Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy

Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy is the 1998 science-fiction FPS/RTS hybrid developed by Cyclone Studios and published by The 3DO Company. Arriving just a year after its groundbreaking predecessor, the sequel sought to refine and expand upon the chaotic, multi-tasking formula that put players directly into the cockpit of a command tank to lead massive planetary invasions.

The narrative picks up after the events of the first game. The authoritarian Imperium has been successfully crushed, and the rebellion has established a fragile new galactic government. However, a new, far more terrifying threat emerges to take advantage of the post-war power vacuum: the Kri’iara, a highly advanced, ruthless alien empire. Players are once again called to the front lines, tasked with pushing back the alien invasion across multiple star systems.

Gameplay

Uprising 2 didn’t try to reinvent the wheel; it took the highly successful mechanical foundation of the first game and simply gave the player more toys to play with. You still view the battlefield entirely from a first-person perspective, managing macro-strategy while physically dodging enemy fire.

Key gameplay mechanics and additions include:

• The Wraith II: You pilot an upgraded, deadlier version of the original hover-tank. The beloved Energy Triangle returns completely intact, forcing you to constantly shunt reactor power on the fly between your weapons, shields, and engine speed to survive intense firefights.
• Expanded Arsenals: The sequel introduced a massive upgrade to your tactical options. Players had access to 36 distinct weapons and units (including new devastating orbital strikes, advanced gunships, and heavily armored mechs), allowing for much deeper strategic counters against the new alien enemy types.
• Streamlined UI and Commands: A major criticism of the first game was the clunky interface used to command troops in the heat of battle. Uprising 2 heavily refined the command interface, making it much faster to assign waypoints, order retreats, and queue up reinforcements from your Citadel without taking your eyes off the crosshairs.
• Multiplayer Mayhem: While the first game was strictly a single-player affair at launch, Uprising 2 heavily touted its robust multiplayer suite. It supported up to 8 players via LAN or the internet, allowing friends to build rival bases and engage in chaotic, tank-on-tank warfare while commanding NPC armies against each other.

Development and Legacy

Released in late 1998, Uprising 2 was generally well-received by critics, who praised its improved graphics, smoother frame rates, and the addition of multiplayer. However, the game suffered from incredibly unfortunate timing.

1998 is widely considered one of the greatest years in PC gaming history. Uprising 2 found itself competing directly against absolute juggernauts like StarCraft, Half-Life, and Activision’s Battlezone (which utilized the exact same FPS/RTS hybrid concept but with a highly praised, Cold War-in-space aesthetic). Consequently, Uprising 2 failed to make the same massive splash as its predecessor and quietly faded into cult classic status.

Following the collapse of The 3DO Company in 2003, the franchise was seemingly dead. However, just like the first game, Uprising 2 was digitally rescued and modernized by Ziggurat Interactive and Retroism. It was re-released on Steam and GOG.com in 2016, ensuring that the legacy of this highly experimental era of 90s PC gaming remains fully playable today.

Key Features:

• The FPS/RTS Formula Refined — Seamlessly jump between blasting alien tanks in first-person and managing a sprawling base economy on the tactical map.
• The Alien Threat — Fight back against the Kri’iara across a massive 36-mission single-player campaign spanning 28 different worlds.
• Manage the Wraith II — Master the iconic Energy Triangle, routing power to your weapons or shields to survive overwhelming odds.
• Expanded Command Roster — Call down everything from basic infantry to devastating bombers and heavy mechs to crush the alien citadels.
• Digitally Preserved — Play the modernized 2016 digital re-release, completely optimized to run on modern Windows operating systems.

Release Platforms:

• Microsoft Windows (PC) — December 9, 1998
• GOG.com / Steam Digital Re-release (PC) — Spring 2016