Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Games PLUS Vol. 2 collection shines most in the breadth and depth of the gameplay experiences it unlocks. By bundling custom maps, new units, tools, editors and even trainers for seven classic titles—ranging from real-time strategy staples like Age of Empires and Total Annihilation to action-adventure mainstays such as Tomb Raider II—this add-on disc injects fresh life into games you may have long ago shelved.

Switching between different titles feels remarkably seamless. While the proprietary browser interface on the disc organizes each game’s offerings into neatly categorized folders, you’re free to drop the disc into any modern browser or navigate the files directly. This flexibility makes it trivial to launch a custom Age of Empires map one minute and a Dark Reign scenario the next, without tedious installation routines or registry hacks.

Beyond simply expanding the quantity of content, the editors and trainers included give players unprecedented control over difficulty, unit stats and even fog-of-war. Competitive strategists will appreciate new challenge maps for Total Annihilation, while casual explorers can tinker with Tomb Raider II levels or race new circuits in the Need for Speed II: Special Edition editor. The ability to craft your own scenarios means the replay value of these classic titles skyrockets.

Graphics

Since Games PLUS Vol. 2 is an unofficial add-on rather than a graphical overhaul, you won’t find modern shader effects or HD model packs here. Instead, the collection offers a trove of custom textures, unit skins and map tiles that slot neatly into each game’s original engine. For Age of Empires aficionados, there are high-contrast terrain palettes and new building skins that breathe fresh visual identity into the familiar villages and battlegrounds.

The disc’s proprietary browser has a clean, thumbnail-driven interface that previews each map and unit skin before you install it. Even though you can opt for a standard file-system view, having quick visual references can save time when you’re sorting through dozens of new assets. Minor downside: extremely large map previews can take a moment to load, especially on older hardware.

On the whole, the graphical additions remain faithful to each game’s original aesthetic. Dark Reign fans will find enhanced terrain patterns and weather effects that feel right at home in its futuristic battlefields, while Grand Theft Auto modders will appreciate fresh car models and environmental tweaks that spruce up Liberty City’s textures. The result is a unified expansion that respects the source material while offering noticeable variety.

Story

As an add-on compilation, Games PLUS Vol. 2 doesn’t present a single overarching narrative of its own. Instead, it enriches the existing storylines and campaign structures of each supported title. For example, Age of Empires aficionados will discover brand-new historical scenarios—complete with scripting events and custom AI behaviors—to extend the epic progression from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.

Similarly, Tomb Raider II gets fresh level layouts featuring new puzzles, hidden chambers and extended cutscene scripts that mesh seamlessly with Lara’s established adventures. Though these user-created missions aren’t officially “canon,” they maintain the spirit of the original design and provide hours of unexpected storytelling twists.

Even in sandbox-style racers and shooters like Need for Speed II: Special Edition or Grand Theft Auto, the disc’s custom maps and mission scripts introduce small narrative hooks—want to flee the cops on a neon-lit highway, or pull off a daring heist in a redesigned city district? These bite-sized story beats make for quick, adrenaline-pumped bursts of engagement rather than lengthy RPG arcs, but they nonetheless diversify the way you experience each game’s world.

Overall Experience

For retro gaming enthusiasts or anyone looking to wring new life out of late-’90s classics, Games PLUS Vol. 2 represents a remarkable value. You get dozens of maps, a suite of editing tools, and trainers for seven distinct titles—all on a single disc. The learning curve is low: install nothing, fire up the proprietary browser (or simply browse via Windows Explorer), and launch whichever custom content catches your eye.

The quality of the add-on material does vary. Some fan-made maps feel meticulously crafted, with balanced layouts and polished event scripting, while a handful of smaller mods exhibit the rough edges typical of amateur level design. That said, the built-in preview system helps you quickly skip over any underwhelming entries, so you can focus on the strongest offerings.

Compatibility is generally robust across Windows editions, though very old mods for Total Annihilation and Hellfire might require minor file-path tweaks. If you’re comfortable navigating folders or editing a simple .ini file, these are easy fixes. Even without those advanced tweaks, however, the majority of content works straight out of the box.

In short, Games PLUS Vol. 2 brilliantly recycles and reinvigorates beloved classics. It’s not a polished AAA expansion, but it doesn’t pretend to be one. For its nominal price, it delivers an astounding amount of user-created content, making it a must-have for nostalgic players and mod-curious newcomers alike.