Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness (Blizzard Entertainment, 1995) is one of the more popular real-time strategy games released. It is set six years after the events in Warcraft 1 and the orcs are trying to make their way northwards into Lordaeron.
Blizzard changed a few features when they designed WC2 such as: increasing the number of units, giving said units more distinguishable duties, new 3D buildings, in addition to adding new units and increasing the part of the hero units for the campaigns. You can also take your battles to the air or water and create your own scenarios with the Scenario editor.
You choose whether you want to defend the humans and their allies (dwarf, elf, gnomes, etc.) or lead the orcish attacks. Each phase of the game is run in chapters and campaigns with goals that must be met; otherwise you lose some of your rank and restart the mission. Those goals run the gauntlet of building towns, attacking targets, and control the three resources: gold, oil and wood.
All in all, this is one great game. The graphics are nicely done with many details for both buildings and the units. Manuevering your units can be accomplished with either mouse or keyboard though the mouse is faster. Clicking the units brings up options for their orders. Everything is controlled from menus or the main map so it's not too difficult to figure out. The various unit sound effects fit the tasks of the unit without being too monotonous and the game's music will not detract from the campaign.
You can play a solo campaign or network with up to 8 people using the standard maps or custom ones designed with map editors or found online. The Warcraft 2 Battle.net edition contains the Beyond the Dark Portal expansion and allows for online play through Blizzard's Battle.net. This game can be run in XP using DOSBox though it's advisable to just get the Battle.net version just to avoid the headaches of DOSBox.
Written by:
~MrSoundMan
