Tribes 2

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Tribes 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra Studios in 2001 as sequel to Starsiege: Tribes¹. Set in the 40th century on the frontier ‘wilderzone’ of human space, hardy neo-barbarian tribes compete for possession of new worlds². The game delivers fast-paced, unparalleled team-play online across vast, breath-taking worlds³, with The Tribes of Man facing a new threat: The BioDerm Horde, genetically engineered as a slave race driving toward the heart of the Empire in an explosive frenzy of rage and violence³.

Unlike anything before it, the multiplayer, 360 degree, team play-based game set new standards for what a multiplayer game could and possibly should be⁴. Tribes 2 gameplay makes extensive use of jet pack-powered flight, which adds a notable vertical element to combat¹, with players able to use jetpacks for aerial movement while wielding various weapons and equipment across large outdoor environments⁵. The game emphasizes team-based multiplayer gameplay with flexible role selection, supporting up to 64 players online or LAN⁶.

Game Info

Developer: Dynamix⁷ Designer: Scott Youngblood, Mark Ireland, David Meddish⁸ Publisher: Sierra Entertainment⁷ Platforms: Windows, Linux⁹ Release Year: 2001 Series: Starsiege Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

The game is set in the 40th century where humanity has spread across the galaxy into the frontier ‘wilderzone’ of human space². Major factions include the Blood Eagle, Diamond Sword, Harbingers of Phoenix, Starwolf, and BioDerm Hordes¹⁰. The central conflict involves The Tribes of Man facing a new existential threat from The BioDerm Horde, a genetically engineered slave race that has broken free and now drives toward the heart of the Empire with the singular goal that humanity must perish³. This setup provides the backdrop for the large-scale multiplayer battles that define the game’s core experience.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Tribes 2 is unlike any first person shooter you’ll encounter, as it’s mainly an online game focused on team-based multiplayer combat¹¹. Players control jetpack-equipped infantry using keyboard and mouse controls, with gamepad/joystick support also available¹². The game supports both first-person and third-person perspectives¹³, allowing players to choose their preferred viewpoint for the fast-paced aerial combat.

Structure and Progression

The game features multiple mission types including Capture the Flag (CTF), Capture and Hold (CnH), Hunters, Team Hunters, Bounty, Rabbit, Siege, and Deathmatch¹⁴. Tribes 2 delivers a unique and exciting brand of aerial, online mayhem that plays by complex rules and mechanics that are completely its own¹⁵. Games can support 2-32 players in standard modes, with some configurations supporting up to 64 players online⁶. The deep teamplay found in large matches is incredibly addicting and offers interesting opportunities to cobble together team strategies¹⁶.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The game features three character classes, with 18 different armor types, over 50 weapon types, 11 grenade types, 9 mine types, 19 packs, and 25 deployable items¹⁷. Central to gameplay is the jetpack movement system, allowing players to “ski” across terrain and engage in aerial combat¹⁸. Vehicle gameplay adds another strategic layer, as one reviewer noted: “This isn’t just a little infantry showdown any more, this is war”¹⁹. The game includes 18 different vehicles and 7 vehicle modules, enabling combined arms warfare across large outdoor maps¹⁷.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Publication	Score	Notes
Metacritic	88/100	Generally Favorable20
IGN	8.9/10	Professional review21
GameSpot	8.5/10 (Great)	Comprehensive analysis16
PC Gamer US	89/100	June 2001 issue22
Eurogamer	8/10	Detailed review19
GameRevolution	7/10	Mixed reception15

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospectives have been mixed, with MyAbandonware giving it 4.68/5²³ and the game maintaining active community support through projects like TribesNext²⁴. Critics noted that “Tribes 2 isn’t easy to master, and it won’t play well on every gaming PC, but when you’re up and running it’s a tremendous amount of fun”¹⁶. The game has been described as “the best example of a team based multiplayer game to date”²⁵, though some criticized its steep learning curve and high system requirements¹⁹.

Development

Origins

Development began as a sequel to the groundbreaking Starsiege: Tribes, which came out at the very end of 1998 as the first retail first-person shooter designed specifically for multiplayer competition¹⁶. The game was announced in May 1998²⁶ and entered beta testing in August 2000, with approximately 1000 beta applicants selected²⁷. Originally scheduled for Fall 2000 release²⁷, the game ultimately launched on March 29, 2001²⁸.

Production

The development team included notable voice cast members Mark Berry, Kiamalise Budak, Jason Cottle, Andromeda Dunker, Craig English, Kit Harris, Jay Hopper, Kate Myre, Matt Reidy, and Kelly Wright²⁹. The musical score was composed by Timothy Steven Clarke³⁰, with the complete soundtrack spanning 7 tracks and running 30:40 in total length³¹.

Tragically, development was cut short when Sierra forced early release for Q2 profit reporting, and subsequently shut down Dynamix on August 10, 2001³², just months after the game’s launch. This closure shocked the gaming community, as one developer guide author noted: “While corporate America may not appreciate all you’ve done, the community always will”¹¹.

Technical Achievements

Tribes 2 utilized a custom graphics engine evolved from Starsiege: Tribes technology³³, which would later become the foundation for the Torque Game Engine³⁴. The game required substantial hardware for its time, with minimum requirements of a Pentium II 300 MHz, 64MB RAM, and 12MB 3D card³⁵. Recommended specifications included at least a 600MHz Pentium III and a GeForce or Radeon graphics card³⁶. The game featured high-quality 512x512 player models and supported both Direct3D 7 and OpenGL graphics APIs³⁷.

Legacy

Tribes 2 had a profound impact on multiplayer gaming, with PC Gamer noting that “Tribes re-wrote the laws of online battle”²⁹. The game’s engine technology evolved into the Torque Game Engine, which was later released as open source and became Torque 3D³⁸. Despite technical challenges at launch, the game maintained an active community, with over 300 servers hosting games worldwide³⁹.

The community created extensive modifications and content, including approximately 65 mods, multiple map packs, and more than 1000 scripts and utilities⁴⁰. When Sierra discontinued official online support in 2008⁴¹, the community developed TribesNext, a revival project that brought multiplayer functionality back online²⁴. In 2024, Hi-Rez Studios made the entire Tribes series available for free to increase interest in their upcoming sequel⁴².

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• Currently available as freeware
• GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive - Tribes 2 Ultimate Game Pack
• TribesNext Community Project

Series Continuity

• Previous: Starsiege: Tribes (1998)
• Next: Tribes: Vengeance (2004)

References

Footnotes

1. Internet Archive. “Tribes2UltimateGamePack” - Basic game description and sequel relationship ↩ ↩²

2. Internet Archive. “Tribes_2_Manual” - Game setting and story background ↩ ↩²

3. GameFAQs. “Tribes 2 Data” - Official marketing copy and story setup ↩ ↩² ↩³

4. Amazon UK. “Sierra Best Sellers Tribes 2” - Customer review emphasizing innovation ↩

5. PCGamingWiki. “Tribes 2” - Technical specifications and gameplay mechanics ↩

6. Various sources. Technical specifications - Multiplayer capacity information ↩ ↩²

7. Wikipedia. “Tribes 2” - Developer and publisher information ↩ ↩²

8. Various sources. Basic info - Designer credits ↩

9. PCGamingWiki. “Tribes 2” - Platform support information ↩

10. Tribes 2 Manual. Archive.org - Faction information ↩

11. GameFAQs. “Tribes 2 Beginner’s Guide” - Guide author’s perspective and gameplay description ↩ ↩²

12. Technical specifications from multiple sources - Control options ↩

13. Technical specifications - Perspective options ↩

14. Technical specifications - Mission types list ↩

15. GameRevolution. “Tribes 2 Review” - Gameplay analysis and scoring ↩ ↩²

16. GameSpot. “Tribes 2 Review” - Comprehensive review and analysis ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

17. Technical specifications from multiple sources - Equipment and vehicle counts ↩ ↩²

18. Multiple sources - Jetpack and skiing mechanics ↩

19. Eurogamer. “Tribes 2 Review” - Contemporary review and vehicle combat assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³

20. Metacritic aggregated scores from multiple sources ↩

21. IGN. “Starsiege Tribes 2” - Professional review score ↩

22. PC Gamer. “Tribes 2 Review” - Magazine review score ↩

23. MyAbandonware. “Tribes 2” - Modern user rating ↩

24. IGN. “Tribes 2 Lives On” - Community revival project coverage ↩ ↩²

25. GameSurge. Review excerpt - Team-based gameplay assessment ↩

26. Development timeline from multiple sources ↩

27. BetaNews. “Beta Test Tribes 2” - Beta testing announcement details ↩ ↩²

28. Reddit. “Tribes 2 turns 20 today” - Community commemoration of release date ↩

29. Dynamix Fandom. “Starsiege: Tribes” - Voice cast credits and PC Gamer quote ↩ ↩²

30. Rate Your Music. “Tribes 2 Soundtrack” - Composer information ↩

31. Rate Your Music. “Tribes 2 Soundtrack” - Track count and duration ↩

32. Medium. “Tribes: The Most Influential First-Person Shooter” - Development closure details ↩

33. Multiple technical sources - Engine information ↩

34. TV Tropes. “Dynamix” - Engine evolution details ↩

35. Technical specifications from multiple sources - Minimum requirements ↩

36. GameSpot review - Recommended specifications ↩

37. Technical specifications from multiple sources - Graphics features ↩

38. Web Archive. GarageGames blog - Torque 3D open source release ↩

39. Trivia from multiple sources - Server count ↩

40. TribesNext. “Tribes 2 Ultimate Pack” - Community content statistics ↩

41. Shacknews. “Sierra shutting down 21 old games” - Server shutdown coverage ↩

42. GameSpot. “Get every Tribes game for free” - Freeware announcement coverage ↩