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Earth 2160

Earth 2160 Game Cover
69%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, stability
67% User Score Based on 636 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 2 reviews

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Earth 2160 Game Cover

About

Earth 2160 is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Reality Pump Studios and was released on April 1, 2006. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "Earth 2160," players navigate a post-apocalyptic world across vast landscapes with real-time weather and day/night cycles. Choose from four factions, each with unique units, abilities, and storylines, as you gather resources and engage in strategic combat. This sequel to the Earth series offers improved graphics, new unit designs, and enhanced gameplay mechanics for a rich real-time strategy experience.

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Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
Earth 2160 screenshot
+10
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67%
Audience ScoreBased on 636 reviews
gameplay32 positive mentions
story14 negative mentions
  • Unique factions with distinct playstyles and base-building mechanics, providing a fresh experience for RTS fans.
  • Deep unit customization allows players to tailor their armies to counter enemy strategies effectively.
  • Engaging gameplay with epic battles and a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic RTS games.
  • Invasive registration process requiring personal information to access full game features, which can deter players.
  • Clunky pathfinding and AI issues can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Graphics and voice acting feel dated, which may not appeal to modern gamers.
  • story
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Earth 2160" serves as a continuation of its predecessors, featuring four interconnected campaigns that introduce players to various factions and their struggles in a futuristic setting. While some players found the narrative engaging and appreciated the variety of missions, others criticized it for being clichéd and poorly executed, with issues like vague objectives and subpar voice acting detracting from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the campaign offers a decent length and a mix of gameplay elements that can keep players occupied, though it may not appeal to those unfamiliar with the series' lore.

    • “The story is a direct continuation of the previous game, but you can play it without knowing the lore.”
    • “Earth 2160 continues the story of its predecessors through four campaigns of around average length that will most likely keep you busy for a while.”
    • “The story follows a couple of heroes that try to find a certain planet that is supposed to be a legend, all while trying to survive an alien race that is quite ready to wipe everyone out, all spanned out across different campaigns that feature the four races that you can also play in skirmish modes or in online matches.”
    • “The campaign story is pretty standard sci-fi fare overall, so with proper writing it could've been good, but unfortunately the devs went the cheesiest, most clichéd route they possibly could, combined with absolutely atrocious voice acting.”
    • “The story is pretty mediocre, and the voice acting is poor.”
    • “The storyline really isn't anything to write home about; it's all pretty standard stuff, good guys work for the bad corporation but eventually rebel against them.”
  • gameplay
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Earth 2160 is characterized by its unique faction mechanics, where each of the four factions offers distinct base-building strategies and unit customization options, enhancing replayability and tactical depth. While the game features innovative mechanics and a nostalgic appeal, it suffers from pacing issues and some frustrating design choices that can detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of familiar elements with fresh twists, making it a worthwhile challenge for those who enjoy strategic gameplay.

    • “Gameplay-wise, it has this mix of familiar elements and small twists that keep things from feeling stale.”
    • “Together with expansive unit customization and cool base expansion options, it makes for tremendously fun gameplay once you get a hold of the basic faction mechanics.”
    • “What I'm most impressed with, though, is that each of the four factions has a completely different gameplay.”
    • “However, for every brilliant idea they had, they made several incredibly inept gameplay decisions.”
    • “Since they don't have infrastructure or research, a lot of their gameplay involves waiting for bars to fill, clicking on individual units to clone and mutate, and hiding behind long-ranged overpowered defensive structures until you're ready to steamroll every other player with damage sponges that hit like trucks.”
    • “Decent story and concept, but the mechanics are god awful.”
  • graphics
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their quality for the time of release, particularly highlighting the impressive visuals and attention to detail, such as the day/night cycle. However, some users note that the graphics have aged poorly and may not meet modern standards, with issues like poor widescreen support and readability at higher resolutions. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent or good for an older title, they may not satisfy players accustomed to contemporary visuals.

    • “Every part of the game — the visuals, the sound, the pacing — kind of blends into this feeling that you’re actually inside its world, even if you’re just casually playing.”
    • “Despite its age, the graphics are still very neat to look at and features like its day and night cycle make the game quite pretty.”
    • “This is one of the best RTS games released in 2005, but the graphics and design are still very impressive even by today's standards.”
    • “The graphics are probably just mediocre for its time, and have aged really, really poorly.”
    • “There is a difference between bad graphics and being visually dull.”
    • “The game seems a bit outdated by today's standards, especially graphics-wise.”
  • music
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and epic choral elements, while others criticize it for being generic, overly loud, and sometimes drowning out dialogue. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's tension and ambiance, though some lament the lack of faction-specific tracks compared to previous installments. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience for some, it falls short for others, particularly in terms of variety and thematic fit.

    • “The desolate landscapes, the ambient wind, the industrial music... it all comes together beautifully.”
    • “Soundwise, the music and ambiance is really well done; it's quite a joy to just listen to the winds howling and then the music pumping out atmosphere into a tense situation or fight. The voice acting is also pretty good; all in all, it's a good piece of artwork.”
    • “The visuals are stunning and the soundtrack sets the mood.”
    • “The voice acting and music mixing isn't good.”
    • “The music gets in the way and the voice acting is hokey.”
    • “The music is decent, but it doesn’t fit the theme of the game at all.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on Linux with Proton, many users report significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes, which are no longer supported. Players have noted issues with game mechanics, such as unclear damage indicators and ineffective shields, suggesting a need for patches to address these problems. Overall, while the game remains entertaining, its stability issues detract from the experience.

    • “Runs great on Linux with Proton.”
    • “I can't even play it, and it's super buggy.”
    • “This game is buggy, the central multiplayer server is dead (although direct connect still works and will most likely work forever), lots of mechanics are annoying, DRM activation works but demands your personal data...”
    • “One of the most difficult RTS games I have ever played, and still one of the most entertaining despite a somewhat buggy client and no longer supported multiplayer servers.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by amusing infantry animations and a plethora of bad puns and sarcastic comments, leading to entertaining conversations. While some players find the humor enjoyable, others view it as a source of unintentional comedy due to the game's poor quality, making it a mixed bag of laughs. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate a lighthearted, albeit flawed, comedic experience.

    • “This usually leads to quite some hilarious conversations which might entertain you if you like bad puns and sarcastic comments.”
    • “A funny game.”
    • “Absolute trash, worth the price for laughing at how bad a game can get.”
  • atmosphere
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive sound design, including well-crafted music and ambient effects that enhance tense moments. However, some users feel that the dark and gloomy map design clashes with the cheerful voiceovers, and there is a desire for more atmospheric effects to complement the impressive graphics. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a strong artistic element, though it has room for improvement.

    • “Sound-wise, the music and ambiance are really well done; it's quite a joy to just listen to the winds howling and then the music pumping out atmosphere into a tense situation or fight. The voice acting is also pretty good; all in all, it's a good piece of artwork.”
    • “The atmosphere on Mars is just perfect.”
    • “The first thing I noticed is the atmosphere.”
    • “Sound-wise, the music and ambiance are really well done; it's quite a joy to just listen to the winds howling and then the music pumping atmosphere into a tense situation or fight. The voice acting is also pretty good; all in all, it's a good piece of artwork.”
    • “The maps and atmosphere are dark and gloomy, which don't go well with the light-hearted and cheerful voiceovers.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features no microtransactions, emphasizing pure skill and player experience, which many users find satisfying. While it may lack a polished advertising approach, it successfully delivers a cohesive vision without the distractions of monetization tactics.

    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game allows me to earn everything through gameplay without needing to pay.”
    • “No microtransactions, just pure skill.”
    • “Only flaw in the game was too small an advertising budget.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of *Earth 2160* is generally well-received, with users noting that the game's graphics remain impressive even in 2021. Performance is described as mostly fine, though some aspects may vary based on individual experiences.

    • “Performance has been mostly fine.”
    • “Performance-wise, Earth 2160's graphics still hold up quite well even in 2021.”
    • “Let's just say there's two people giving any sort of decent performance, and one has a New York accent (I think that's the closest I can come up with) while the other is literally just a mad scientist villain.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time and effort, which can make tasks like attacking enemy bases feel tedious and frustrating.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Throw in problem #1 above, and attacking an enemy base can be very tedious.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players highlight the high replayability of the game, particularly through its skirmish mode and the ability to customize units, which offers endless possibilities. Additionally, playing with friends significantly enhances the replay value, although some users feel that there are superior alternatives available.

    • “But the skirmish gameplay is where it's at; the endless replayability of customizing your own units from base models is limitless.”
    • “If you have friends to play this game with, it gains immensely in replayability.”
    • “If you have friends to play this game with, it will gain immensely in replayability.”
    • “Even back in 2006, there were far better games like 'Act of War: Direct Action' that were more playable and hardcore.”
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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Earth 2160 is a real-time strategy game with science fiction theme.

Earth 2160 is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

Earth 2160 was released on April 1, 2006.

Earth 2160 was developed by Reality Pump Studios.

Earth 2160 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Earth 2160 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Act of Aggression, Iron Harvest, Forged Battalion, Earth 2150 Trilogy, Grey Goo and others.