Age of Sail II

Age of Sail II (Russian: Век Парусников II) is a 2001 computer wargame developed by Akella. It is the sequel to Age of Sail. It has similar historically accurate game play, and is enhanced with 3D graphics and a free-floating camera. Unlike the original Age of Sail, the sequel's maps are embellished with strategic landmasses. Age of Sail II portrays the fighting ships used from 1775 to 1820, and has a realistic combat engine. The game features a campaign which includes a full career ladder, or play one of the 100+ historical scenarios. The game also includes a map editor allowing players to create custom scenarios.

Age of Sail II
Developer(s)Akella
Publisher(s)TalonSoft
Global Star Software (P.B.)
Producer(s)Chris Lacey
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: January 31, 2001[1]
  • EU: February 13, 2001
Privateer's Bounty
  • EU: August 1, 2002
  • NA: August 13, 2002
Genre(s)Computer wargame
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

A stand-alone expansion, titled Age of Sail II: Privateer's Bounty, was released in 2002.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Age of Sail II features a minimap, helm, and lists of vessels in play. The player controls one or more vessels each with a specified number of cannons, health, and sails. There are also controls for speed of the gameplay.

To achieve victory, the player must either cause the enemy ships to surrender, or simply sink them. Damage inflicted on a vessel is determined by the type of shots fired (round, chain, grape, canister), and the target (hull/sail). Each fire also inflicts damage on the ship's crew. Canister shots are made specifically to inflict damage on crew members. The fewer men aboard a ship, the higher chance for the ship to surrender. Speed of activities such as manoeuvring the sails, repairing damage, and cannon reload speed are also affected.

The game was accused by reviewers of the time of having an overcomplicated and sometimes downright broken interface, with unnecessary complication when directing crews to perform the various actions to keep a vessel in operation. The 3-D game engine also came in for criticism, occasionally running as slowly as four frames per second in large fleet actions.[2][3]

Reception

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4] John Lee of NextGen, however, said, "Young and old salts will find their timbers shivered mightily in this seagoing extravaganza, but landlubbers may founder."[11]

Privateer's Bounty

Privateer's Bounty received average reviews, slightly more favorable than the original Age of Sail II, according to Metacritic.[13]

References
  1. IGN staff (January 25, 2001). "Age of Sail II Goes Gold". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  2. Butts, Steve (February 9, 2001). "Age of Sail II". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  3. Ryan, Michael E. (February 12, 2001). "Age of Sail II Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 8, 2005. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  4. "Age of Sail II for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. Tresca, Michael. "Age of Sail II - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  6. Todd, Brett (February 23, 2001). "Age of Sail II". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on March 4, 2003. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  7. Wilson, Johnny R. (June 2001). "Ship of Fools (Age of Sail II Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 203. Ziff Davis. p. 94. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  8. McConnaughy, Tim (February 18, 2001). "Age of Sail 2 [sic]". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 11, 2002. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  9. Lafferty, Michael (February 16, 2001). "Age of Sail II Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  10. Romendil (March 16, 2001). "Test: Age of Sail II". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  11. Lee, John (May 2001). "Age of Sail II". NextGen. No. 77. Imagine Media. p. 89. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  12. Trotter, William (May 2001). "Age of Sail II". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 5. Imagine Media. p. 82. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  13. "Age of Sail II: Privateer's Bounty for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. McDonald, Thomas L. (January 2003). "Age of Sail II: Privateer's Bounty" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 222. Ziff Davis. p. 122. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  15. Geryk, Bruce (August 22, 2002). "Age of Sail II: Privateer's Bounty Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  16. Liberatore, Raphael (November 7, 2002). "GameSpy: Age of Sail II: Privateer's Bounty". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  17. Lafferty, Michael (September 24, 2002). "Age of Sail II: Privateer's Bounty - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
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