Empire Earth is a real-time strategy game developed by Stainless Steel Studios and published by Sierra Entertainment in 2001 for PC. The game was designed by Rick Goodman, the legendary designer behind Age of Empires, who brought his expertise in historical strategy gaming to create an ambitious civilization-spanning epic that covers human history from cavemen to robots.
The game's most distinctive feature is its unprecedented scope, spanning 14 different epochs from the Copper Age to the futuristic Nano Age. Each era introduces new technologies, units, and buildings, creating a sense of genuine historical progression as your civilization evolves from stone-wielding primitives to laser-armed futuristic soldiers. This temporal breadth sets Empire Earth apart from contemporaries like Age of Empires II or Command & Conquer, offering a uniquely comprehensive view of human technological development.
The core gameplay follows established RTS conventions - gather resources, build bases, train armies, and defeat enemies - but the epoch system adds layers of strategic depth. Advancing through ages requires careful resource management and strategic timing, as premature advancement can leave you vulnerable while delayed progression puts you at a technological disadvantage. The game features five basic resources: food, wood, stone, gold, and iron, with each era emphasizing different resource combinations.
Combat feels weighty and satisfying, with units displaying appropriate behavior for their historical periods. Ancient warriors engage in brutal melee combat, while modern forces utilize combined arms tactics with tanks, aircraft, and artillery. The transition from medieval siege warfare to World War-era mechanized combat creates genuinely dramatic moments as civilizations clash across technological boundaries.
The campaign mode presents eight historical scenarios, from the Greek conquest of Troy to German U-boat warfare, each showcasing different epochs and strategic challenges. These missions effectively demonstrate the game's temporal scope while providing engaging single-player content that feels both educational and entertaining.
Visually, Empire Earth offers detailed unit models and varied terrain textures. The isometric perspective provides clear battlefield visibility, while special effects like explosions and weather enhance the atmospheric presentation. The user interface remains functional throughout the complexity, though managing late-game economies across multiple epochs can become overwhelming.
The AI opponents provide reasonable challenges, adapting their strategies to different epochs and utilizing era-appropriate tactics. However, pathfinding issues occasionally frustrate large-scale battles, and the AI sometimes struggles with the transition between technological eras.
Empire Earth's most significant achievement lies in successfully implementing its ambitious temporal concept. While individual mechanics may not surpass specialized games like Age of Empires II or Starcraft, the sweeping historical progression creates a unique and memorable RTS experience. For strategy enthusiasts seeking grand-scale civilization building that spans millennia, Empire Earth delivers an epic journey through human technological evolution.
Review by: GN Team
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