Empires: Dawn of the Modern World for Windows

Empire Earth expanded the limits of the real-time strategy genre with its massive time line and variety of fighting units. Empires: Dawn of the Modern World (EDMW) builds on that success with detailed gameplay from unique civilizations across five ages: Medieval, Imperial, Gunpowder, World War I, and World War II. 

The detailed graphics are impressive, especially during battles, but not nearly as high-quality as the recently released Rise of Nations, and the interface suffers slightly from the inability to zoom out far enough. The gameplay, however, is rock-solid, and the different nature of each civilization contributes to a high replay value.

Some complaints about Empire Earth apply to EDMW. Even though you're constructing B-52 bombers in the World War II Age, your citizens are still living off apple trees and mining rocks. In fact, the game doesn't deal with market economics at all, since each civilization must exist as a standalone economy.

One of the game’s most attractive features is the diversity of its civilizations. Each civilization possesses unique units and abilities that directly impact gameplay, meaning players must adapt their strategies to take advantage of these strengths. 

For instance, the French civilization benefits from powerful cavalry units, while the Chinese civilization offers versatile infantry. This unique setup makes each civilization feel distinct, adding significant replayability as players explore different tactical approaches.

The single-player campaigns offer a structured experience that introduces players to the game’s mechanics while providing historical narratives. Each campaign follows a central historical figure, delivering a story-driven experience that intertwines real events with strategic gameplay. For instance, in the Admiral Yi Sun-Sin campaign, players defend Korea from Japanese invasions, managing both land and naval forces.

Resource management plays a crucial role in Empires, where players must balance collecting food, gold, wood, and stone to fuel their empire's growth. Efficiently managing resources enables faster unit production, base upgrades, and technological advancements.

Multiplayer is where Empires truly shines, providing an experience that’s both competitive and social. Supporting up to eight players, multiplayer modes include typical deathmatch and empire-building matches, encouraging players to explore a range of tactics.

Despite the massive download sizes of both demos, installation is painless and system requirements are reasonable. We did experience one system crash during a deathmatch with the computer in the multiplayer demo as well as a few moderate program hangs, but an auto-save feature allays some of that frustration.

There are several alternatives for players who enjoy Empires’ style of strategy. Age of Empires III offers a similarly historical approach with advanced graphics and additional civilizations, ideal for players seeking an RTS that captures a range of historical conflicts. Rise of Nations combines turn-based elements with real-time strategy, allowing for extended campaigns that span entire civilizations, which can appeal to players wanting longer, more immersive experiences.