Dark Reign 2 Review

- 20 single player campaign missions.
- Up to 8 player in multiplayer.
- Dozens of multiplayer maps.
- Tons of cinematic movies.

Platforms: PC only.
Completion Difficulty: Easy.

As with most RTS games, they are set in the future, with two worlds at each other’s throats.

Dark Reign 2 offers such a similar storyline. The Jovian Detention Authority (JDA), are a brutal police force who rule the planet. The other side are the Sprawlers, urban miscreants who live in the toxic, infected cities.

While the earth plummets to its death, you can take the side of the JDA, or the Sprawlers, in a battle for survival.

One of many highlights in Dark Reign 2 is its graphics, which are breathtaking. The lighting and terrain is another highlight of DR2. The camera view can be orientated to any view or perspective you desire, which is neat if you like watching your units in battle.

Dark Reign 2’s RTS game play is as basic as they get: build a base, mine resources, build power, build tanks and infantry to wipe out the enemy. In Dark Reign 2’s single player campaign, there are 20 solo missions, including cinematic movies, which are amazing to watch.

The unit on each side have their own strengths and weaknesses, evening themselves out.

But with all games, there is a downside. With DR2, it is the AI. It is extremely weak, making single player really boring. As this encourages people to play the multiplayer option online.

Overall, Dark Reign 2 has high qualities, such as the sound, and adequate voice acting. Multiplayer is awesome, and is much more fun than the single player, mainly because human players tend to be more imaginative in their strategy, than the CPU AI.

Amazing game, for hardcore RTS fans. You can check out the Official Homepage for maps, mods, add-ons, and new patches.

Positive: Graphics, Solid game play, Multiplayer, Sound/Music, Balanced sides.

Negative: Weak AI, Slow interface.

Grade: A.

This review was added on 16th August 2004 by nGaming user Raveshaw.