Making History 2: War of the World - PC - Review

PC war games aren't exactly a rarity. FPS, RTS, MMOs, Third Person Shooter, Arcade, side-scroller: so many sub-genres of war have been released for the PC that it can be an impossibly crowded market. Generally you can make your war game stand out in one of three ways- graphics, multiplayer, or innovation. Unfortunately most developers ignore the innovation path. Which does Making History 2: The War of the World try to emulate?

Believe it or not, this turn-based strategy game makes an attempt at the third path. The game is deep- very deep. You aren't just going from zone to zone, gunning down your enemy. No, you're actually running the entire country. You control the domestic internal aspects of your nation- the trade and the economy are the primary parameters to control here. You are also in charge of external affairs- the military and diplomacy.

Along with a wider range of interactivity and believability, there is also a deeper focus on personality and identity than you'll normally see when it comes to your region. The features include religion, natural resources, nationality, ideology, ethnicity, and others- influencing their development and treatment of others.

The game outside of the game is stunning in terms of depth and options. But is it fun? It can go either way. Some will be bored out of their minds by this turn-based gameplay. It does grind the experience to a halt as you navigate menus and contemplate decisions. Then again, the game isn't really built for those looking for twitch-reaction bullet fests. No, Making History 2 is for the lovers of the tactical, deeper elements of warfare, politics, and leadership. For this demographic, this game is an all you can eat buffet of turn-based strategy gaming!

There are a few curses that will lurk behind War of The World's blessings. The game can be as overwhelming as it is deep. The menus, while not exactly cluttering the screen, can be tedious and confusing to navigate for gamers unfamiliar with the genre. It doesn't exactly ease you in- the first hour is a breeze, but as expanded management becomes necessary- you may find a headache.

For that matter, those looking for a more hands-on approach to the decidedly 'in the background' combat, you'll be better off with either Battalion Wars 1 or 2, Dynasty Warriors Empires, or Disgaea 1 or 3- any of them will give you the tactical elements along with a level of action. Those looking specifically for a WWII with both tactical elements and action can look elsewhere on the PC- there are plenty. On a side note, you'll notice Disgaea 2 wasn't included. Not a typo- it isn't as quality a product as the original and the third.

Making History 2: War of the World is graphically sound- though simplistic. The unique units are vast in number and the menus do a good job of not appearing too bland. The audio never really shines, but it doesn't falter either- it's decidedly mediocre. A middle of the road PC should be able to run Making History 2 without too much of a hitch- which is a definite plus in a PC gamer's book. If you're looking for a WWII strategy game that's light on hands-on warfare and heavy with nation management, you can't go wrong with this one.