Emperor: Battle for Dune

By the time this title was released - sometime late 2001 - RTS games had been done to death already, with RTS titles being a dime a dozen, but this offering by Westwood managed to release a game that rises above the competition. Only fitting, and well-deserved, since they practically invented the real time strategy genre with a game called "Dune 2" - the distant predecessor of "Emperor: Battle for Dune".

The game has excellent production values, featuring wonderful 3D graphics; you can rotate the view of the battlefield, and zoom in and out. It also has a great soundtrack that varies depending on which of the three Houses you play – House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and House Ordos (which was first introduced in `Dune 2').

Game play works very intuitively, and is close to flawless. Not surprising, perhaps, since Westwood have had many years of practice in the business...

Also worthy of mentioning are the many excellent cutscenes that flesh out the world of Dune, featuring a look based on the David Lynch movie, while adding new characters and settings, not to mention the original storylines for each House you happen to be playing.

If you like RTS games, check it out. If you like SF in general, and `Dune' in particular, you will no doubt be able to appreciate this game.

I just wish they went a bit further with the narrative beyond this game

This real-time strategy game centres on the planet Arrakis and three houses going to war for the precious spice. Although a deviation from the books, the gaming universe has introduced a mysterious third faction, House Ordos. They follow stealth and deception, which contrasts nicely with the noble and more conventional House Atreides and "evil" and heavy-handed House Harkonnen. The cutscenes in this game really tell a cool story, all the while as the player takes territory upon territory on the planet Arrakis. There's mystery and intrigue - betrayal and suspense. It truly plays out like a tv series and does an outstanding job.

After the entertaining, yet somewhat dissapointing DUNE 2000, we get a new RTS game in the Dune Universe which exceeds all my expectations. First off we have the new movie chapters, setting up the story and giving you orders for your missions, which not only are visually superior to those of the previous game, but at times to both the movie and the miniseries! Though the plot is barely like in the classic novel, it remains more faithful to the feel and visual style that Dune still deserves in a movie form. Once again the visual work is kept close to the David Lynch film, but offers plenty of new sights. Not only that, but visuals in the actual gameplay are better than in any other RTS game I have ever seen, and in 3D! The sandworms, made very small in D2K, now often take up the entire screen! This game definately kicks ass, and is a must for all Dune fans.

I picked up this game when I saw it on sale. I liked Dune 2000, though it wasn't that great. This game however, broke the mold. I have never seen a cooler real time strategy then this game. The graphics are incredible, the story is cool, the units are sweet, and the videos rock. What more can you ask for!? Buy this game, it's awesome!