Battlezone II: Combat Commander

"A flawless performance by Activision"

Introduction
When the original Battlezone came out, it was perhaps not recognized for what it really was: the foundation for something truly amazing. From the graphics to the gameplay to the story line to the sound, I couldn't find anything I didn't like about Battlezone II. Anyway, on to the review.

Graphics: 10/10
The graphics in Battlezone II are nothing less than jaw-dropping, breathtaking, holy-crap-I-can't-believe-this-is-gameplay awesome. The sky detail is as good as, if not better than, the original, but the terrain and vehicles are now much more rounded and the vehicles are so detailed that it looks like you can reach out and touch them. The buildings, of course, have followed suit. The particle effects are awesome, and the explosions look unbelievably real. If I had to find a flaw here it would be that the textures are still a little small, but that is greatly outweighed by all of the excellent parts.

Sound: 10/10
The sound in Battlezone II has gone through an overhaul since the last game, and now it all sounds great. The weapons sound like weapons, the engines sound like engines, and the music, although not my favorite kind, compliments the atmosphere and augments the gameplay. I was also impressed by the painstaking attention paid to detail in this category; I happened to be hovering by while one of my vehicles was being repaired and, to my amazement, as I passed by, I actually heard a Doppler effect on the repair sound!

Gameplay: 10/10
Rather than settle for the smooth, flawless interface from the last game, Activision gave that an overhaul too. Now, in my opinion, most of the time when a company changes something that was good it has a tendency to become bad. This is definitely not the case in Battlezone II. Instead of the previous interface that allowed for a maximum of 20 offensive and defensive units, the new interface allows for a nearly exponentially increased number of units, and this larger number is easier to control! There's not much new for the controls of your own tank, although there is now a different set of controls for heavy tanks (walkers and assault tanks) that allows the head to swivel independently from the body, opening the door for new battle tactics. The hovering tanks are also now much more nimble and maneuverable, making dogfights much more exciting. As for resource management, there is also a new system for that in Battlezone II. Instead of relying on scavenged scrap primarily, you now have structures that will give you a constant flow of this resource. Pilot management has also been greatly reduced, and now isn't a really big issue, meaning there is almost no limit to the amount of units you can build.

Concept: 10/10
Take a game, use it as a basic foundation, then completely demolish it and build a new game using the same plan but with much better features. Activision has done it again, this time with the help of Pandemic Studios. I hope that the Battlezone series will continue, but I don't know how these two companies will be able to improve the series any more. How does one improve upon perfection?

Replay Value: 10/10
This is another game that I'll still be playing when I'm 35, that is, if the CD doesn't melt in my drive from overuse. The missions have numerous ways of being beaten (there are even two separate endings!), the instant action maps provide for some true RTS fun, and the multiplayer is constantly evolving.

Story Line: 10/10
An excellent story that picks up where the previous game left off, and one that is full of twists and turns. Late in the game, I actually found myself fighting for the preservation of the ISDF in addition to just beating the mission.

Total: 60/60 = 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/21/02, Updated 08/21/02