Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Best of Sierra: Strategy brings together three distinct real-time strategy experiences, each with its own pacing and tactical depth. In Homeworld 2, you command a fleet in full 3D space, juggling resource collectors, support frigates, and fearsome battleships. The sense of scale is unparalleled, and the intuitive formation tools let you orchestrate complex maneuvers with ease. Whether you’re weaving fighters through asteroid fields or lining up your capital ships for a devastating broadside, Homeworld 2’s gameplay feels both epic and precise.

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Empire Earth, by contrast, spans millennia of human history in one package. You begin in the Stone Age, chipping flint tools by hand, and eventually field laser-equipped robots in the future. This broad chronological sweep creates an addictive sense of progression: upgrade your infantry, research new technologies, and rush your enemy as the newest epoch unlocks. Multiplayer skirmishes feel as lively as the single-player campaigns, with a surprising level of nuance in how different ages interact on the battlefield.

The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring offers a more focused, lore-driven experience. You’ll march Elves and Men against Orcs and Uruk-hai, employ iconic heroes like Aragorn and Gandalf, and capture strategic locations that influence the wider war effort. Objectives are tied into familiar Middle-earth landmarks, lending each map a living sense of place. Combined, the three titles cover space opera, historical sweep, and fantasy warfare, making the compilation a buffet of strategic challenges.

Graphics

Although these games span different eras of development, the compilation benefits from community patches and higher-resolution support. Homeworld 2’s ship models pop in 1080p and beyond, with detailed textures highlighting every panel line on your cruisers. Particle effects for hyperspace jumps and weapon impacts still dazzle, and the black void of space acts as a perfect backdrop for the cosmic ballet of your fleet engagements.

Empire Earth shows its age in some unit animations and terrain textures, but a careful eye will spot charming details: smoke billowing from siege engines, flags fluttering over medieval castles, and futuristic laser beams slicing through skies. With the compilation’s widescreen fixes, the maps feel broader, and the interface scales cleanly—making it easier to oversee sprawling armies across continents without feeling cramped.

War of the Ring combines modest polygon counts with vibrant art direction. Forest glades, mountain passes, and the plains of Rohan each have distinct palettes that reflect Tolkien’s world. Units remain recognizable—even at a distance—thanks to clear silhouettes and color-coded banners. Light beams through tree canopies, reflections off armor, and flaming arrows arcing through the air all contribute to a warm fantasy atmosphere that still holds up today.

Story

Homeworld 2’s narrative is a continuation of an interstellar saga, focusing on the Kushan fleet’s desperate struggle to reclaim their homeworld. The voice acting and in-mission briefings drive a compelling plot full of betrayals, alliances, and ancient alien mysteries. Each mission’s objectives are woven into the storyline, so your tactical successes or setbacks feel narratively significant.

Empire Earth presents an overarching “history of civilization,” with each epoch introduced by a narrated overview that contextualizes your technological breakthroughs. Campaigns range from defending your homeland in the Bronze Age to fighting futuristic superpowers in a cybernetic future. The storylines are not as tightly scripted as Homeworld 2’s, but they offer enough variety—viking raids, World War II scenarios, and sci-fi showdowns—to keep you invested in your civilization’s destiny.

War of the Ring is by far the most lore-centric. You relive key moments from The Fellowship’s journey by leading the Free Peoples against Sauron’s forces. Iconic battles—such as Helm’s Deep and the Pelennor Fields—play out with scripted events that echo the books and films. Hero units deliver memorable one-liners, and the tension of a Ringbearer’s quest is captured through dynamic mission triggers, making each victory feel like a win for Middle-earth itself.

Overall Experience

Best of Sierra: Strategy offers tremendous value by packaging three beloved RT S classics in one seamless bundle. The compilation’s installer brings modern resolution support and community mods into the fold, so replaying these titles feels fresh. Jumping from starfleets to medieval armies to fantasy legions creates a variety that few standalone strategy collections can match.

Each game’s learning curve is distinct—Homeworld 2 demands spatial thinking in three dimensions, Empire Earth rewards long-term planning across ages, and War of the Ring blends objective-based scenarios with unit micromanagement. Together, they cater to veterans craving deep tactics as well as newcomers exploring different facets of the genre. The user interface in all three titles is serviceable, and community patches have ironed out the most glaring QoL issues, though controls feel most modern in Homeworld 2.

If you’re building your digital game library and want a cross-section of strategy design, Best of Sierra: Strategy is hard to beat. You get a sense of how the genre can feel grand (space epics), expansive (historical sweep), and narrative-driven (fantasy conflict). Whether you’re in the mood for a hyperspace dogfight, an epoch-spanning empire, or a siege of Minas Tirith, this compilation delivers hours of diverse, high-quality RTS action.

Retro Replay Score

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