Space Rangers 2: Dominators (Russian: Космические рейнджеры 2: Доминаторы), released in North America with the subtitle Rise of the Dominators, is a multi-genre science fictioncomputer game developed by Elemental Games for Windows and first published in 2004 by 1C Company. The player takes the role of a spaceship pilot, and may explore, trade, engage in space and ground-based combat, and undertake various types of missions. Space Rangers 2 is the sequel to the 2002 computer game Space Rangers.
Space Rangers 2 is set in the year 3300. Sentient combat robots known as Dominators are attacking the five civilizations of the Coalition: the humans, the Maloqs, the Pelengs, the Faeyans, and the Gaalians. There are three Dominator types, each at war with each other: the Blazeroids, the Kelleroids, and the Terronoids. The player begins the game as a trainee member of the Space Rangers – a corps of pilots charged with defending the galaxy from the Dominators.[1]
GameplayEdit
Space Rangers 2 is a hybrid game with multiple game types of gameplay.[2] Players explore a randomly generated galaxy, with each sector featuring multiple stars and planets.[3] This leads to a universe with hundreds of planets, each with their own economy, government, and opinion of the player.[4] The main goal of the game is to defeat the three command units of the titular Dominators,[3] though the game allows the player to ignore the main quest in favor of exploration, trade, and other sidequests.[4] The Dominators are much more powerful than the player at the start of the game, forcing the player to evade them, while pursuing smaller jobs to gain wealth, equipment, and experience.[2]
The game's multiple systems are compared to other multi-genre games such as Pirates! or Star Control II.[4][5] The player begins by selecting an alien race and a profession, and is dropped into a dynamic open universe to explore.[5] Space travel is seen from a top-down viewpoint, with movement utilizing a turn-based system measured in solar days.[3] The game also includes a 3Dreal-time strategy engine for planetary battles,[5] where the player can take control of any unit to shift gameplay to that of a third-person shooter.[2] The player can also pursue enemies into space, playing an arcade-style shooter mode,[4][2] where players use the keyboard to maneuver and fire in an action sequence.[3] Players can also survey planets for valuables by launching probes, with some planets triggering text-based quests similar to text adventure games.[5]
The planet encounters can initiate several types of missions, such as hunting pirates, delivering contraband goods, or performing a covert operation against another alien race.[4] The player can perform these missions to earn wealth, to buy bigger ships, improved weapons and equipment, or even maps that unlock new sectors of the galaxy.[5] Players can also earn wealth through a trading system, with the markets for goods changing dynamically due to supply and demand.[4] It is also possible to earn wealth through piracy and looting, which risks damaging relations with other aliens and planets, eventually provoking attacks on sight.[3]
DevelopmentEdit
Space Rangers 2 was developed by Elemental Games in Vladivostok, with a team of 15 developers working for around a year and a half.[6] The Elemental Games team had a conflict with management in 2004,[7] with several members forming a new company called Katauri Interactive.[8] Tory Chan continued to support the game well after its release, later developing an HD version of the game for release in 2012.[9]
ReleaseEdit
Space Rangers 2 was originally published in Russia by 1C Company in November 2004.[10] In June 2005, Excalibur Publishing released a DVD version that included both Space Rangers 2 and its prequel, Space Rangers.[11] Australian distributor Red Ant Enterprises released a CD-ROM version (Space Rangers 2 only) in 2005.[citation needed] In 2006, Cinemaware Marquee re-released the game as Space Rangers 2:Rise of the Dominators, as part of the publisher's strategy to import lesser known games from Europe, and to utilize the low cost of digital distributors such as Direct2Drive.[6] This allowed the game to be released for a lower price point than similar games, as well as bundling it with the first Space Rangers from 2002, bringing the original title to North America for the first time.[12] An expansion called Space Rangers 2: Reboot was released in 2009 with enhanced graphics, including fully 3D planetary battles.[13] A remaster called Space Rangers HD: A War Apart was released on October 17, 2013,[14] which included 1920x1200 graphics and a new campaign.[15]
ReceptionEdit
Space Rangers 2 has received an aggregate score of 84/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16] IGN acknowledged the game's difficult interface, confusing translations, and lack of structure, but also saw this open-endedness as the game's greatest strength.[3] Computer Games Magazine felt that the game's "amazing breadth and considerable depth more than make up for its initial difficulty and intermittent lack of polish".[17]GameSpy also had high praise for the overall experience, and did not feel it that it could be undermined by translation and grammatical errors.[4]1up.com was critical of the game's dated graphics as well as its translation to English, but felt that the game's depth and replayability made it worthwhile to play anyway.[18] GameSpot hailed Space Rangers 2 as a successor to Star Control II, making many favorable comparisons between the game's exploration, action, and sense of freedom.[5] Writing a retrospective for The Gamer in 2020, Sean Murray praised the game's combination of systems as ahead of its time.[2]
The editors of Computer Games Magazine named Space Rangers 2 the fifth-best computer game of 2005. They called it "an expansive, diverse, and irresistible amalgam of genres bundled within an impressively dynamic universe."[19] It also won PC Gamer US's 2006 "Best Turn-Based Strategy Game" award.[20]
^ abcde"Space Rangers 2 Is A Game You Should Play, But One I'll Never Go Back To". TheGamer. July 12, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
^ abcdefAdams, Dan (March 29, 2006). . IGN. Archived from the original on April 5, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
^ abcdefgRausch, Allen (February 22, 2006). "Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators". GameSpy. Retrieved August 5, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ abcdefOcampo, Jason (January 23, 2006). "Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators First Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved August 5, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ abHyman, Paul (September 2006). "PC Games State of the Industry". Game Developer Magazine. pp. 19–23.
^"Katauri Interactive Studio. Katauri Interactive Studio Continuations from Other Developers". prowines.ru. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
^"New King's Bounty Recieves [sic] Bountiful Praise". Rock Paper Shotgun. April 21, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
^Griliopoulos, Dan (September 14, 2012). "Space Rangers HD: first look at Katauri's upscaled refit of the genre-busting space game". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
^. 1C Company. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
^"Space Rangers 2 Delayed". GamersHell. May 28, 2005. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
^"Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators". Computer Power User, Volume 6 Issue 6. June 2006. p. 90.
^Meer, Alec (February 2010). "Space Rangers 2: Reboot". PC Gamer UK. p. 101.
^Pearson, Craig (October 10, 2013). "Hey, Space Rangers HD Is Out Soon". Rock Paper Shotgun.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Space Rangers 2 Remastered, Fresh Campaign". Rock Paper Shotgun. April 18, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Space Rangers 2: Dominators". Metacritic. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
^"Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators". Computer Games Magazine. November 2005. p. 74.
^Sharkley, Scott (June 7, 2006). . 1up. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
^Staff (March 2006). "The Best (and Worst) of 2005; The 15th Annual Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Magazine (184): 42–47.
^"The 13th Annual PC Gamer Awards Reveals The Best Of The Best For 2006" (Press release). South San Francisco, California: Future US. February 2, 2007. from the original on June 17, 2007.
External linksEdit
at Excalibur Publishing
at 1C Company
Space Rangers HD at Space Rangers HD
August 30, 2023
space, rangers, dominators, russian, Космические, рейнджеры, Доминаторы, released, north, america, with, subtitle, rise, dominators, multi, genre, science, fiction, computer, game, developed, elemental, games, windows, first, published, 2004, company, player, . Space Rangers 2 Dominators Russian Kosmicheskie rejndzhery 2 Dominatory released in North America with the subtitle Rise of the Dominators is a multi genre science fiction computer game developed by Elemental Games for Windows and first published in 2004 by 1C Company The player takes the role of a spaceship pilot and may explore trade engage in space and ground based combat and undertake various types of missions Space Rangers 2 is the sequel to the 2002 computer game Space Rangers Space Rangers 2Developer s Elemental GamesPublisher s RU 1C CompanyEU Excalibur PublishingNA Cinemaware MarqueePlatform s WindowsReleaseRU November 25 2004EU June 17 2005NA March 27 2006Genre s Text adventure real time strategy space trading and combat simulator turn based strategy shoot em up role playing game third person shooterMode s Single player Contents 1 Setting 2 Gameplay 3 Development 4 Release 5 Reception 6 Notes 7 External linksSetting EditSpace Rangers 2 is set in the year 3300 Sentient combat robots known as Dominators are attacking the five civilizations of the Coalition the humans the Maloqs the Pelengs the Faeyans and the Gaalians There are three Dominator types each at war with each other the Blazeroids the Kelleroids and the Terronoids The player begins the game as a trainee member of the Space Rangers a corps of pilots charged with defending the galaxy from the Dominators 1 Gameplay EditSpace Rangers 2 is a hybrid game with multiple game types of gameplay 2 Players explore a randomly generated galaxy with each sector featuring multiple stars and planets 3 This leads to a universe with hundreds of planets each with their own economy government and opinion of the player 4 The main goal of the game is to defeat the three command units of the titular Dominators 3 though the game allows the player to ignore the main quest in favor of exploration trade and other sidequests 4 The Dominators are much more powerful than the player at the start of the game forcing the player to evade them while pursuing smaller jobs to gain wealth equipment and experience 2 The game s multiple systems are compared to other multi genre games such as Pirates or Star Control II 4 5 The player begins by selecting an alien race and a profession and is dropped into a dynamic open universe to explore 5 Space travel is seen from a top down viewpoint with movement utilizing a turn based system measured in solar days 3 The game also includes a 3D real time strategy engine for planetary battles 5 where the player can take control of any unit to shift gameplay to that of a third person shooter 2 The player can also pursue enemies into space playing an arcade style shooter mode 4 2 where players use the keyboard to maneuver and fire in an action sequence 3 Players can also survey planets for valuables by launching probes with some planets triggering text based quests similar to text adventure games 5 The planet encounters can initiate several types of missions such as hunting pirates delivering contraband goods or performing a covert operation against another alien race 4 The player can perform these missions to earn wealth to buy bigger ships improved weapons and equipment or even maps that unlock new sectors of the galaxy 5 Players can also earn wealth through a trading system with the markets for goods changing dynamically due to supply and demand 4 It is also possible to earn wealth through piracy and looting which risks damaging relations with other aliens and planets eventually provoking attacks on sight 3 Development EditSpace Rangers 2 was developed by Elemental Games in Vladivostok with a team of 15 developers working for around a year and a half 6 The Elemental Games team had a conflict with management in 2004 7 with several members forming a new company called Katauri Interactive 8 Tory Chan continued to support the game well after its release later developing an HD version of the game for release in 2012 9 Release EditSpace Rangers 2 was originally published in Russia by 1C Company in November 2004 10 In June 2005 Excalibur Publishing released a DVD version that included both Space Rangers 2 and its prequel Space Rangers 11 Australian distributor Red Ant Enterprises released a CD ROM version Space Rangers 2 only in 2005 citation needed In 2006 Cinemaware Marquee re released the game as Space Rangers 2 Rise of the Dominators as part of the publisher s strategy to import lesser known games from Europe and to utilize the low cost of digital distributors such as Direct2Drive 6 This allowed the game to be released for a lower price point than similar games as well as bundling it with the first Space Rangers from 2002 bringing the original title to North America for the first time 12 An expansion called Space Rangers 2 Reboot was released in 2009 with enhanced graphics including fully 3D planetary battles 13 A remaster called Space Rangers HD A War Apart was released on October 17 2013 14 which included 1920x1200 graphics and a new campaign 15 Reception EditSpace Rangers 2 has received an aggregate score of 84 100 on Metacritic indicating generally favorable reviews 16 IGN acknowledged the game s difficult interface confusing translations and lack of structure but also saw this open endedness as the game s greatest strength 3 Computer Games Magazine felt that the game s amazing breadth and considerable depth more than make up for its initial difficulty and intermittent lack of polish 17 GameSpy also had high praise for the overall experience and did not feel it that it could be undermined by translation and grammatical errors 4 1up com was critical of the game s dated graphics as well as its translation to English but felt that the game s depth and replayability made it worthwhile to play anyway 18 GameSpot hailed Space Rangers 2 as a successor to Star Control II making many favorable comparisons between the game s exploration action and sense of freedom 5 Writing a retrospective for The Gamer in 2020 Sean Murray praised the game s combination of systems as ahead of its time 2 The editors of Computer Games Magazine named Space Rangers 2 the fifth best computer game of 2005 They called it an expansive diverse and irresistible amalgam of genres bundled within an impressively dynamic universe 19 It also won PC Gamer US s 2006 Best Turn Based Strategy Game award 20 Notes Edit Space Rangers 2 Manual 1C Company Excalibur Publishing Limited 2005 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b c d e Space Rangers 2 Is A Game You Should Play But One I ll Never Go Back To TheGamer July 12 2020 Retrieved August 5 2021 a b c d e f Adams Dan March 29 2006 Space Rangers 2 IGN Archived from the original on April 5 2006 Retrieved August 5 2021 a b c d e f g Rausch Allen February 22 2006 Space Rangers 2 Rise of the Dominators GameSpy Retrieved August 5 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c d e f Ocampo Jason January 23 2006 Space Rangers 2 Rise of the Dominators First Impressions GameSpot Retrieved August 5 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Hyman Paul September 2006 PC Games State of the Industry Game Developer Magazine pp 19 23 Katauri Interactive Studio Katauri Interactive Studio Continuations from Other Developers prowines ru Retrieved August 5 2021 New King s Bounty Recieves sic Bountiful Praise Rock Paper Shotgun April 21 2008 Retrieved August 5 2021 Griliopoulos Dan September 14 2012 Space Rangers HD first look at Katauri s upscaled refit of the genre busting space game PC Gamer Retrieved August 5 2021 Space Rangers 2 1C Company Archived from the original on August 11 2007 Retrieved July 10 2007 Space Rangers 2 Delayed GamersHell May 28 2005 Retrieved July 10 2007 Space Rangers 2 Rise of the Dominators Computer Power User Volume 6 Issue 6 June 2006 p 90 Meer Alec February 2010 Space Rangers 2 Reboot PC Gamer UK p 101 Pearson Craig October 10 2013 Hey Space Rangers HD Is Out Soon Rock Paper Shotgun a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Space Rangers 2 Remastered Fresh Campaign Rock Paper Shotgun April 18 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Space Rangers 2 Dominators Metacritic Retrieved July 10 2007 Space Rangers 2 Rise of the Dominators Computer Games Magazine November 2005 p 74 Sharkley Scott June 7 2006 Space Rangers 2 Rise of the Dominators 1up Archived from the original on June 14 2006 Retrieved August 5 2021 Staff March 2006 The Best and Worst of 2005 The 15th Annual Computer Games Awards Computer Games Magazine 184 42 47 The 13th Annual PC Gamer Awards Reveals The Best Of The Best For 2006 Press release South San Francisco California Future US February 2 2007 Archived from the original on June 17 2007 External links EditSpace Rangers at Excalibur Publishing Space Rangers 2 at 1C Company Space Rangers HD at Space Rangers HD Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Space Rangers 2 Dominators amp oldid 1154653882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
