objectives are always clear.

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Gamers' Temple

A sweeping, deep, and complex game best left to those who revel in sweeping, deep, and complex games.

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GamerFeed

One of the strongest advancements in real-time strategy games to come along in a long time.

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AceGamez

Perhaps not varied enough from the standard Age of Empires clone, Empire Earth 2 still manages to impress in both terms of scale and the amount of challenges it offers up in its trip through the ages.

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Sydney Morning Herald

This ambitious game spans half a million years of human history and is so vast it could take months to explore all it has to offer.

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Yahoo! Games

But fans of the first Empire Earth are going to find a much improved game here, while veterans of the genre will be impressed by the new concepts.

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GameSpot

If you can commit a great many hours to familiarizing yourself with all the game's nooks and crannies, expect to be rewarded with an enjoyable addiction that will cost you weeks, if not months, of your life.

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GameSpy

I can think of very few games that I could play for the next 10 years (or until I get eaten by that monster in the woods) and never run out different ways to play and different strategies to explore. Empire Earth II is one of those games.

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My Gamer

The game play may very well what saves Empire Earth 2 from being a mediocre title. The added “little things” give it a different feel than other games in an already highly populated genre.

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Game Informer

Given both its de-emphasis on low-level tactical decisions and its ambitious scope, EEII resides in a bizarre no-man's-land between "Civilization III" and "Kohan II." [May 2005, p.124]

1UP

With good AI for single-player games and a few decent multiplayer options, Empire Earth II is a worth a look for most RTS fans, if not worthy of dropping everything and rushing out to buy.

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Worth Playing

A basic historical RTS that offers few additions to the genre, other than some interesting interface additions, which I can only wish were attached to a better game.

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Eurogamer

A fun, solid RTS. But that's all. It fatally lacks a sense of creative vision other than just being a bit better than "Rise of Nations," with its step-forwards more half-steps.

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Pelaaja (Finland)

Empire Earth II’s biggest problem is that it does not fully know what it wants to be. For those who want a real-time Civilization, it’s too simple, and for the friends of regular rts-games, the learning curve can be a bit too tough. For that acquired mixed taste, it’s still a good choice. [June 2005, p.74]

Pelit (Finland)

Relies too much on its gameplay (taken from Age of Empires and made obsolete by the Total War games). There are fresh ideas in the multiplayer mode, though, such as shared war plans. [July 05]

VideoGamesLife

There’s nothing so wrong with Empire Earth II as to show it up for being the rather unexciting and decidedly average game it should be.

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G4 TV

With the exception of a couple of new features that do indeed enhance the game, Empire Earth II still feels like it was made with a cookie cutter, culling most of the basic design ideas from other games.

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2404.org

A few years ago, Empire Earth II might have made the cut for fresh and innovative gameplay. Sadly, today it's simply a retread--and a poorly executed, tedious one at that.

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Computer Games Magazine

Games like this are the reason micromanagement is a four-letter word. [July 2005, p.57]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.7 (out of 10) based on 41 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

a a gave it a10:
One of the best RTS's of all time

Fred B. gave it an8:
Much shiner than its predecessor with a better interface and some awesome new features like territories and capturing buidlings. I must say, however, that I preferred EE1's complex array of specialized counter-units to EE2's simple rock-paper-scissors system. Also, the campaigns are bland, incorporating few cinematics and no dialogue. Still, a fun and challenging game with visible crews for unenclosed vehicles and artillery.

Daniel M. gave it a10:
I thought this was a brialliant and very stratigical game.

mriguy gave it a7:
I loved the original EE and keep hoping that Sierra finds a better developer or Mad Dog improves. EE could be the ultimate stategy platform. By bigest complaint is the sound. EE1's charactors evolved. It was cool to hear the cavemen grunt. Germans should speak German, Italy, Italian etc.. There are a lot of nice features but I HATE the oversized leaders. Stainless Steels EE1 was cleaner but Mad Dog could still make this the best RTS if theye just cleaned up some items and listen to all the community feedback, maybe EE3. There are a lot of good ideas in the forums. It's the commuunity that makes the RTS. If the customer's support and feedback dies so does the product. I like the addition of spies and the elimination of magical charactors. I could write a 5 page report about all the features that could be improved. I rate it an "Almost, but you need to fix this this and this.."

BJ gave it a2:
Major step down from the original Empire Earth. Big disappointment.

Stephen P. gave it a3:
This game is much easier than its predecessor. Its game play is only but a fraction of the time as EE was. Despite all of the new buildings and epochs, there seems to be less to choose from once you make your initial choice of a race. Furthermore, awesome graphics do not insure an awesome game, when will designers realize this.

Bonedoc gave it a7:
I'd give it a higher rateing if it didn't freeze while loading saves so often on my Falcon Mach V. Honestly, you would think it would run without a problem on a puter that runs Doom and Half-life on the highest possible settings.

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