CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

xx Aces of the Galaxy
80 Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
55 Alone in the Dark
xx Ancient Quest of Saqqarah
50 Art of Murder: FBI Confidential
xx Backyard Baseball '09
xx Beauty Factory
44 Beijing 2008
54 Belief & Betrayal
90 Bionic Commando Rearmed
xx Birth of America II: Wars in America 1750-1815
xx Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
xx Building & Co: You Are The Architect!
xx Chaos Theory
xx Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The
xx Code of Honor 2: Conspiracy Island
xx Code of Honor: The French Foreign Legion
xx Combat Mission Shock Force - Marines
xx Concerto Gate
73 Crazy Machines 2
51 Crimes of War
xx Crysis Warhead
xx Dark Horizon
xx Dead Mountaineer's Hotel
xx Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm
78 Devil May Cry 4
xx Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon
70 Dracula: Origin
xx Dragons Rage
xx Dreamlords: The Reawakening
xx Emergency 4: Global Fighters for Life
xx Empire: Total War
xx Europa Universalis III: In Nomine
xx Exodus from the Earth
77 FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
xx Galactic Dream: Rage of War
xx Geo-Political Simulator
xx Ghostbusters: The Video Game
xx Goin' Downtown
88 GRID
xx GTR Evolution
xx Guild Wars 2
xx Gumboy Tournament
xx Happy Tree Friends False Alarm
xx Hell's Kitchen
xx Igor The Game
63 Immortals of Terra: A Perry Rhodan Adventure, The
32 Incredible Hulk, The
66 Insecticide: Episode 1
xx International Cricket Captain 2008
71 Kung Fu Panda
xx LEGO Batman
79 LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
xx Limbo of the Lost
xx Line Rider 2: Unbound
77 Lost Cases Of Sherlock Holmes, The
74 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition
90 Mass Effect
xx Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
xx MindHabits
xx Mount & Blade
xx Murder in the Abbey
79 Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice
xx NHL 09
xx Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy
82 Out of the Park Baseball 9
xx Overspeed: High Performance Street Racing
xx Paws & Claws: Pet Vet Australian Adventures
78 Penny Arcade Adventures Epsiode One: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
xx Penumbra: Requiem
xx Planet Busters
74 Political Machine 2008, The
xx Princess Bride Game, The
40 Pro Cycling Manager: Season 2008
xx Pure
xx Racing Team Manager
xx Requiem: Bloodymare
xx Romance of The Three Kingdoms XI
70 Roogoo
77 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
50 Samurai Warriors 2
67 SBK-08 Superbike World Championship
xx Shattered Suns
xx Silent Hill: Homecoming
62 SimCity Societies Destinations
72 Sims 2 Apartment Life, The
xx Sims 2 IKEA Home Stuff, The
xx Sinking Island
xx Sniper: Art of Victory
xx Space Chimps
58 Space Siege
87 Spore
83 Spore Creature Creator
73 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner
45 Stronghold Crusader Extreme
71 Summer Athletics
xx Supernova 2: Spacewar
67 Supreme Ruler 2020
xx Sword of the Stars: A Murder of Crows
xx Tank Universal
38 Terrorist Takedown 2: U.S. Navy SEALs
xx Terrorist Takedown: Conflict in Mogadishu
xx Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
xx Top Trumps: Doctor Who
xx Total Extreme Wrestling 2008
83 TrackMania United Forever
xx Ubersoldier 2: The End of Hitler
67 UEFA Euro 2008
63 WALL-E
xx War Leaders: Clash of Nations
xx Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
67 Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Battle March

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends pc Game Reviews
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
Critic Score
Metascore: 84 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.7 out of 10
based on 46 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 39 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends evolves the franchise's trademark features such as borders, large-scale battles and city-building in innovative ways. Players are able to transform small villages into powerful civilizations and lead vast fantasy armies into strategic battles using formations, unit control and heroic abilities to destroy the enemy. The popular Conquer the World (CTW) Campaign returns in Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends with exciting updates. The new CTW Campaign guides players through a new world of heroes, monsters, loyalty and betrayal. Gamers follow a story through multiple campaigns with fascinating subplots and heroic characters. The campaigns immerse players in an ever-changing three-dimensional world with terrain and cities that evolve as civilizations grow. [Microsoft]

PUBLISHER: Microsoft
DEVELOPER: Big Huge Games
GENRE(S): Real-Time Strategy
PLAYERS: 8
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: May 9, 2006

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...

95
Game Informer
Everything about this title is simply executed on a level that we rarely see outside a few elite development studios. [July 2006, p.108]
94
VGPub
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends is one of those games that you can sit down, have fun then look at the clock and realize two hours have gone by, it’s just that addictive.
Read Full Review
91
GameZone
The three races, even though there could have been some more differences between them, are really fun to play with and bring a nice breath of fresh air into the genre.
Read Full Review
91
PC Zone UK
By taking all that's best from the real-time build-and-conquer template, mixing it with elements of Civilization and Total War, and wrapping it up in an impressive (though not quite eye-popping) engine, Big Huge Games have taken the genre in a bold and exciting new direction.
Read Full Review
91
Gaming Age
It's obvious a lot of thought went into every aspect of the game, from the unique look and functionality of each race to the incredible balancing that ensures each of them are on equal footing.
Read Full Review
90
Sydney Morning Herald
Visually, the game is spectacular, but the 3D engine demands a fairly powerful PC - the bigger the battle, the slower the performance. Thankfully there are plenty of graphics options to fiddle with.
Read Full Review
90
Digital Entertainment News
A masterful work.
Read Full Review
90
Next Level Gaming
This is a solid game, nice graphics, great controls, but most importantly, immersive engaging gameplay that makes you forget to sleep and eat.
Read Full Review
90
Yahoo! Games
It's generous, detailed, and brainy. If you want cheap thrills, there are some great real-time strategy games out there -- this isn't one of them. But if you want something from the other end of the spectrum that plays unlike anything else, this is the game for you.
Read Full Review
90
Gamezilla!
Bottom line, if you liked Rise of Nations (and there were few who didn’t), Rise of Legends will be right up your ally.
Read Full Review
90
1UP
Steampunk and fantasy mesh in a way that's thrilling and engaging, and perilously addictive. It's hard to find a comparison to any RTS you've experienced before; this masterpiece just may become a Legend in its own right.
Read Full Review
90
PC Format
Intense strategy monster that almost lives up to its predecessor's legend. [June 2006, p.94]
90
Gamers' Temple
The setting itself and the very unique factions in the game are enough to make the game stand out from the crowd. Back this up with some solid RTS gameplay and you have a winner in Rise of Legends.
Read Full Review
89
PC Gamer
Given Bug Huge Game's big huge ambition level when crafting Rise of Legends, some dents in the genie lamp are to be expected. But they don't come close to spoiling Legend's fabulous magic carpet ride. [July 2006, p.65]
89
Games Master UK
A game of non-stop action that spits in the face of its boring real-time strategy rivals. [July 2006, p.80]
89
ActionTrip
A pretty engaging and challenging strategy, offering a lengthy single-player campaign in a captivating fantasy setting.
Read Full Review
88
GamingTrend
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends features the best balance I’ve seen in an RTS – ever.
Read Full Review
88
Loaded Inc
It is always risky to take something popular and approachable and change it up. That alone is well worth the price of admission. Factor in the enjoyable single player campaign and excellent art design, and I think you certainly have a game worth your hard earned cash.
Read Full Review
87
Pelit (Finland)
The second game from Big Huge Game designer Brian Reynolds takes careful steps to renew real-time strategy gaming, but does not dare step far enough. The game is beautiful and has lots of great ideas, but lacks in feeling, mostly due to bad sound effects. [June 2006]
87
PC Gamer UK
Despite providing three well-balanced, distinctive races, a host of spectacular units and powers, and some novel play factors like national borders and peaceful expansion, away from the rationale of the story of RoL can feel a tad generic. [June 2006, p.76]
86
Game Chronicles
This game ties together many of the great aspects of earlier titles (national borders, heroes, mega-units) seamlessly. The new fantasy setting, with its grand theme of magic versus technology, is a welcome change from orcs versus elves.
Read Full Review
85
Computer Games Online RO
Although it was more complex and more ambitious in scope than Rise of Nations, Rise of Legends has proven to be another hit for Big Huge Games and as such is a serious contender for the title of “Best real-time strategy game of the year” award. The only negative thing that can be said about it is the singleplayer campaign, which oddly enough should have been one of its strong points. Fortunately, the multiplayer modes, the three different but very well balanced factions, lots of strategies and the art design recommend it to all RTS lovers.
Read Full Review
84
eToychest
When push comes to shove, Rise of Legends is a lateral step for the Nations franchise. The game is sound mechanically and brilliant visually, but it lacks the staying power that kept Rise of Nations in players’ disc drives for so long.
Read Full Review
84
Gaming Horizon
Taking the best interface cues from genre stalwarts like Command and Conquer, Warcraft III and Age of Empires, the player will become immersed in a global conflict pitting two well-balanced yet different powers against an unimaginable foe.
Read Full Review
82
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Rise of Legends may not break new ground, but it certainly adds to what has gone before and presses all the right buttons along the way to becoming one of the more entertaining RTS games out there.
Read Full Review
82
IGN
The introduction of the new unique races and their distinctive abilities and art styles helps give the game a much needed fantasy flavor.
Read Full Review
81
Worth Playing
It doesn't tamper too much with the underlying engine that made the first game so great but adds just enough novelty to justify a second iteration.
Read Full Review
80
Edge Magazine
Big Huge Games has dressed the RTS in its finest coat-tails, sent it on the most captivating of journeys and transformed its communication skills. There's no question it has become a creature with broader horizons and more refined taste, but there's also no question it's still a familiar figure. [June 2006, p.84]
80
Game Over Online
Whether you think Rise of Legends is a masterpiece or whether you think it is a hard to swallow piece of fiction with a great strategy game underneath is dependent on how much you admire the backdrop that the creators have fleshed out.
Read Full Review
80
3DAvenue
Very much worth your time and money if you can't get enough RTS gaming, it's just a shame it wasn’t more than yet another solid RTS.
Read Full Review
80
Games Radar
Exactly what anyone craving an eclectic director's cut of Rise of Nations could want, and just as playable, thanks in part to three well-balanced antagonists. If it's not terribly inventive, well, there's always "Rise of Nations 2," right?
Read Full Review
80
EuroGamer
I need to stress that even when it abstractly fails - like the campaign mode - it falls comfortably above the vast majority of its peers. When it excels it excels in the same way as an aged whiskey or a finely made leather sofa does: it exudes quality and craftsmanship. Rise of Legends is an extremely-good-to-great game. Give it time and you'll love it.
Read Full Review
80
WHAM! Gaming
When it’s all said and done Rise of Legends is a solid RTS. The single player skirmishes with the computer are much better than playing the campaign and the multiplayer option is an absolute blast.
Read Full Review
80
G4 TV
Rise of Legends is a very different sort of RTS game that genre fans will be able to pick up and play but yet will find themselves drawn into thanks to its very different look and feel.
Read Full Review
80
Computer Games Magazine
Following up a grand slam nuclear blast like "Nations" with a bottle rocket may seem like an odd choice. But in many ways, the smaller fiddle plays the sweeter music. [Sept. 2006, p.54]
80
Gaming Nexus
An original, attractive world full of interesting beings to kill. Just oozes interesting ideas we’ll see more of in the future. Path-finding and networking bugs add a fly to the ointment.
Read Full Review
80
AtomicGamer
I think this game could have used a few more months in development to tighten up the campaign and make it more fun, but at the very least I've found the multiplayer to be very entertaining.
Read Full Review
79
GamingExcellence
Multiplayer is the tarnished jewel in the crown.
Read Full Review
78
Gamer 2.0
With a less slapdash campaign and tighter AI, it could have been great, but even now, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends is worth playing—just not legendary.
Read Full Review
76
GameSpot
Rise of Legends is a bit flat in comparison to Rise of Nations, but quirky races and units provide a lot of off-the-wall appeal.
Read Full Review
76
DailyGame
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends is an atypical real-time strategy game that manages to draw attention with its unique style, but ultimately plays like any other game in the genre.
Read Full Review
75
GameShark
This is yet another Reynolds strategy game that aims to please the hardcore gamer while being accessible enough for new players to learn the ropes if they are willing to put the time in thanks to the amazingly intuitive interface and striking game balance.
Read Full Review
75
Strategy Informer
The turn based combined with RTF is unique and fun, providing a little time for thinking and not so much twitchy trigger finger.
Read Full Review
75
Game Revolution
A playable piece of art, Rise of Legends is a very pretty painting even if it is on a very standard canvas. Leonardo would probably approve.
Read Full Review
70
GameSpy
Elegant and beautiful and quirky, and shows (in multiplayer at least) flashes of undeniable brilliance. Unfortunately, also like Leonardo's gadgets, Rise of Legends never quite gets off the ground.
Read Full Review
70
PALGN
The gameplay is solid, but there are far too many mistakes and flaws that really hurt what could’ve been a solid sequel.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 39 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

C. W. gave it an8:
Where Rise of Nations was a compelling hybrid between RTS and turn-based 4X games (particularly Civilization), Rise of Legends is just plain real-time strategy--which is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. The RTS aspects of Rise of Nations were undeniably the most entertaining part, which accounts for why Rise of Legends is still fun--and it IS still fun, especially for more casual gamers (like myself) who want the thrill of watching waves of soldiers overrun enemy installations without any of the skull sweat involved in other genre gems like WarCraft 3 (ugh, micromanaging!) or Homeworld (ugh, 3D navigation!). But RoN was enhanced, not shackled, by the infusion of 4X elements; by taking the "Nations" part out of RoL, Big Huge has left us with a game that looks gorgeous but plays like a rather tame StarCraft. It's a better RTS, but a worse game--and, seriously, how many more of those do we need?

TJ gave it a9:
A wonderful game! Amazing graphics, good story, fun campaigns, very unique factions and units, and some nice UI features. I highly recommend this game to any RTS afficionado.

Nate H. gave it a10:
Great use of physics. The campaign is great in the sense that you can choose what you want to do AND the fact that you can upgrade your heroes.

Casper J. gave it a10:
Underrated game. I'm playing through the campaign and find the 3 uniques races very cool and fun. The 3 race design in a 'single time-period' is quite similar to starcraft. But I like Legends more than starcraft, (never finished starcraft, probably due to my 'total annihilation' fascination at the time). I'm surprised so many people compare this game to 'age of empires' or 'rise of nations', because legends is not an 'advance through history' style game. Nations is closer to Command & Conquer Generals, Dawn of war, Warlords battlecry, Act or War etc. (games with 2 or 3 races, 2 resources and a single time period). Pros: No builder type units needed, yeah! Very Cool flying units. Pause and still give orders Excellent interface. Neutral buildings to capture for bonus Very Good AI Board game style strategic map. Territory boundries affect gameplay 2 resources (i don't like more than 2, ideally just 1) Cons: Online multiplayer is sparse. Need an above average computer to play. Weapon sounds could be louder

K Dep gave it a5:
Average game. A lot like the original RON, so the gameplay is solid. It's similar to AoE or Warcraft for those who didn't play the original. However, it can get tedious and boring fast. There is no really good way to get ahead fast, so a lot of time is spent waiting for resources or upgrades. After that, it basically becomes a trench war to see who can pump out the units fastest. Don't pay $50 for this game, wait for the price to drop to less than $30.

Johhny R. gave it a6:
not too bad ,but not too good,the original rise of nations was much better if you can compare them at all.

princy gave it an8:
Well it is an exciting game that you can't feel of the time as it goes by while playing this game, but sometimes it can be very silly and you wil say 'what the hell was that'.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: Fantasy Football | Miley Cyrus | MLB | iPhone 3G | GPS | Recipes | Shwayze | NFL

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise

© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use