Ground Control II: Operation Exodus

About

In "Ground Control II: Operation Exodus," players command futuristic forces in large-scale battles across diverse, dynamic environments. The game features an engaging single-player campaign and intense multiplayer modes, with a focus on strategic resource management and tactical unit control. The battle for resource-rich planets and the fate of humanity is at stake in this action-packed real-time strategy game.

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Strategy

Play Modes

Ground Control II: Operation Exodus screenshot

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 155 reviews

story21 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Ground Control 2 is a nostalgic gem that still holds up well visually and gameplay-wise, offering a unique RTS experience without base building.
The game features a captivating story, interesting unit mechanics with secondary modes, and a solid soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Despite its age, the game runs smoothly on modern systems and provides a fun challenge, especially for fans of tactical gameplay.

The multiplayer functionality is non-existent due to the shutdown of servers, limiting the experience to single-player or local LAN play.
The user interface and controls are often criticized for being clunky and unresponsive, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
Many players report issues with the game not launching on modern systems, leading to frustration and a lack of support from the developers.

story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring an engaging narrative with twists that captivate players, especially those nostalgic for its release. While some missions present pacing and difficulty issues, the overall plot is considered interesting and emotionally resonant, enhanced by strong visuals and atmospheric elements. However, some players note that the story can feel cliched and that the game ends with unresolved plot threads, leaving a desire for a sequel.
- “The game definitely improves on storyline, with a thrilling narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat and really pulls you in. The transition from chapter to chapter is handled perfectly, and the ever-developing story and gameplay grew on me massively as I played through GC2.”
- “The story is overall surprisingly good for a more obscure game like this.”
- “Throw in a simple resource system, truly beautiful environments, and a really atmospheric storyline that from minute one you're convinced is destined for tragedy and defeat for you and your people. I got really attached to the characters throughout, something a lot of story-based games struggle to do, never mind a strategy game!”
- “I experienced a deep sense of hopelessness as I played through the storyline's campaigns, and began to realize the grim futility with which the game's protagonists have to deal with every day, knowing full well that they are going to lose this fight.”
- “With regards to the storytelling, everything is a lot more generic than the first game and the voice acting also feels worse.”
- “The story could not be any more cliched.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The graphics of the game, while showing their age, are generally praised for their timeless art style and impressive visuals that still hold up well compared to many modern titles. Users appreciate the beautiful skyboxes and the ability to view the game world from various angles, highlighting the game's aesthetic appeal despite some criticisms regarding the user interface and controls. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's nostalgic charm and immersive experience.
- “The graphics are old, but in my opinion the art style is kind of timeless.”
- “The graphics, even today, are great and better than a lot of other RTS games considering the age of this game.”
- “Graphics still looking nice (skyboxes are still unrivaled for this genre in my opinion), sound effects are good, music is incredibly good.”
- “I played it a lot 15 years ago when it was new and I had pretty rose-colored glasses about the graphics and a few other things when thinking I'd finally activate it on Steam, but actually playing it is tough even next to its compatriots at the time; like Medieval 2 and C&C: Generals.”
- “I have the nagging suspicion that the game's developers might have blown their budget on GC 2's visuals.”
- “Graphic is old.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The gameplay is primarily action-oriented, focusing on tactical combat without base-building or resource management, which some players find refreshing. While the variety of units and their unique mechanics, such as dual modes and faction-specific abilities, add depth, issues like a poor user interface and clunky controls detract from the experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative and nostalgic appeal, though it shows signs of age compared to modern titles.
- “Every unit has 2 modes and placement of units has mechanical advantages.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it is a no-nonsense strategy game that focuses on combat instead of base building and resource gathering, a feature that set its predecessor apart from other games at the time.”
- “The units' secondary mode really varies the gameplay, making every little tactical decision of the utmost importance!”
- “The mechanics are a little clunky but still a lot of fun in campaign mode.”
- “Instead, in GC II you have a fully different gameplay, a very boring one, actually, which anyone should know well after games like Warhammer 40K, Company of Heroes, etc. You have unlimited waves of reinforcements and all your units are just cannon fodder; you don't care about them.”
- “Gameplay in GC II is boring and stupid.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as iconic, relaxing, and fitting for the game's themes. It is described as one of the most underrated RTS soundtracks, complementing the visuals and cutscenes effectively. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience and emotional impact.
- “I think the atmosphere of the game is great, the soundtrack, sky designs, and unit barks are iconic and kind of relaxing.”
- “It also has one of the most underrated RTS soundtracks I could name, which is something you can hear for yourself even as soon as the main menu.”
- “Fantastic music, good visuals, enjoyable story, cool units and cool campaign.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its emotional depth, stunning visuals, and immersive soundtrack, creating a relaxing yet impactful experience. Reviewers highlight the strong connection to characters and the overall setting, which evokes a sense of tragedy and attachment reminiscent of classic titles like Gears of War. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional and narrative richness.
- “I think the atmosphere of the game is great; the soundtrack, sky designs, and unit barks are iconic and kind of relaxing.”
- “This is more of an emotional review than an actual one :) Still, this game is amazing; the atmosphere, the gameplay, and the story are all 10/10.”
- “Throw in a simple resource system, truly beautiful environments, and a really atmospheric storyline that from minute one you're convinced is destined for tragedy and defeat for you and your people... In fact, I got really attached to the characters throughout, something a lot of story-based games struggle to do, never mind a strategy game!”
- “It was one of the very few RTS games out there that has some really decent emotional substance to it, and the overall setting and atmosphere might even remind you of the utter bleakness present in the Gears of War series.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly on modern hardware and delivering a nearly flawless performance, which enhances the nostalgic experience for players.
- “The game runs smoothly even on modern hardware.”
- “Pros: brings back all the nostalgic moments, finally works with modern gaming PCs (almost), almost considered flawless in performance.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the game's strong emotional impact, praising its atmosphere, gameplay, and story as exceptional. They note that it stands out among RTS games for its emotional depth, drawing comparisons to the bleakness found in titles like Gears of War.
- “This is more of an emotional review than an actual one :) Still, this game is amazing; the atmosphere, the gameplay, and the story are all 10/10.”
- “It was one of the very few RTS games out there that has some really decent emotional substance to it. The overall setting and atmosphere might even remind you of the utter bleakness present in the Gears of War series.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with missions often feeling either tedious or overly simplistic. The tedium primarily stems from the currency and dropship mechanics, as well as the slow damage output of certain units.
- “Missions are a mix of tedious and extremely easy.”
- “When they're tedious, it's often due to the currency and dropship system, or how slowly some units take damage.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's replayability is limited due to the availability of only two playable factions and the absence of a campaign mode for the terran empire, which restricts players' options in skirmish matches.
- “Only two factions are playable; you can't play as the Terran Empire (orange) in skirmish mode, and they don't have a campaign.”
- “The lack of variety in factions really limits the replayability of the game.”
- “Once you've played through the limited content, there's little incentive to return.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the gameplay is noted as entertaining, but the lack of multiplayer options detracts from the overall experience.
- “The humor in the gameplay is genuinely hilarious and keeps me entertained throughout.”
- “I love the witty dialogue and clever puns that make every interaction a joy.”
- “The comedic elements are perfectly timed, adding a delightful twist to the overall experience.”

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Ground Control II: Operation Exodus
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