Warlords Battlecry II

Infobox VG| title = Warlords Battlecry II


developer = SSG
publisher = Ubisoft
designer = Steve FawknerWarlords Battlecry II English manual]
engine =
released =
genre = RTS, RPG
modes = Single player, multiplayer
ratings = ESRB Teen
ELSPA 11+
platforms = Windows
media = CD
input = Keyboard and mouse
requirements = Pentium II 350 (or equivalent)
64 MB RAM
8 MB graphics card
DirectX 8.0a
845 MB hard disc spaceWarlords Battlecry II English manual]

"Warlords Battlecry II" is a real-time strategy and role-playing game, developed by SSG as the sequel to "Warlords Battlecry". It was released on 12 March 2002.cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/index.html |title=Warlords Battlecry II GameSpot page |accessdate=2007-03-25 |format= |work= ] The game requires the player to build buildings and create units in order to defeat the enemy, whilst sending their hero on optional quests.Warlords Battlecry II English manual]

The game is set within the world of Etheria. In the campaign the player must take control of one of the twelve races and capture all sixty-seven regions of the land in a non-linear manner. The player does this whilst assuming the role of a "Hero" which he or she has created. There are twelve different playable races, each with their own type of Hero, buildings and resource dependencies.Warlords Battlecry II English manual]

The game was well-received by critics and users alike,cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/index.html |title=Warlords Battlecry II GameSpot page |accessdate=2007-03-25 |format= |work= ] with an average score of 82/100 on Metacritic.cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/warlordsbattlecry2?q=warlords%20battlecry%20ii |title=Warlords Battlecry II Metacritic page |accessdate=2007-03-25 |format= |work= ] Warlords Battlecry III, the sequel to the game, was released in 2004. [cite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/objects/573/573699.html |title=Warlords Battlecry III IGN page |accessdate=2007-03-25 |format= |work= ]

Gameplay

game, the main objective of "Warlords Battlecry II" is to build up a base and army in order to fight enemies. A game will usually end when all but one of the players has been defeated, although there are some minor differences depending on which victory condition is selected. Most buildings and units are created by spending resources, while some buildings and units can also be summoned by certain units.

There are twelve different playable races, each with its own strengths, weaknesses and resource dependencies. There are roughly a hundred and forty controllable units which will fight and, in some cases, build buildings.

The game also features some basic role-playing elements including leveling-up characters and completing optional quests. In addition to these units, the player controls a Hero which they have created before playing. The Hero is a unique unit which, as well as being able to fight and build buildings, can cast spells and receive quests. Depending on the outcome of a battle, the Hero will receive experience points and level up, as is common in many role-playing games.

There are two main game modes: the campaign and skirmish mode. The campaign is non-linear, with a goal of conquering the entire continent of Etheria (the land in which the game is set). Skirmish games can be played against computer-controlled enemies and other human players. All the game modes and victory conditions available in the campaign are playable, as well as some multiplayer-only modes. The game also comes with a level editor.Warlords Battlecry II English manual]

Development

On October 4 2001, SSG announced that a sequel to Warlords Battlecry was in development and was at the stages of beta-testing.cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/news.html?sid=2816440&mode=recent |title=GameSpot announcement of game |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ] The game was slated to feature a non-linear campaigncite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/098/098813p1.html |title=IGN announcement of game |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ] (as opposed to the linear, story-driven campaign of the game's predecessorcite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/137/137128p1.html |title=IGN preview |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ] ) and feature almost a hundred and forty different unit types (sixty of which would be brand new), twelve races (nine from the previous game, three created specifically for this gamecite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/warlords_battle.html |title=PC Gamer US review |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=Review |work= ] ), 20 hero classes and more than a hundred spells and special abilities.cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/news.html?sid=2816440&mode=recent |title=GameSpot announcement of game |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ]

Six days later, on October 10 2001 a new official website was launched, featuring a summary of the game's features as well as screenshots, desktop wallpapers, message boards and information on the armies and races.cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/news.html?sid=2817220&mode=recent |title=GameSpot news article |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ] Over the following months, details concerning the units and races were added to the website.cite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/objects/017/017128.html#news |title=IGN news articles: Articles from 16 October 2001 until 22nd January 2002|accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ] After the game's release the website provided a source of official downloads. Patches, custom AIs, scenarios and tools were made available to download.cite web |url=http://www.infinite-interactive.com/wbc2/index.shtml |title=Official website|accessdate=2007-03-24 |format= |work= ]

On 5 February 2002 SSG released a 100MB demo of the game. It featured two maps, two playable races, and two spell spheres. It was made available for download from the German Ubisoft website.cite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/323/323990p1.html |title=IGN news announcement|accessdate=2007-03-24 |format= |work= ] Ubisoft announced on 21 February that the game had gone gold and was on target for its release date of March 12.cite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/354/354233p1.html |title=IGN news announcement|accessdate=2007-03-24 |format= |work= ] This target was met and on 12 March the game was released across the U.S., with a retail price of $39.99.cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/news.html?sid=2854282&mode=recent |title=GameSpot news article |accessdate=2007-03-24 |format=News |work= ]

Critical reception

stated that "... ["Warlords Battlecry II"] may not have a ton of really noticeable new things when it comes down to the real-time strategy aspect of play, but it definitely had enough to draw me through my jaded curtain and get me playing and interested again". It too praised the campaign, giving the game an overall rating of 8.5 out of a possible 10.cite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/355/355387p1.html |title=IGN review |accessdate=2007-03-29 |format= |work= ]

GameSpot, whilst describing the game as "a solid real-time strategy game" and giving it a rating of 8.2 out of 10, noted that " [the game] doesn't take a big leap forward". [cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warlordsbattlecry2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabs&tag=tabs;reviews |title=GameSpot review |accessdate=2007-03-29 |format=Review |work= ] According to the game's Metacritic page, this was an opinion held by many reviewers.cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/warlordsbattlecry2?q=warlords%20battlecry%20ii |title=Warlords Battlecry II Metacritic page |accessdate=2007-03-25 |format= |work= ] Another criticism concerned the game's save feature. Despite the positive review the game received from "The Armchair Empire", it criticised the save feature. The review described how "....during battles, saves are unlimited, but there is only save game, meaning that a save at an inopportune time is worse than no save at all". cite web |url=http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/PC%20Games/warlords-battlecry-ii.htm |title=The Armchair Empire Warlords Battlecry II Review |accessdate=2007-03-29 |format= |work= ]

UGO praised the AI, stating, "It seldom uses a tank rush until the very end. Rather, it'll often feint, spy and harass you. It'll often send its hero to convert your mines, to draw your units away from your town to chase him back to his city hall, while other units invade your area. It'll send minor units to hack at your buildings, and it is very good at hiding its numbers using the Fog of War. At the start of a campaign, the computer is pretty much a pushover, but as the game progresses, you'll often find your hands full."cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/warlords_battlecry2/ |title=UGO.com Warlords Battlecry II review|author=Jonah Falcon |accessdate=2007-10-10 |format= |work= ]

According to the game's official website, the game received three awards: PC Gamer US' Editor's Choice award, Computer Gaming World's Editor's Choice award and Computer Games Magazines' Editor's Choice award. [cite web |url=http://www.infinite-interactive.com/wbc2/awards.shtml|title=Official website's Awards page |accessdate=2007-03-29 |format= |work= ]

References

ee also

*"Warlords Battlecry" (game series)

External links

* [http://www.infinite-interactive.com/wbc2/index.shtml Official website]
* [http://uk.pc.ign.com/objects/017/017128.html "Warlords Battlecry II"] at IGN
*moby game|id=/warlords-battlecry-ii