Below are user reviews of Space Rangers 2: The Rise of the Dominators and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
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User Reviews (11 - 21 of 21)
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A game that has sooo many modes to play !
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 3 / 4
Date: April 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User
I started off mining and trading, then discovered the quests - some are quite annoying and some are so easy ... Best to SAVE just before accepting a quest, since an uncompleted quest will result in worse relations with the planet which offered the quest. There is a 2D Inter-System turn based mode, and a 2D 'arcade atyle' hyperspace mode (which can be played on autopilot if desired). Business Centers offer Medical insurance, which can be used to get 'stimulants' at 1/2 price at the Medical Centers. The Science Centers are needed to repair 'non-standard' equipment as well as being the only place (unless you have one special stimulant) to pay full retail for Dominator equipment salvaged from battlefields and will use dominator residue to develop certain enhancers. Ranger centers develop technologies to help in defeating dominators, which rely on you providing dominator residues there. and Military bases seem to offer the cheapest repairs - as well as occasional transport to battles and a means to enter into the 3D 'Robot land battles'. Pirate centers offer cosmetic surgery, in case you wish to change race - as well as good selections of damaged equipment (weapons, engines, etc.). Note that only two (of 5) races start with an 'afterburner' function for the engine (which, after some upgrades has made my ship faster than most missiles or torpedoes). Stuff wears out, and you must obtain fuel. Planets have different values for commodities - and different restrictions (and you may, if desired, traffic in restricted commodities, which may be quite profitable if you're not caught).
The addictive quality is excellent, I haven't seen such replayability since Wizardry 8. It took several tries to learn enough about the play to end up with a version that I am playing for a while now. I possibly should have tried Space Rangers 1 before starting with '2' - but it is a delightful game.
I've read some bad stuff about STARFORCE, although the only problem I had was when it asked for DISC 2 it wouldn't start (it worked when I gave it DISC 1 however). I haven't tried any other CD/DVD's since installing it - so I may have problems that I am perhaps unaware of yet... Rootkit seems a bit heavy-handed for copy-protection, I have lots of other games that didn't need to play with My OS to operate (or specifically, require the appropiate CD to be in place to run, such as Wiz 8, or Freespace I,II). Rootkits are simply "bad menners".
For the money, this game is a fantastic bargain though !
IT DOMINATES THE DOMINATORS
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 3 / 4
Date: June 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User
i purchased this game a week ago and i love it. the space traveling and arcade battles are also and yet sort of 3d. when you go to govermnent buildings the graphics are sooo realistic
[PROS] very fun game provides hours of enjoyable gameplay, lots of good items to buy sell and trade, many skills to develop and all 5 races are great and have a variety of looks to choose from, plenty of upgradable, customizable ships and customizable equipment,many customizable,upgradable weapons and you can make squads to follow you and team up with others, quick load times, a superb mixture of gaming genres, classes have unique abilities, you can become a threat to the coalition and make deals with dominators& steal cargos plus planetary battles are fun,includes the first space rangers game in english which rocks, great 108 page manual and reference card i like the poster and great quests. u can get arrested and win money in fist fights and bug races.many galaxies,planets,starsystems&stations and probes rock same with moduels. hundreds of AI and the game evolves itself, do anything you want [CONS] uhhhh.... you won't want to leave the computer and you'll go crazy about endless possibilties. get it its like a free star wars galaxies or eve only $30 and has been named one of the best games of the year so go get it because i want to stop typing and go play RISE OF THE DOMINATORS!!!
Awesome Game!!!!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User
This game is like StarshipTrader, a web game that I played online once, but with better graphics and more activities.
Oh, yeah ... is StarForce that bad? To the people who purchased this game: Have any of you had bad experience with the version of StarForce that was included with Space Rangers 2?
Holy Spacemonkeys!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User
Space Rangers 2 is pure fun. It reminds me of an old game named Privateer that ran on DOS. You run around the galaxy in your spaceship fighting, trading, doing small missions and buying upgrades for your ship. You can play the game as a fighter, merchant or pirate. Part of the game includes a StarCraft like element where you fight in a real-time strategy mode, but for those who don't like that kind of action you can skip those missions entirely. You start off as a weakling and build up as the game goes on acquiring rank, skill, money and reputation. You can also hire other rangers to work under your direction as you build skill so that when you get into battles you bring your entire "entourage" with you.
The game is highly addictive and you will find yourself engrossed for hours (or days) at a time. The Space Rangers 2 development team has done a great job of creating a totally unique genre with this game. If you're into flashy graphical games with weak story lines and marginal game play development this title is not for you.
A Good Mix
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 9
Date: April 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User
This game has a good mix of the new and old type role playing games. It has limitless possibilities. I've only begun to explore some of them. A great game for the serious gamer! Don't pass this one up. Try it, you'll like it.
a surprisingly deep and engrossing space-oriented action/strategy game.
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 2 / 3
Date: June 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User
While it takes a little while to understand all the ins and outs of gameplay, the basic gist is that you're a Space Ranger, and your ultimate goal is to rid the galaxy of a race of invading cyborgs. Along the way, you might get caught up in a ground-based robotic assault mission, with first person shooter aspects, or an old timey text adventure, complete with logic puzzles, or even arcade style shoot-em-up action inside the depths of a black hole.
You choose your race (which will affect how other races treat you) and your occupation -- from mercenary to merchant to pirate. There are hundreds of other computer-controlled ships in the galaxy, all with their own agenda, who you can either compete for space debris, enlist as your underlings, or extort or kill. It's almost like a MMO without the obnoxious 12 year olds or monthly fees.
It's in the vein of Civilization, Warcraft, or Alpha Centauri, but I'm thinking that the variations and personality it has makes it better than those three. And at a bargain price of less than $30 (with the bonus of the first Space Rangers game included ... which I haven't even booted), you really can't go wrong.
(One downside -- the game is protected with the controversial Star Force copy protection program. I haven't noticed any of the negatives I've heard about this program, but it bears acknowledging before you try and buy it.)
How do games like this go unnoticed?
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User
I bought this game off a clearance rack at a closeout store for four dollars. It sat on my shelf for a while so I could finish some other things, and I was hesitant to install it after reading so many accounts of "StarForce copy protection" wreaking havoc on their computers. Honestly, I think alot of geniuses installed the game and forgot to put the play disc (disc 1) back in the drive. I've had no problem with it whatsoever.
Alot of the other reviewers have already gone into explicit detail about what makes this game so great... I felt the need to write a review because I beat everything and anything the game has to offer and don't know what to do with myself for the moment now that I can't get anything more out of it. It's really that good, and that addictive. Translation, presentation, implementation is all nearly flawless, now I hunt for any "Cinemaware Marquee" products I can get my hands on. My computer isn't so great, so it was very satisfying to play a recent game (2006) that forgoes graphics that are out of the reach of my system and puts so much attention into the gameplay, strategy, and AI. Seriously, the NPC's can do anything you can do, short of exploring new planets and black holes. I woke my roommates up swearing because another Ranger had gotten to a planet that received a shiny new prototype ship I had researched on the game's "planetary search function", saved up for game weeks (real life days), and had driven through four star systems to buy... he got there one day before me and passed by me with it as I approached the space-dock. This sort of reaction may sound like I wasn't enjoying myself, but I was mostly just floored by the fact that people can and do make products like this.
Word of advice to players: do yourself a favor and play on Easy, or at least use the mercifully planned custom difficulty to tweak some of the money and enemy strength settings. Unless you like waking up your roommates with swearing, as I noted above. While I was learning the ropes on Normal the Dominators were conquering system after system, killing many of my fellow rangers. After buying the best gear available at the time and spending thousands of credits to convince a planetary government to dispatch a battle fleet, I charged into an occupied system (just far enough behind to not get shot first!) and barely made a dent before all my allies were crushed and I had to jump back to where I came from... now needlessly short of alot of cash, having had no time to safely collect floating loot from fallen enemies and allies (Dominators, aware of your intentions to collect their superior technology, have a nasty habit of destroying any and all space debris they fly by, leaving you with the options of filling your airlock in the heat of combat or killing them all and cleaning up afterwards) and with a hefty repair bill to boot. Don't be ashamed to run from every ship you see, pirate or otherwise, while you make a lot of merchant shipments and save up for your days of glory, and make good use of the "search function" to keep an eye out as new technology hits the market.
I don't mean to write a strategy guide as part of my review, but explaining circumstances like this should truly inform you of just how different your playing experience will be. The best I can explain is... Grand Theft Auto (in its 2D roots and freeplay glory)+ Strategy RPG + Space.
As soon as I finish typing and click submit, I'm going to install Space Rangers 1 (graciously included in the retail box, a hell of a bargain for four dollars). Hats off to a handful of small companies with a truck-ful of big ideas.
Massive Game World
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 2 / 6
Date: June 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User
This game is unbelievably huge. The only problem is what do you do when you are dropped in the middle of a massive world like this without any specific plan? Makes it tough. Yes, there are thousands of missions. There is lots to do, it just picking what you should do. It's almost too much. But I love it regardless.
haven't had so much fun since Ultima
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 3 / 14
Date: September 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User
Unlike the other games of this gener or any other or of games which have been rehashes of old games but "dumbed down" for retarded people, this is truely a game of old. Though the graphics are sleek and the animation slick and realsitic. Many people knock this for being "boring" so why aren't they out with thier jet-set freinds instead of holing up playing nerdy games? Although the box tells of "what's new" being a better score of muzak and graphics what really stands out is that the learning curve to play it has been narrowed, yet you still have to learn. The planet exploratin is not much but what there is is fun and entertaining. The Text-based adventures on the planets are only appriciated by those who played text games in school growning up so don't even bother if you hate them. Some planetside missoins are only probing a planet for resorces and can be rewarding as well as nice to land on. The howling wind and pretty backdrops are a nice touch in a pinch some even have a special muzak theme. Then back to battle. Dispite the cheezy title "Space Rangers and the Dominators" indeed , thae game is anything but, and reminds us not to judge a game by the box(open or closed). The "Battles" are not in a pilot seat, thouhg I would have preferred that option, they are in third person but still fun if you like the Orcish stradegy games or "Orion". The most interesting part, like most people on here say, is the robots and planet reasorce gatheringa. I heard of it before purchaseing and thought "oh another "total anhilation clone" but it is less and more. The robot battles are entertaining and you can create different parts and configs as well as programs. You are only limited to "Conquere" Attack" And "defense" and I would have liked a custom script but you can later configure more body parts for this. The reasorces are not just for the planet you battle for but your own reserve for future endevors both in space and on planets. This is why it is so much more than just a strategy game like "warcarft" but less in simplicity but you have everything and just the right amount of "every" thinmg. Money is not the only requirement for ship opperations eiether, you can exploit uninhabbited worlds but you don't just go down to a planet to put your robots to work, you havev to contract with the governments for a job then and only then can you refine more than just the "trash" from wreckted space ships. Astaroids are the way to get quick minerals but no mining option, you just blow it up and dig your "hand" icon to your ship. But it's a hybrid game and only experimental and a good job for the first one, at that.
The races again, Unlike most retarded programmers choices, are all good and bad choices no race is "better" and all are diverse in the way they do thinngs, but none of the "you could do it just as easily with gold and a human" attitude as in Baldur's friggen Gate or something. Some planets are not suitable for certain races to even land on. If you have hostile retlations you can be tried and go to prison and even it is interesting becasue, agian a text adventure on planetside. A human may survive any conflict, though not too well, while other races will have an easiter or harder time in certain key quests. In pirson you have to be tough and cleaver the best race is the Malog for shere brutalaty and respect to quickly revolt but you won't do much once you do escape becasue thees creatures are inferior in space travel but thier are key abilities only avilible to them. the Pelendgs are anphibius and can breathe air, water, and even poison and any planet is suitible for exploration by these beiings they are reasorce scavengers. Feayens are feeble even by human standards(much like Ylla and Mr. Kie of the Martian chronicles I assume) they are totally out of element on a planetside mission but exceptionally well suited for space travel and dipolmacy as well as science and tech dev. They also have mental powers. Gaalins are another resource hog race and very diplomatic and relatable to every government. They make excellent leaders. I will not go into the "Domintaors" other than they are "better" than ANY other and you cannot be them. I chose a "custom" difficultiy but only make THEM the hard setting and every one else "normal." This is also a good choice making element. The game is all about choice and choice developement so get it now!
Oh the #2 uses "Starforce" so be wary. In theory they fixed a few things but I doubt much as they are very "evil galactic empirish" and it is only a "theory" and confirmed by no one as of yet. The four star over all is ONLY because of this. My PC runs well but yours may not.
Star Force protected despite Bruce's comment
1
Rating: 1,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User
I purchased the game based on Bruce's assertion that Starforce had been removed. I don't know how he got a copy that didn't include Starforce but the version just delivered by Amazon does include it.
Hopefully Amazon will accept the return.
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