'Empires II' Could Be the Answer to a 'God Game' Fancier's Prayers

By AARON CURTIS

Nov. 18, 1999 12 AM PT

The reason so-called god games are popular is simple: Unlike Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan or Dr. Evil, most of us don’t exactly control much these days. Sure, we’ve got the backyard and our cubicle at work, but the far-as-the-eye-can-see sort of power eludes working stiffs who bend under the velvet tyranny of family and boss.

Fire up a PC game like “Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings,” though, and most men’s demeanor instantly reverts to the good old days when men knocked swords on the field of battle, flew the flag of conquest and died gloriously for the crusade. Of course, these were also the days when most babies never saw their 10th birthday and the vast majority of adults lived in squalor.

Naturally, that stuff doesn’t make for a good game. So the emphasis in “Age of Empires II” lies in the battling and the commanding. The “Age of Empires” series, unlike most other real-time strategy games, demands that players pay attention to a lot more than just resupplying troops and ambushing enemies. Players have to manage everything from crop production to scientific inquiry.

Hence the game falls into the “god game” genre. Players call all the shots, and the destiny of entire civilizations depends not only on keen military strategy, but also on wise resource management, shrewd diplomacy and entrepreneurial business practices. In other words, players are responsible for managing 1,000 years of history.

The original “Age of Empires” took place in classical times. This wonderful sequel unfolds over the millennium after the fall of Rome. Players can lead any of 13 different ancient civilizations--including Celts, Vikings and Chinese--through a seemingly infinite number of skirmishes. Whether controlling leaders such as Joan of Arc or Genghis Khan through historical campaigns or embarking on shorter, randomly generated missions, players are confronted with difficult and true-to-life problems that require more than brute strength to solve.

As with the original “Age of Empires,” “The Age of Kings” demands no previous knowledge or understanding of strategy games. A wonderful tutorial based on the campaigns of William Wallace teaches novice players everything they need to know about building a society and then using it to subjugate others.

Technically, the game sings. The maps, buildings and individual units--from peasants to soldiers--all look great and move smoothly. The enemies are smart, and the missions get difficult quickly. There’s plenty here to keep most men feeling mighty for months.

“Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings” requires a Pentium 166 with at least 32mb of RAM and 200mb of available hard-drive space.

‘Air Force Delta’

In the two months it’s been on the market, Sega Dreamcast has demonstrated its power as a super fast arcade-style machine. “Air Force Delta” adds another stellar title to the machine’s library--this one a rollicking combat flight simulation.

“Air Force Delta” is not nearly as technical as some PC combat flight sims, but it nonetheless serves up some great graphics and blistering action as players pilot more than 30 different aircraft through diverse missions.

Over cities, open oceans and snowcapped mountains, players engage in furious air combat with other aircraft as well as with merciless ground units. Flight is make simple with Dreamcast’s thumb-stick controller, and the gorgeous images on the screen make it easy to believe you’re looking out the front of your very own A-10.

Yahoo!

‘Tiny Tank’

The hero of “Tiny Tank” for Sony PlayStations is a pint-sized piece of mechanized armor with a bright yellow paint job--who quotes Descartes as he blasts baddies. Cute as he may look, this little tank packs potent firepower. His story is familiar: After tiring of wars in which entire generations are wiped out, humanity wises up and builds robots to do its dirty work. But the machines take over the planet.

Tiny is the only hope.

The game unfolds in 13 colorful three-dimensional environments. Tiny has an impressive arsenal, which comes in handy under the onslaught of enemy robots. Control is tight, and lots of little extras such as Teeny Weeny Tanks used for scouting make “Tiny Tank” a mindless good time.

To comment on a column or to suggest games for review, send e-mail to aaron.curtiss@latimes.com.

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Essentials

Next Week: “Final Fantasy VIII,” “Gauntlet Legends, “ “Nocturne” Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

* Platform: PC

* Publisher: Microsoft

* ESRB* rating: Teen

* Price: $39.99

* Bottom line: The Zeus of god games

Air Force Delta

* Platform: Sega Dreamcast

* Publisher: Konami