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Platform: PC

Developer: Timegate Studios

Publisher: TBA

Genre: RTS

ESRB: Q4 2003

Kohan II

A lot of people love the Kohan series in the real time strategy community, but I’m not one of them.  I think the series is absolutely solid, but not perfect and not the most ground breaking.  Solid however doesn’t mean though that it’s only average.  With a few interesting well thought out ideas Kohan: Ahriman’s Gift was a solid entry into the RTS arena with only a few minor flaws.  Now, Timegate is looking to satisfy its rabid fans with a new installment in the Kohan series.  With the number 2 badging, this installment of Kohan is sure to be more of a sequel rather than just another side story.  Also, some of the changes in store for this pure sequel are definitely deserving of the 2 badge. 

Timegate is said to be focusing on delivering a very solid single player experience.  Players will be able to choose their race and faction before a campaign, and there will be some new choices of each as well.  There will be five single player campaigns that will follow in the tradition of the first Kohan games, but with some great new features. 

Although the focus of Kohan 2 is said to be very much on the single player experience, there will also be the requisite multiplayer options.  These are the regular deathmatch type styles of games with others such as Kingslayer and Turtle being offered as well.  Timegate is also said to be working on a new secret multiplayer mode that is said to be very innovative and is sure to be the darling of online gamers. 

If Immortal Sovereigns and Ahriman’s Gift could be noted for one thing, it would have to be the level at which micromanagement was reduced.  There were no peasants running around chopping down trees, and units were created automatically into companies.  Timegate realizes that there are some masochists out there that want to manage absolutely everything.   So, in Kohan 2, micromanagement will be customizable so you can tell your units when you want them to go to the bathroom if you so desire. 

Most of the popular units will be making a return in Kohan 2, but many new units will be introduced, including more siege weaponry and more aerial units.   It’s too bad, but still no word that there will be any aquatic units.  Once again, hero units will play a large role in Kohan 2, advancing the storyline and providing bonuses to other units.  It is said that even more emphasis will be placed on the hero units this time around in Kohan 2. 

Kohan 2 will employ a new 3D engine called the NetImmerse engine.  It will employ all the newest goodies like pixel and vertex shaders, and bump and gloss maps.  With a reasonable PC, the developers are saying that there will be epic battles with no slowdown that will include up to 100 units.  The new 3D engine will also use terrain and weather to add new dynamics to the gameplay.  For instance, a company on top of a hill will have a significant advantage defending itself, as opposed to those unlucky enough to have to attack charging up a hill.  Apart from adding a damn cool cosmetic feature to the game, the weather effects will affect different units with different bonuses and minuses.  With the fully 3D NetImmerse engine, Kohan 2 will be moving away from its painted picture style of graphics and towards a more organic 3D look.  This will mean also that the scale of units, trees, terrain, and buildings will be more in proportion to each other. 

With this title a long way off, it already seems as if it should almost be done with the laundry list of new features and changes it has.  This is encouraging as with time, the developers can only find even more new and better ways to improve what is looking to be one of the top strategy titles next year.

- Mark Leung

(July 25, 2002)