Empire Earth 2 (Windows)

The design of EMPIRE EARTH 2 builds upon the original game, giving players a deeper experience and more strategic game with two primary modes of play: multiplayer skirmishes and single-player campaigns. Skirmishes have one objective, such as capturing territories or eliminating all opponents. Players can choose from four campaigns: the creation and unification of the Korean nation; the expansion of Germany during the middle ages; developing the United States into a world superpower during the 19th century; or playing several "turning point" battles, such as D-day.

Most skirmish objectives require military action, but players also need to build a strong economy before they can amass an army. The faster a player can harvest resources like food, wood, and gold, the quicker they can build an army and complete the objectives. Campaigns have similar gameplay but contain a series of scenarios that build upon each other. Each scenario may contain smaller objectives, such as capturing a site or defending a key ally.

One of the game's strongest selling points is its subtle inclusion of good educational material. Each scenario starts with a (usually accurate) snapshot of the historical context. Players learn the value of diplomacy and about economics by buying and selling resources. While brute force is successful in the most lopsided scenarios, players typically need to employ strategy to defeat enemies.

The game contains a fair amount of "alternate history," which can be confusing when portrayed alongside historical events like the Spanish-American war. Positively, the game may inspire players to find out what really happened. Parents should be aware that the game requires a fairly high-end machine to run well; your computer should meet the recommended specifications (not just the minimum). This is a worthwhile investment, especially for gamers who like real-time-strategy games, though casual players may struggle with the steep learning curve.