The Settlers 2 Gold Edition (BlueByte Software, 1997) is the original Settlers 2: Veni, Vidi, Vici game with it's Mission CD shipped together. Also included in this edition are a full world atlas and 130 custom maps from a contest Bluebyte ran plus a map editor to make your own. Revised graphics and sounds round out the improvements made to the first release. Settlers 2 will play on Windows XP with DOSBox running.
Settlers 2 contain a pair of full campaigns. In the first you control Romans shipwrecked while the second lets you take over other continents like Europe. You can also play single scenarios; the tutorial is one such. The goals of each path remain the same: build up your economy and conquer all the other foes. You start with a single building, the warehouse, a limited amount of materials, tools and then must order your serfs to take up occupations or haul goods through the road network you set up.
The area around the warehouse is small so you have to build one of three types of military installations near the border then wait for one of your serfs to become a soldier (by having a sword and shield) and go into the building. Sending gold to a particular military building will cause your solider(s) to become stronger in battle as they train themselves to a higher rank. Once you've built up a decent amount of good fighters, you can send them out to enemy military buildings and take them over--if your soldiers win. Controlling all of your enemies' military installations as well as their warehouses will allow you to win the scenario. You are then asked if you want to continue or quit the scenario.
You can manage how materials are transported along the roads and in what order/priority, determine what goods are crafted in what order, restrict usage of items you might be low on to keep from running out and control how much gold coins go to your military buildings. Your Observer can become one of the most valuable units in the early stages to locate the enemy or nearby resources and best of all, he doesn't get attacked.
This game is addicting if you like micro-management real-time strategy games. I've spent many hours just watching the little serfs run around. My favourite serf is the prospector--when you send him out to look for resources, he finds the nearest mountain area then starts driving his pick into it. If he locates something good, he'll shout "Eureka!"
I will admit that the graphics are sort of simplistic to the point they seem goofy and the music gets on my nerves but that's why I've got a stereo nearby. Creating roads can be a pain depending on the terrain so I "cheat" and sometimes show building spot icons to make it easier to control what goes where.
Written by:
~MrSoundMan
