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Earthsiege 2

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Earthsiege 2 is a mech simulation game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 19961. Set in the 26th century, the game places players in control of massive bipedal war machines called HERCs (Humaniform-Emulation Robotic Combat units) in humanity’s desperate struggle against the Cybrid uprising2. The game was built using Dynamix’s advanced 3-Space engine, featuring texture-mapped 3D graphics with support for 640x480 resolution3.

As part of the larger Metaltech universe, Earthsiege 2 continues the story established in the original Earthsiege, following the 20-year guerrilla battle between humans and their former robotic servants4. The game was praised as “the best attempt yet at creating a futuristic simulation of giant armored combat” by Computer Gaming World and received a four-star rating from Next Generation magazine, which called it “without a doubt, the finest mech simulator available”1.

Story Summary

The game’s narrative is set in the year 2624, following the catastrophic events that began on November 29, 2471, when “the race for true artificial intelligence ended when Sentinel Cybertronix activated Project: Prometheus”6. This breakthrough led to the creation of Cybrids - cybernetic-hybrid machines with advanced AI designed to perform dangerous tasks for humanity7. However, these “Cybrid HERCs, created by man to do men’s bidding, turned on their creators and initiated a 20-year guerrilla battle for control of the earth and its distant colonies”4.

Players assume the role of a HERC pilot in humanity’s resistance movement, where “the future of human existence rests squarely on your shoulders and the metal shoulders on your fighting HERCs”4. The conflict has evolved into a desperate struggle where “for them it is victory or death, and death has little meaning to a machine”8, forcing human pilots to master increasingly sophisticated combat mechs to reclaim Earth from the Cybrid onslaught.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Earthsiege 2 features first-person cockpit-based gameplay where players pilot HERCs through various combat scenarios9. The game includes support for keyboard, mouse, and other input devices, though some reviewers noted the lack of comprehensive mouse support as a limitation10. Players can customize their HERCs with different weapons and equipment configurations, with the game offering 8 unique HERC variants11.

Structure and Progression

The campaign consists of over 50 missions across multiple terrains including “lava flows, snow, hills, desert, lunar craters”12. The game features a minimum of 5 campaigns with approximately 7 missions each, totaling 45 missions across 8 campaigns13. Mission structure can be non-linear with meaningful consequences for failure, adding strategic depth to the campaign progression14.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The game emphasizes tactical combat with location-based damage and shield mechanics14. As one review noted, “EarthSiege 2 demands a fine balance between action, tactical finesse, and skill”15. Players must manage their HERC’s systems while engaging in combat across 3D rolling terrain, utilizing the game’s advanced physics and destruction modeling where mechs “burst into flames, which looks much more impressive and realistic than the shattering polygons of other sims”16.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

PublicationScoreNotes
Computer Gaming World2.5/5Praised visuals but noted “tiny, but irritating, glitches and questionable design decisions”17
Next Generation4/5Called it “the finest mech simulator available”1
GameSpot6.1/10Recommended for newcomers to the mech genre18
Computer Game Review90/100High score from Scott Gehrs in 199619

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been generally positive, with MobyGames showing an aggregate score of 81%9. The game was noted as being “HUGE when it was released in 1996, garnering mostly scores in the top ten percentile”14. However, technical issues have affected modern playability, with one reviewer noting that “Earthsiege 2 also crashes to the desktop more than any other game that was released probably ever”20.

Development

Origins

Earthsiege 2 was developed after Dynamix was acquired by Sierra Online, representing the company’s entry into the mech simulation genre following their loss of the MechWarrior contract21. The game was conceived as part of Sierra’s strategic shift toward broader market appeal during the mid-1990s22.

Production

The game was directed by Mark Crowe, with Frank Evers serving as producer1. The development team included extensive voice talent, with actors such as Sam A. Mowry as narrator, Tammie Andreas as computer voice, and numerous pilots and base commanders voiced by performers including Celeste Yarnall, John Rice, and Gary Bullock1. The game’s music was composed by Christopher Stevens, Timothy Steven Clarke, and the group Loudmouth23.

Technical Achievements

Earthsiege 2 utilized Dynamix’s 3-Space engine with advanced 3D graphics supporting resolutions up to 640x4803. The game featured sophisticated video codecs including “Indeo 3, Indeo 4, MS RLE Video, MS Video 1, Autodesc RLE Video, Cinepak”24. One technical reviewer noted that “this game probably sets the world record for most number of different codecs used in its video collection”24.

Legacy

Earthsiege 2 was later succeeded by Starsiege, which expanded the universe with published sci-fi writers developing the narrative21. The game became part of the larger Metaltech universe that would eventually include the Tribes series25. In 2015, Hi-Rez Studios released the game as freeware, making it freely available to modern audiences26. The game’s influence on the mech simulation genre was significant, with one modern assessment noting it “challenged the mighty MechWarrior 2 series for the giant robot sim crown”9.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

  • Currently unavailable on major digital platforms
  • GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

Series Continuity

References

Footnotes

  1. Dynamix Fandom Wiki - EarthSiege 2 – - Development and publication details ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  2. Wikipedia - EarthSiege 2 – - Game overview and genre classification ↩

  3. MyAbandonware - Earthsiege 2 – - Technical specifications and engine details ↩ ↩2

  4. Internet Archive - ES2 Demo – - Story background and universe context ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. PC Gaming Wiki – - Platform compatibility information ↩

  6. Internet Archive - Earth Siege 1996 – - Game narrative opening ↩

  7. GameFAQs - Earthsiege 2 – - Plot summary ↩

  8. ModDB - Earthsiege 2 – - Cybrid motivation description ↩

  9. MobyGames - Earthsiege 2 – - Gameplay perspective ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. MobyGames - Earthsiege 2 Reviews – - Control system critique ↩

  11. IGN - EarthSiege 2 Cheats – - HERC specifications ↩

  12. Steam Games - Earthsiege 2 – - Terrain variety description ↩

  13. Grokipedia - Earthsiege 2 – - Campaign structure details ↩

  14. Collection Chamber Blog – - Mission structure analysis ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  15. Old PC Gaming - Earthsiege 2 Review – - Gameplay balance assessment ↩

  16. MobyGames - Earthsiege 2 Reviews – - Graphics quality comparison ↩

  17. HandWiki - Metaltech Earthsiege – - Computer Gaming World review details ↩

  18. GameSpot - Earthsiege 2 Review – - GameSpot review score and recommendation ↩

  19. Web Archive - Computer Games Review – - 1996 review score ↩

  20. GameFAQs - Earthsiege 2 Review – - Technical stability critique ↩

  21. Sierra Fandom - Dynamix – - Development company history ↩ ↩2

  22. The Digital Antiquarian – - Sierra’s strategic context ↩

  23. KH Insider - Earthsiege 2 Soundtrack – - Music composer credits ↩

  24. GitHub - RBX IT Wiki – - Video codec details ↩ ↩2

  25. Tribes Fandom - EarthSiege 2 – - Universe continuity ↩

  26. PC Gamer – - Freeware release announcement ↩

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