Last month we saw the release of two highly anticipated sequels: Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun and Age Of Empires II: Age Of Kings. Both build on their predecessors by adding new graphics, units and gameplay all the while maintaining what made them great in the first place. The nice thing about sequels is the chance to do it all again, and you can sit down and use the same commands and strategies to get right back into it. The danger lies in there being not enough new content, giving more a sense of déjà vu then satisfaction. Recommendation: buy it, now!
Let's start with the title I enjoyed the most: Age Of Empires II: Age Of Kings. What do we have in this sequel? Everything you wanted in the original: big buildings, unit formations, and more of the same. New graphics, sounds and animation bring this game that much closer to perfection. This chapter spans the period from the fall of Rome to the age of gunpowder, bringing thirteen races into conflict. The buildings are all quite large, and almost to scale with the units. When a unit goes behind a building, you see an outline in the colour of your race; the nice thing is this really works. Each race now has a unique unit; Japanese have the samurai, Vikings have the bezerker, etc. adding some much needed variety. A tip when you start playing: enable advanced options near the mini map and you'll get two of the best features, formations and idle units. Formations does what it sounds like, allowing you to put your units into one of four formations. This works well unit you're into a heated battle, at which point it's every man for himself. Idle units lets you see what workers, be it villagers or fishing vessels, are idle. This is great when a mine has run out or forest has been clear cut. I have to say all the waiting was worth it for Age Of Kings; grab a copy for yourself and get back into it.
Unfortunately I wasn't as pleased with Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun. While this sequel has been in the works for a good number of years, there's not enough here to get me involved. It just struck me as more of the same; we've had Command & Conquer, the first expansion pack, Red Alert, Red Alert expansion pack, and now Tiberian Sun. Each has some changes and additions, but they all follow much of the same design and implementation. I have to say that if you're interested in this title, borrow it first from a friend or play it at their place. Recommendation: borrow it.
I have to make mention of the newest suite from Symantec: Norton System Works 2000. Included this time around are new versions of Norton's Utilities, Anti-Virus, Clean Sweep and Crash Guard. What's new, you say? Besides the incremental improvements and ease of use Symantec adds to each version, System Works 2000 has one central user interface which operates all components. It takes some getting used to, but definitely adds to the overall effect. Yet again Symantec has produced a must have utility suite for the PC user. I can't recommend upgrading from System Works 3.0, but from any other product it's worth the price. If only they would produce a Windows NT version.
Quite a bit coming up for next time; just received two new Dreamcast titles from Sega, and I'm waiting for Sierra's Homeworld. As always, check out my web site at www.globalserve.net/~tbabble for past articles and my PC features.
by Scott VanderPloeg
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
