Choose your your throne

Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots http://www.riseofnations.com
Publisher: Microsoft Games http://www.microsoft.com/games/default.aspx

Last year, unlike previous years, real-time strategy titles were a bit thin on the ground. Unsurprisingly a couple of the best were released by PC gaming juggernaut, Microsoft Games.

Age of Mythology took the now-standard RTS concept of explore, expand and exterminate to new levels with the introduction of mythical units and God-like powers.

Yet it was the other game from the Microsoft stable, Rise of Nations, which won most acclaim for the studios. Rise of Nations is by definition a RTS, yet it has managed to succeed were most others have failed ... the addition of a strategic element that is more than just eye-candy and promotional blurb.

This ability to fight epic tactical battles yet choose government types, development of cultures and acquisition of technology set it apart from the mainstream. Perhaps it is the developers’ backgrounds in turn-based strategy gaming that have given Rise of Nations the edge ... whatever was in their water definitely worked.

The Thrones & Patriots expansion takes all that was good in the original (now available for $49.95) and adds six new nations to the mix.

Players can now fight the single-player campaigns or multi-player battles as the American, Iroquois, Lakota, Dutch, Persian or Indian nations.

Each new nation brings a range of specialist units and national attributes such as war elephants for the Persians or complete disregard for national boundaries as the Lakota. The expansion includes four new non-linear (the other major enhancement Rise of Nations has over other RTS games) single-player campaigns based on historical epochs.

Players can step into the sandals of Alexander the Great, or slip their hand into the jacket while attempting to recreate Bonaparte’s success (and minimise his failures).

Other options include braving the Cold War returning to pre-history and embarking on campaign to explore and conquer the new world.

All up there are more than 130 scenarios included in the game. With the new nations come a range of new units to employ on trade, diplomacy and war fighting missions as players try to create a place in virtual history for their chosen civilisation.

One of the great features is the ability to choose from six different government types and the effect it has on the nation. Installing a ruling monarch, ruling as a tyrannical despot, throwing open government the will of the people in a “true” democracy following the socialist ideal are all possible within the game.

Different government types enhance different aspects of a nation’s production and diplomacy abilities as well as the type of army they can produce.

In fact there are so many options available to players when setting up battles most would be hard-pressed ever to play one game that closely resembled another without really trying.

Thrones & Patriots is an excellent expansion that has added a great deal of life to what is already an excellent game. The $49.95 price tag is also attractive for those who have the original ... those without can get both for less than $100.00, the normal price for new game.

What’s new on PS 2

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
http://www.splintercell.com/uk
Publisher: Ubisoft http://www.ubi.com/UK

With the roaring success of Splinter Cell on Xbox most knew we wouldn’t have to wait long for a new version. Pandora Tomorrow lets players reprise their role as Sam Fisher, an agent for the highly secretive Third Echelon organisation.

This time however the action is set a little closer to home.

There’s no more bleak former Soviet-empire architecture or polluted snowfields. Instead Pandora Tomorrow is mostly set in South- East Asia, East Timor and Indonesia to be exact. Like its predecessor, Pandora Tomorrow is an interesting mix of stealth, action and puzzle solving.

Armed with kit that would make current soldiers cry with jealousy, players guide Sam through precarious missions to save the world from the scourge of terrorism. Sam’s athletic and gymnastic abilities

coupled with an amazing sensor-shooter load out allow you to make full use of the game’s interactive environment. Shooting out lights, opening and closing doors and leaping to precarious positions are all part of the game.

While the single player campaign is well thought out and addictive, Pandora Tomorrow also includes a fantastic multi-player game for those with Xbox Live.

It essentially a 2 vs 2 deathmatch or CTF game in which one group take on the role of spies using technology and agility to succeed while the other team become heavily armed mercenaries ready to blaze their way to success.

The only downside to the multi-player game is the need to gain experience or be a member of a clan before jumping into a game.

Most players who try to jump into any available game will be quickly booted if they have not tallied up some experience points online … it’s one of those Catch 22 situations … you need to play to gain the experinence points but no one will let you play them without them.

After a couple of night’s perseverance I had the required levels and can now jump in as I please.

Definitely a must buy for Xbox gamers … it is also available on PC and will soon be available on PS2.