Herzog Zwei

"If you thought C&C started RTS gaming, THINK AGAIN"

If I had to choose the greatest game to ever lie in obscurity, it would be Herzog Zwei. This masterpiece from Technosoft is THE granddaddy of all modern day RTS gaming. Funny, isn't it, how a console game is responsible for creating one of PC gaming's staple genre? RTS released on consoles today are admonished simply for the idea that RTS should be played on PCs only. Ah, if only most RTS gamers knew where their genre originated from.

So what is this game really about? Let's start with basics. Two sides, one controlled by you, the other the AI. The goal? Beat the crap out of your opponent. What are you given to work with to beat your opponent? You've got resources, like money and fuel, and wise spending of them will be vital to your victory. You've got multiple units, each with multiple purposes, like cheap infantry, and the more powerful yet more expensive tanks. You've even got supply units like supply tracks. Once you've built these units with your resources, you can issue them a variety of orders, from defensive commands to offensive ones. Afterwards, these units follow their commands, and head out on the overhead display map to accomplish their objectives. Any of this sound familiar yet?

The game even has its own unique elements. The main unit, your uber mech, is the focus of your gameplay. If you thought your Warcraft 3 or Warlords: Battlecry heroes were important, none of them compare to this guy's power within their respective games. He issues commands, he transports units around the battlefield, he can demolish enemy units in a few blows, and even has the cool ability to change into multiple forms. A hero/soldier/commander in one.

So, we have familiar RTS elements and the unique element in the ultra powerful main commander unit. What else makes up the core of a good RTS game? Things like AI and pacing. Some RTS suffer from because players waste too much time micromanaging and doing boring things like controling peons half the time. Some suffer because of awful AI. Herzog Zwei has neither problem. It is probably the fastest paced RTS game I can remember, and the game was rather difficult, though I attribute some of this to the control issue, which is the main reason why I generally hate RTS on consoles.

It saddens me when I think about this game. It was magnificent for its time, and went unnoticed by most people. If this game had gotten more publicity, who knows, maybe it wouldn't have taken RTS gaming as long as it did to take of. Just as Dune 2 went unnoticed, so did this. This game deserves so much recognition. It doesn't deserve acknowledgement simply because it was the grandfather of a PC gaming staple. It was a GREAT GAME as well.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/20/03, Updated 03/20/03