64 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More outstanding empire building - thru the ages!, September 14, 2003
This review is from: Empire Earth Gold (CD-ROM)
I can still remember when I played the original AGE OF EMPIRES, wondering to myself if they would be able to make the same general strategy game using modern weaponry. As I loved the original AE, I held out hope that they would someday be able to pull it off.
Well, there is no reason to wonder anymore: our friends at SIERRA have done it. EMPIRE EARTH and its expansion set (both included in EE GOLD) takes us all the way from the dawn of mankind up thru the modern age and even into the future with spaceship and robotic battles and the like.
For myself, the most satisfying component of the game is being able to play with modern-day weapons. Build tanks, artillery and various troops for huge land battles. Build air-forces with fighters and bombers. Build navies with submarines, aircraft carriers, battleships and frigates.
Your civilians form the backbone of your military apparatus as they're the ones who collect the necessary resources (i.e.: wood, food, gold, stone, iron, etc) for your campaigns. You're the one in charge; how you utilize your resources is up to you. If you fail, you're the one who is accountable. If you are victorious, you're the one who deserves all the accolades and glory!
The most remarkable thing about the game for me is its symmetry. There is no one single "unstoppable" weapon in your arsenal. The most powerful weapon is the B-52, with which you can nuke your enemies. However, you had better protect it with great care; send it by itself on long-range bombing sorties and it's sure to be shot down by enemy fighters, anti-aircraft batteries or soldiers with STINGER missiles.
You may create TRIDENT submarines with powerful cruise missiles that can strike targets deep inland. However, these submarines are also the easiest for your enemies to sink: protect them at all costs!
Apache helicopters are devastating against tanks and other land targets, but are highly vulnerable to STINGERS and are downright helpless against enemy jet fighters. Jet fighters are susceptible to the fierce fire of anti-aircraft batteries. However, anti-aircraft batteries are hapless against tanks. All units have their strong points, and all units have their weaknesses, be they ground, sea or air.
If you like strategy games, I cannot recommend EE enough. If you like building armies, blowing stuff up and upgrading the prowess of your military, this is certainly the game for you. Just beware: it's about the most addictive game you will ever play!
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An entirely absorbing game experience., March 19, 2003
This review is from: Empire Earth Gold (CD-ROM)
The Empire Earth gold edition is identical to Empire Earth with the exception of including the expansion pack and an excellent strategy guide in one package that is about the same price as the original game!(to date) This game has some very attractive features which I shall mention. First, you know the graphics are excellent when you zoom in on your machine gun and you see shell casings flying as it fires. Second, the Empire Earth mission editor is one of the best editors I have used.(It is similar to AOE II) The editor, coupled with the expansion allows infinite options for gameplay. All this is great, but my favorite feature is the fact that this game allows you to fight in any era! From the battle at Waterloo, to the sands of Iwo Jima, to the mountains of Mars, It offers in-depth strategy gaming with ease of play. If you like Microsoft's Age of Empire series, you will love this game!
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Earth's Empires are yours to control, March 29, 2004
This review is from: Empire Earth Gold (CD-ROM)
In "Empire Earth Gold Edition", you are given control of one of a number of real terran civilizations, each with its own pluses and minuses.
This game includes both the original "Empire Earth", and the expansion: "Empire Earth: Art of Conquest", as well as a 250+ page strategy guide.
Empire Earth's tutorials are very good, and help new users find out how to build and maintain their people from simple, almost prehistoric men to beyond the modern age. The graphics and game play remind me of Microsoft's "Age of Empires", but the game play is not limited to one era - you can play from prehistoric man right up to beyond the space race.
One of my favorite features is that you do not have to begin at the beginning. You can set the era your people start in from the default prehistoric to the space age. Try a game set in one very specific era (such as World War Two) for a quick challenge.
I really enjoy these "God" type games - ones where you control the destiny of an entire planet. This game gives me what "Age of Empires" does not - the ability to steer my people from humble beginnings to beyond the stars.
The inclusion of Prima's guide to Empire Earth only helps add to the decision to buy this great game. Prima's guide really explains how to play, and gives some great tips on winning and even tells how to use the built in cheat codes.
One of my higher recommendations.
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