Rise of Nations II: Rise of Legends

[kokyunage]

Big Huge Games has revealed their sequel to the popular RTS game Rise of Nations. Rise of Legends looks to be set in a post apocalyptic world where technology and magic are common place in the battle front. There are two sets of screen shots, one on Big Huge Games (http://www.bighugegames.com) webpage and one on Microsoft's (http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/riseofnationsrol.aspx)webpage.

The art direction reminds me of Fallout. I think Big Huge Games should be commended for not just producing a sequel with more of the same which is commonplace in the RTS genre. They are going a completely different route than their first game.

[Arphahat]

I'm not normally into RTS games, but I really like Rome: Total War. Is Rise of Nations more along those lines, or is it more of a click-fest?

[Varsity]

It's nothing like Rome at all.

[kathode]

Looks fantastic. Not sure I get the Fallout vibe from it much at all, but it looks really really great.

[agentgray]

I'm not normally into RTS games, but I really like Rome: Total War. Is Rise of Nations more along those lines, or is it more of a click-fest?
Not if you know the keyboard shortcuts which are essential for success in the original, IMO.

[Tricky Thumb]

That is fucking beautiful.

I want it now, give it to me now!

[Nesta]

Wow. I came into this article all pissy that BHG would mess with the success of their formula for Rise of Nations, which I absolutely looooved. After seeing those screenshots, however, I am dying to see this thing in action. Those screenies just looked beautiful. I didn't see the Fallout style within them, though. Not sure where that's coming from.

[pablious]

whoah, this looks sweet! as good as the first RoN was, i never really got into it because im tired of history based rts games. but this, even though fantasy rts is done too much as well, this is something i coud get into. i love fantasy anthing, and the whole "magic vs technology" thing looks awesome.

[Buddha Lotus]

It looks liek it was inspired from Miyazaki.. Im getting a big Nausicca/Porcco ROsso/Castle In the Sky vibe from this..

[Kyle Jones]

Oh sweet Jesus thank you. I've been waiting for a sequel to Rise of Nations, my favorite RTS game of all time, for quite a while now. This is... better than I could've ever imagined! My biggest complaint was that they tried to cover to many ages in the original. Mostly, we'd just set an early age cap so we could fight it out in Enlightenment or Medievil.

[Acidpoptart]

Oh god yes!! A new RoN game!!!

Im kinda more about the whole historical theme games, but maybe this will grow on me. The screen shots do look amazing though... I wonder if those cities will be like the expanding, captureable ones in RoN...

[Thenetcase]

By the way.. THIS IS NOT RISE OF NATIONS II.

It says right on the website.. and I quote:
So is this Rise of Nations 2?
No – to me that would imply doing a history game. This is a new direction for the franchise that could easily become its own series. We find tons of inspiration in this new fantasy world, much like we do in history and the real world. We plan to keep making innovative games that inspire us, so you'll have to stay tuned to see what we come up with next!

Please.. stop calling this Rise of Nations II. I for one don't want this to be the sequel. It looks GREAT and all that, but I want the sequel to be like Age of Empires III vs. Age of Mythology... A continuation of the first game in a different setting ... maybe SIMILAR to Rise of Legends, but not with the magic and monsters.

So now that we have that straight..... This does look amazing and like a heck of a lot of fun. Big Huge Games is one of MS's best studios, IMHO.

-TNC-

[Kyle Jones]

Yes, but the name is Rise of Nations 2 - Rise of Legends. That's what it's called, so that's what I'm calling it.

It does look amazing, and BHG is one of those studios that I have a lot of respect for. They aren't very big, they've got talent, and they like what they do. Companies like that are a dying breed in the days of the EA Conglomerates.

[StGeorge]

Uh, where does it say Rise of Nations II? It says only "Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends". It's a completely different game people, it has little to do with the original RoN except that's it from the same studio. Personally, I would just call it Rise of Legends, as they have the "Rise of" prefix cornered anyway. Everyone knew Age of Mythology came from the "Age of" people. So it will be with this.

[Kyle Jones]

Uh, where does it say Rise of Nations II? It says only "Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends". It's a completely different game people, it has little to do with the original RoN except that's it from the same studio. Personally, I would just call it Rise of Legends, as they have the "Rise of" prefix cornered anyway. Everyone knew Age of Mythology came from the "Age of" people. So it will be with this.

Ah, I was just looking at the title of the news and didn't notice that it's not called RON 2. haha

[Thenetcase]

Personally, I would just call it Rise of Legends, as they have the "Rise of" prefix cornered anyway. Everyone knew Age of Mythology came from the "Age of" people. So it will be with this.

Actually this would make extremely good sense. But then again I'm sure some corporate lackey came up with the name and as you all know, THEY are retarded.

-TNC-

[Zurik]

Actually, more than Fallout style, this looks like steamworks. Closer to Arcanum I would think.

[Azrikam]

I'm looking forward to this one big-time. I loved RoN because it was an RTS with strategy and tactics, and with liberal use of the pause button, it simulated a TBS game. The best things about the game were the interface and solid game features. Changing the setting shouldn't upset any of these, so this not-sequel will definitely be on my must-buy list.