Imperialism II: The Age of Exploration (PC)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Chet Thomas
• Reviewed on: 04/15/1999
• Updated on: 05/01/2000
• Released on: 03/31/1999
• Originally published on GameSpot: Imperialism II: The Age of Exploration (PC) Review

Imperialism was a bit of a surprise. A low-key, visually stylish economic and military conquest game, it didn't have much flash, but it had good gameplay in the Civilization/Railroad Tycoon mold.

Imperialism II sticks close to its roots. The maps and unit graphics are virtually identical to the first, and the fundamental gameplay is very similar. The main change is in the setting. Instead of playing as a robber baron in the age of industry, you play as a conqueror in the age of exploration. Those are two very different milieus for a strategy game, which helps make this feel like a true sequel rather than an expansion pack, but just by a whisker.

Developer Frog City has done some interesting things with the standard explore-and-conquer format, grounding it more firmly in history. It is still a turn-based strategy game with a tactical military element, but the particulars have changed a bit. When you start a new game, the known world is composed of the "Old World." This can be either a historical map of Europe or a random map. The Old World is made up of established neutral nations. To win, you must control one-half of this Old World. You can do that through military aggression or through economic and diplomatic means.

The rest of the map is made up of the blacked-out, unknown "New World," which you must explore and exploit. Forging alliances with native tribes and eventually taking over their land adds nothing to your total victory requirements, however. If you own the entire New World but still only have control over your original nation in the Old World, you won't win. The purpose of the New World is to add to your economic might: Exploitation of New World resources is essential to funding wars and expansion in the Old World. It's an interesting distinction grounded in historical reality. In the time period of the game (1500-1800), the New World's impact on the Old World was mostly one of supplying resources and influence. The true battleground was still Europe.

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