Released in 2003, the original Savage was an interesting title that straddled the line between first-person shooter and real-time strategy. This combination of genres, combined with a steep learning curve, were issues that slowed down an otherwise unique gaming experience. For better or worse, Savage 2 runs into a similar problem: it offers incredibly rewarding gameplay, but has an unrelenting learning curve that might turn some gamers away entirely.

Right off the bat, you'll notice that Savage 2 never focuses on a story. While in traditional RPGs that would seem like a negative, in Savage 2 it's of little consequence. A narrative certainly exists, but because of the game's focus on action, it's only as important as you want it to be, which is actually refreshing. The story here follows the original closely as the battle being waged between the Legions of Man and the Hordes of Beasts continues. Essentially each faction's only goal is to destroy each other, while taking over land and gold mines, to further their ambitions.

If you've played the first game, you'll see a lot familiarity here.

There is an incredible amount of depth in this title that is as rewarding as it is difficult to wrap one's head around, but the learning curve should not be underestimated. The game itself does little to help newcomers, and even those familiar with the first Savage may find themselves at a loss. There is a tutorial involved but most gamers will glean nothing of interest from the barebones information provided. Worst of all, there are no instructions that cover strategy or the utilization of resources, which inevitably means that even veterans are going to do a lot of trial and error to figure out what's going on. Savage 2 may be one of the first games where players are at a serious disadvantage if they try and jump in without at least skimming through the community forums. There is so much depth to the game, and so many different ways to play it, that without understanding the basics of a winning strategy, Savage 2 can be nearly impossible to play successfully. There are replay's available after every match, but even these can feel like too little too late. It's unfortunate, because once you start to get the hang of things, you'll find that the game is actually quite enjoyable.

The classes in the original Savage were essentially blank slates that could be filled with individual skills as a player deemed fit. Savage 2 takes a much more standardized approach, with classes that are much more generalized. There are siege and support classes, ranged attackers, both heavy and standard melee fighters, and builders. Experience points are then added to generic skills to increase their potency, and whether you choose to raise mana, increase hit points, or obtain more powerful attacks or structures, the skill system lacks variety but is far more balanced as a result. Unlike similar games, Savage 2 focuses heavily on teamwork from the beginning, and although the game's skill sets lack significant variation, the different positions that can be filled are far easier to jump in and out of as a result, greatly helping this aspect of teamplay in the game.

The attack system is slightly more complex than what is commonly seen in MMORPG's. There are three separate moves that can be performed initially: a normal attack that is complemented by a block and block-breaking attack. This is a dramatic departure from game's like World of Warcraft because instead of clicking once on an enemy and watching a melee battle take place, attack timing is considerably more dynamic. Although it can be difficult at first to pick up, the Savage 2 attack system is rewarding in the long term because of the amount of time and thought that can go into even the simplest battles. Essentially, every class is an attack class as a result, and although there are specialties, anyone can choose to fight.

The biggest sticking point of the gameplay may in fact lie in the commander's omnipotence. A commander will typically win or lose a battle based on their knowledge of how the game is played. The team must obviously work in conjunction, but there are times when a great commander can lift a bad team and vice versa. This can help by really making the aforementioned teamplay aspect feel far more tangible, as there are clearly positive results when a team works together. In fact, it often feels like there is no other reason to stay together as team, because such an emphasis must be placed on the coordination itself. There is almost no point in which a player can just jump into a game and hope for the best, so lone wolves need not apply here. Making matters worse, since Savage 2 does not have the biggest base of players, it can be difficult to find a group of decent teammates. There are a lot of servers, yet it never seems like there are that many players moving along inside the game, and again, with such an emphasis on people working together, the inability to effectively find and form teams is a constant issue. Still, when things do finally start to click, there's a lot of fun to be had here.

Wandering too far from your team can easily get you killed.

Graphically, Savage 2 features some great visuals, such as a red-tinged sky or rain of fire as Hell units approach. The beasts look better, with slightly more fluid and interesting animations while the human units look a bit blocky and seem to lack some of the attention to detail that their counterparts feature. The overall visual quality of the game is high enough that there are few complaints to be had, excluding the strangeness inherent to the human's siege models. Additionally, the environments are well constructed, look great, and are all fairly balanced, and end up being one of the strong points of the game.

The sound is also surprisingly crisp and clear, with satisfying thunks coming from the clashing swords and spell effects that all sound appropriate. Grunts and clacks add dramatically to the game's atmosphere and unlike similar titles, there is always a very real sense of fear as the sound of a swinging sword goes rushing past a player's ears. Savage 2 often features some sections of relative quiet, followed by a sudden boom coming from the distance, and it's an interesting approach to immersing a player into the environment. Overall, the developers really excelled here with their approach to ancillary noises.

As a whole, Savage 2 follows very closely to the formula laid out by the original title. For those who've never played that game, you probably won't even notice, but it also means that such unfamiliarity can lead to some frustration. Past this lack of a tutorial though, the game still features one of the richest action/strategy components ever created. And despite the overall lack of players, those who enjoy both a challenge and strategic teamplay will find a lot to like in Savage 2.