DESCRIPTION

This first full sequel to the first release from Brian Reynolds and Big Huge Games moves the action from a realistic, historical setting to one of myth and fantasy — although not the well-worn Tolkien-esque style of fantasy familiar to most gamers. The three nations that rise in this RTS are not found in any particular ancient text, but are defined by details culled from various legends told around the world. The Vinci, for example, is an industrial, "steampunk"-styled faction, conceived from the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci, while the desert-dwelling Alim people, inspired by the stories of 1,001 Arabian Nights, rely on spirituality and sorcery for their power, and the Cuotl race blends Maya sensibility with extraterrestrial equipment. Ongoing struggles between technology and magic underlie the game's story.

Gameplay in Rise of Legends should be familiar to veterans of Rise of Nations, although enhancements and additions have been made. The single-player campaign puts gamers in the role of a young, unsuspecting Vinci inventor, who has leadership suddenly thrust upon him and must lead his people to protect their land and overcome their rivals. The "Conquer the World" mode features a turn-based strategy overview that determines where individual real-time battles are fought, not unlike the system in Creative Assembly's Total War games. The original Rise of Nations is also known for its accessible, engaging, fast-playing multiplayer modes, and Rise of Legends is designed to continue this feature by offering epic, fantastical wars that can be won and lost over a lunch break. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide