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An Excellent Return To The Dune Universe

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 26
Date: June 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Dune 2 was the first RTS game (something which many people seem to forget these days), and, in my opinion, wasn't ever beaten. The newer games that came along did indeed boast superior graphics, but the gameplay was abismal and strategy taking the back seat with mass producing tanks being the way to win against a stupid AI.

Dune 2000 was a disapointment, with it basically being Red Alert on Arrakis. Nothing had been improved.

Now, with Dune Emperor, things have taken a turn for the better. There are actually improvements beyond graphics for the first time in the Westwood RTS series.

The strategy here is far greater than ever before, and the different Houses far different from one another. The strategy does not end on the battlefield, with important decisions being made between missions, that do drastically alter the gameplay.

Alongside all this, you have the different factions from the novels being represented, such as the Bene Tleilax and the Spacing Guild, whom can become allies if you play your cards right.

And, continuing this expansion, you not only war on Dune, but also on the homeworlds of the three houses !

Plus, especially on Arrakis, you have more than just the enemy to contend with. With storms and sandworms, there's more than enough. But, then there's also Shai Hulud lurking in the deep deserts, capable of swallowing whole squadrons of troops or vehicles ! (Scale is finally right here !).

The interface itself is drastically improved, and you can even zoom in on the map, zoom out, spin around ... Imagine that watching a battle !

All in all, this is a fantastic game, and the step forward in RTS gaming we've all been waiting a decade for. And what better setting than the greatest science fiction epic of all time - the Dune Saga.

Worth Waiting

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 26
Date: June 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

When Westwood announced the development of yet another Dune game the gaming community poised to listen for more.Westwood with the hit Dune II somewhat 8 years ago had revolutionized the game indunstry by providing to all gamers the word real time strategy. With Dune 2000 the company was only preparing us for this title that is also the first step of Westwood in 3D graphics. After a very big and i must admit wonderfull intro the game shows you the first screen.In here you can choose to start a new game or a multiplayer.In the down right corner you will find the options button and in the down left corner the exit.if you start a new game then you can choose from starting a new campaign or skirmish. The campaigns features the three races we all knew and love Atreides,Harkonnen and Ordos.Yes the subhouses are included and adds to the game. What surprized me though is the difficulty of the game.Even in the easy the game follows strategies an actuall human would making the westwood people true to their word.Indeed the game DOES NOT engourages tank rushes.The only thing you will do with a rush is lose every single unit.Only a mixture of units and different strategies can win the game. The graphics of the game are very good and their is also support for multitexturing and hardware T&L. You will also see famous actors with Duke Achilles being performed by Worf of Star Trek. In all the game is a must buy for every dune,strategy and summer vacation lover.

"Emperor: Battle for Dune"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: June 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you're a fan of RTS (real time strategy) games, Emperor is definitely the game for you. I've been playing it for about 4 days now and let me tell you that it looks great! The story goes like this: Three sides fight for the domination of the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, the only source of the spice Melange, that has special properties and whatnot. You can choose to play the game from any one of three Houses (Atreides, Harkonnen, or Ordos) and can ally yourself with 5 different subhouses, acquire new technologies and customize your own level of play. You can play the game from the perspective of most previous RTS games or you can zoom in right down to the action and the finer details of the game. After passing missions, you will be shown top-quality mini-movies and briefings that will ensure that you get right into the game and feel as if you are in the Dune Universe. This game definitely does a good job of illustrating real warware. There is no direct path to follow. You, the player can choose from several different missions at a time and follow your own path to victory to control the planet. Whatever you do in one mission can and will affect the environment of the missions to follow. Not only do you attack new ground but you must also make sure to defend the territory already in your possession. Units on high ground have advantages over those on low ground and a tank rush like in previous Westwood Studios Command & Conquer games will most of the time not ensure victory. In addition, units that get enough kills can achieve veterancy status and depending on the unit, can become faster, have better firepower, become invisible, and more. For the Atreides, for example, infantry that gain maximum veterency can be sent into a barracks, allowing the player to produce elite units right away. Emperor requires both skill & strategic thinking as well as diversification of forces. This is not a complicated game but it's not too simple either. The controls are easy to grasp and getting used to it doesn't require much time. If you're thinking of a good game to get, put "Emperor: Battle for Dune" at the top of your list.

You gotta get this

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: June 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Perhaps it's the fact that it takes place in the dune universe, or maybe it's because it is in 3D, or perhaps it's simply that it's made by Westwood, but this is the coolest strategy game I've ever played. Starcraft, Command and Conquer, and Red Alert are all awesome games that have been unsurpassed-until now. I find this to be the first 3D RTS I've played and actually liked. Games like Earth 2150 and Homeworld were unintuitive, complicated, and horrifically boring. Emperor is the first 3D RTS to actually incorporate all good elements of gameplay: superb graphics, great replay value, great multiplayer, pretty good AI, and the most comprehensive and sophisticated single player campaign mode I've ever played. You get to choose alliances, invade or defend territories, call in reinforcements or fall back, and it's all incredibly simple to operate. Hmmmm, I don't seem to recall anything like that in Starcraft, much less any other strategy game! Trust me, it's cool. The units in this game are all very balanced and unique, and the gameplay is easy enough for any idiot to learn in under a minute, yet depending on the player it can also be a strategic warzone for the tactical genius. However, let me remind you that the 3D interface seems complicated and confusing at first, yet you can learn it very easily for the camera operation is also quite easy. The only bad sides to this game exist in minor flaws, such as the fact that in a skirmish game you cannot change the color of the AI player, but a good thing in skirmish is that you can change the general playing strategy of the enemy AI, so you could make them defensive, offensive, or all around competent. I can't say enough about this game. If you liked Starcraft, any of the C&C games, and hated Earth 2150, I suggest you try this.

Fans Will Love It

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: June 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Any fan of the Dune series will love this game, and realize that it was well worth the wait. The graphics are exceptional, with the intro screen being might impressive. The playability on this game has increased imensly which means that you are going to be addicted to this game for a very long time. You get to fight over 4 different worlds, whether you go for ground level tactics, or large scale stratergies you know that the outcome will have an affect on the game. I think this one in the series is going to atract more fans as more people now have Pc's and they are now able to experience this game in its full glory

Gorgeous graphics and great gameplay - a must have!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: July 23, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Dune has always been a favorite series of mine - both the book and the Real-Time Strategy games. For the book, I played in DuneMUSH for quite a while and fell in love with the atmosphere. For the series, Dune always managed to introduce new features that other games just didn't have yet. This one is no exception!

Yes, there's the traditional threesome of powers, the "Great" Atreides, the "Evil" Harkonnen, and the "Insidious" Ordos. They just love that "Insidious" word :) There are also many sub-plots going on with the other factions, and you have to choose how to ally yourself throughout the game.

The movies and cut-scenes are great. They bring out the character of the book without being too confusing for those who never read it. The graphics in the *game* are just as stunning, though! The troops, the worms, the shadows, every detail really shows how much attention the developers put into getting this game *just right*.

Gameplay is awesome. You're doing regular RTS organizing and plotting and destroying, but you've also got many other layers now to keep you entertained and intrigued. There are the various alliances you choose to make or break. More worlds to explore. More weapons to choose from. It's really a game that you can replay over and over, and never get the same same twice in.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is fond of the RTS genre of games - you will NOT be disappointed. As a side note, for the person who complained this won't run on Athlons, I have been playing this on an Athlon system (as well as several non-Athlons) and haven't had *any* trouble at all! Email me for suggestions.

Buy this game - That is the directive!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: November 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I've played many RTS type games but this is one of the best that I've had the pleasure to play. The game manages a good mix of the old and new. The combat in and of itself is like that found in the original Dune II, WarCraft, StarCraft, or countless other games along the lines. However, it is still fun and the excellent graphics enhance the experience immensely. Also, there are newer elements thrown in, such as the ability to ally with several different subgroups (Fremen, Sardaukar, Tleilaxu, Ix, and Guild). Each of the subgroups has different advantages and disadvantages and very different units.

Another nice touch that is unfortunately not often seen in RTS games is that units gain experience as they fight. As their experience increases, they are a little tougher and can do more damage, this is a nice touch and it can make a very real difference on the battlefield. Elite units are more than a match for any two of their regular counterparts.

There are three playable houses, Atreides, Harkonnen, and Ordos, each of which have different units and different advantages. The Ordos units heal gradually over time when wounded, the Harkonnen units will function at full capability no matter the damage sustained (until destroyed), and the Atreides can return elite units to the barracks to train all their troops to the next level of veterancy.

Another nice feature is the ability to retreat from a battle if you feel it is unwinnable. This can be helpful as successfully retreating will give you a reserve force that can be quite useful. Also, the designers paid attention to logistics, a real world problem. If the territory you are attacking (or defending) is bordered by several friendly territories, the reinforcements you periodically receive during battle will be larger than if you were bordered by only one territory. Similarly, if you have a territory that is salient, it can be extremely difficult to defend. Not overextending oneself can be quite vital.

If I have any complaints, it deals mainly with the storyline. I found the basic theme of it to be quite boring and uninventive. In a nutshell, the Spacing Guild decides to consolidate its monopoly on space travel by controlling Arrakis and the vital spice melange, to do so they create an 'Emperor Worm', basically a human-worm mutation with great psychic powers. *Yawn* If I had a dime for every time I've seen the 'evil corporation creates genetic superthing' story I'd be rich ;). However, the story does have its good moments, such as having to choose between one of the two heirs when the Baron Harkonnen is murdered. This is a nice touch that emphasizes the backstabby, vicious nature of the Harkonnen quite well.

But if you can ignore the contrived portions of the story (easy enough to do with such great game play), the game itself is very enjoyable. All in all, another great game from Westwood =).

Judging from the screenshots...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 13, 2001
Author: Amazon User

...How can we not give this a 5-stars? This has gotta be the coolest RTS. Each game Westwood released is a perfected version of the previous, who cares about innovation when we have a game with gorgeous graphics and refined gameplay? For those who biased against Westwood, even warcraftiii.net said it absolutely pleases.

Quality

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: June 19, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Ah, this is the life.

Emperor: Battle for Dune is a great, fun game that is everything Dune 2000 should have been. It is Westwood's first foray into 3D, and they've done a great job of putting together a fast and pretty 3D engine. The units may not have very many polys, but they are well animated and have tons of little details, like the Atreides sniper's laser and the elite Sardukar slitting the throats of his opponents.

The game is also true to the Dune novels. As in the books, shields and lasers don't mix: hit a shielded unit with a lasgun and you are treated to a very nice graphical effect that unfortunatley results in the explosive deaths of both units. The fremen are back with their sandworm-riding antics, in addition to the four other subhouses that add variety to your army. Each of the three main sides are totally different, too. This makes for a refreshingly diverse game.

All in all, this is the epitome of the Westwood RTS game. Hopefully next time around they'll innovate a little, but this will keep everyone occupied until then.

The Emperor of RTS games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: March 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a truly awesome game! I have been playing this game since it came out and I wrote this review in 2004! There is so much replayability you can't count how many hours you can play it. Be warned though, this game has the potential to take over your life with it's beautiful graphics, truly awesome music, and great balance between the three houses. The music is good enough for you to buy the game alone, the music is even better than Starcraft music and the game is better than it too! If you enjoy a game that lets you choose where to attack and defend you will love this game. Also, there are several different kinds of missions like defending a subhouse defend against another subhouse or attacking an enemy convoy heading out of the map. Although the difficulty level is very high during the end of the game with the computer opponents simply pouring out high level infantry and heavy artillery and such it is still beatable and you really feel as if you accomplished something. Overall, this is a really good game that any gamer SHOULD NOT MISS!! That is the directive!(I have spent over 500 hours playing this game and am still going!)

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