Imperialism II: Age of Exploration
A turn-based 4X game focused on economic dilemmas and exploration.
Frog City Software created Imperialism II: Age of Exploration, a turn-based strategy game released in 1999 by Strategic Simulations, Inc. As the follow-up to 1997's Imperialism, it casts the player as a 16th-century European monarch tasked with building an empire. The Imperialism trademark has been held by Ubisoft since 2001.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Frog City Software
- Publisher
- Strategic Simulations
- Designer
- Ben Polk
- Bill Spieth
- Ted Spieth
- Released
- March 23, 1999 (NA); April 9, 1999 (EU)
- Genre
- Turn-based strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Mac OS, Windows
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Imperialism II is a turn-based 4X strategy game where victory comes from exploring, expanding, exploiting, and exterminating. Its main focus, however, is economics, with systems for variable worker and terrain productivity, labor and resource allocation, and logistics. Players must solve three core allocation problems while also feeding workers and soldiers and funding scientific research. The transportation dilemma asks how to best use limited merchant marine capacity: should ships carry raw and precious materials from the New World, import goods, or transport fish? The labor allocation dilemma decides which semi-finished materials workers produce from collected raw materials. The resource allocation dilemma then determines what to do with those semi-finished materials. Raw materials require terrain improvements to extract and logistics to move; workers then process them into semi-finished goods. These semi-finished materials can be turned into units or workers, improve terrain productivity, or support more productive workers. Logistics itself depends on semi-finished materials for expanding the merchant marine and upgrading roads. In this game, simply accessing raw materials is not enough; they must be transported and processed first. Building any unit or improvement demands specific quantities of raw materials be moved and turned into semi-finished goods. For instance, a Ship-of-the-line needs 14 lumber, 8 bronze, 4 fabric, and 1 worker, which translates to 28 timber, 8 tin ore, 8 copper ore, and 12 wool or cotton. A Carbine Cavalry unit requires 3 fabric, 6 steel, 5 horses, and 1 worker, representing 6 iron ore, 6 coal, 5 horses, and 10 wool or cotton.
Differences from Imperialism I
Imperialism II shifts the timeline to the 16th century, placing players in the Age of Exploration rather than the Industrial Revolution of the first game. The biggest change is the addition of a New World, a hidden half of the map that starts completely unknown. Players must send ships and explorers to discover it. This new continent holds resources unavailable in the Old World, including precious materials like spices, silver, gold, gems, and diamonds, as well as luxury goods such as sugar cane, tobacco, and fur.
Reception
According to former members of Frog City Software at Sidecar Studios, Imperialism II exceeded sales goals by 50% and matched the sales of its predecessor, whose sales had surpassed 300,000 copies. The game received favorable reviews from game critics. GameRankings gave an average score of 84/100 based on 15 reviews. GameSpot scored it 8/10, writing that Imperialism II is a more refined and interesting use of the same system and that Frog City did an excellent job, though the food supply requirement was criticized as a bit tedious. IGN rated it 8.4/10, calling the game impressive and complex but a lot of fun. ZDNet gave a 5/5 score, stating that with deeper gameplay, tactical combat, and AI, the new game system is easier to learn and play than the original. GamePro awarded 4.5/5, calling it a great update to a great strategy game. CNET's Gamecenter.com gave 8/10, noting that in the long term the game provides epic strategic gaming with random maps and multiplayer support. Adrenaline Vault scored it 4/5, describing it as a solid title that combines quality features, though those seeking constant combat might feel bogged down in other elements. Strategy Gaming Online gave 8.6/10, stating that in every aspect Imperialism II is an improvement over Imperialism I, but considered the economic aspect overly emphasized. Tom Chick of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine wrote that until Civilization IV came out, Imperialism II was his favorite turn-based strategy game, and Bruce Geryk called it probably his favorite game of the 1990s and the best. Next Generation rated the PC version four stars out of five, stating it is proof positive that turn-based strategy is far from dead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Imperialism II: Age of Exploration available on?
Imperialism II: Age of Exploration was released for Mac OS and Windows.
Who designed Imperialism II: Age of Exploration?
Imperialism II: Age of Exploration was designed by Ben Polk, Bill Spieth and Ted Spieth.
More in Turn-Based Strategy Games of the 1990s
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