Computer Games: What can you tell us about the single player campaigns in Cossacks II?

Oleg Yavorsky: There are two campaigns in Cossacks II. One is more of a tutorial, where during 15 story-based missions the player will master all the nuances of the game. Once the learning missions are over, the player will be ready to start playing as a true commander in Battle for Europe mode. In this particular section of the game the player will fight over the continent of Europe split into a number of sectors. The goal is to conquer the entire continent and the fight takes place on two levels: so to say global (when on the geographical map) and local one (when actually combating). Once the player has chosen a nation to fight for (out of six) and a military commander to lead his troops, he gets down to accomplish the conquest. The direction of attack is fully up to the player and he can choose which way to advance onto his foes. All the commanders represented (true historical personalities provided for each nation with the adequate bio) start in the rank of lieutenant and can take command over the basic 4 formations of troops. By conquering territories, accomplishing missions and side quests the player's commander, so as troops will gain combat experience to allow the commander gain promotion, while soldiers to harden their morale and make them tougher troops to defeat. There is no upper limit for the troops' experience, which means you can march them through the entire continent, mission by mission and turn the squads you started playing with into highly moraled supersoldiers. When the player commander's rank grows, he is entrusted more troops to command, so as more types of them (i.e. not only infantry, but cavalry and artillery as well). Such a system ensures a smooth learning curve, while making the player feel a real commander when leading 25 or so regiments of 120 soldiers each into battle. The means to gain victory in Battle for Europe mode do not end on battling merely: there's extensive diplomacy system, possibilities of sabotage, so as economic blockade which will help the strategists to win by any means preferred and are sure to diversify the gameplay.