Merchant Prince 2: A Classic Strategy Game of Renaissance Conquest
If you are a fan of turn-based strategy games that combine trade, diplomacy, and warfare, you might want to check out Merchant Prince 2, a 2001 game developed by Holistic Design and published by Take-Two Interactive under TalonSoft label. It is the sequel to the 1994 game Merchant Prince, which was later re-released as Machiavelli the Prince in 1995. In this game, you take on the role of a leader of one of the four merchant families of Venice, and your goal is to amass wealth and power by establishing trade routes, bribing senators and cardinals, and conquering rival cities. The game offers a captivating premise, a simple but elegant system, and a challenging AI that will test your skills as a merchant prince.
History and development
Merchant Prince 2 is based on the multiple award-winning game Merchant Prince, which was originally released in Europe in 1993 by QQP. The game was developed by Holistic Design, a company founded by Andrew Greenberg, who also created the popular role-playing game series Fading Suns. The game was set in Renaissance Venice, a time when valiant traders braved storms, pirates, and disease to bring exotic goods from distant lands. The game featured a dynamic economic system, a realistic world map, and a complex political and religious system that allowed players to influence the fate of Venice and the world.
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In 1995, MicroProse picked up the game, got Holistic Design to improve the graphics and tweak the game a bit, and re-released it as Machiavelli the Prince. The game was renamed after Niccolò Machiavelli, the famous Italian philosopher and politician who wrote The Prince, a treatise on power politics that inspired many of the strategies in the game. The game also added new features such as research, diplomacy options, random events, and scenarios set in different regions of the world.
In 2001, TalonSoft decided to take another turn at re-releasing the game, and once again hired Holistic Design to resurrect it. The result was Merchant Prince 2, which was essentially a reissue of Machiavelli the Prince optimized to run under Windows. The game also included minor graphics enhancements (resolution being upped to 800x600 from 640x480), UI overhaul and five new scenarios.
Review and reception
Merchant Prince 2 received mixed reviews from critics and players when it was released. On one hand, many praised the core gameplay of Merchant Prince 2 for holding up surprisingly well despite the passage of almost six years since its predecessor. The economic system, the exploration aspect, the military element, and the multiplayer mode were all considered engaging and fun. The music was also complimented for setting just the right tone for the game.
On the other hand, many criticized Merchant Prince 2 for being too similar to Machiavelli the Prince without adding anything new or significant to justify its release. The graphics were considered outdated and ugly compared to other games at the time. The interface was also deemed zoomed-in and less user-friendly than before. Some features such as research were found to be half-baked or unnecessary.
The game also suffered from technical issues such as bugs, crashes, compatibility problems, and poor AI behavior. Some players also complained about the lack of historical accuracy or variety in the game, as it only focused on Venice and its surroundings. The game was also accused of being too easy or too hard depending on the difficulty level and the scenario chosen.
Tips and tricks
Despite its flaws, Merchant Prince 2 can still be an enjoyable and challenging game for strategy fans who are willing to overlook its dated graphics and technical issues. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you succeed as a merchant prince in the game:
Balance your income and expenses. As a merchant, you need to invest in trade routes, warehouses, ships, caravans, and agents to generate income. However, you also need to pay taxes, bribes, salaries, maintenance, and interest on loans. You should always keep an eye on your cash flow and avoid spending more than you earn.
Explore the world and find new markets. The game features a large and detailed world map that spans from Europe to Asia and Africa. You can send your ships and caravans to discover new cities, goods, and opportunities. You can also use your agents to spy on rival merchants and learn their secrets.
Influence the political and religious spheres. The game simulates the complex politics and religion of Renaissance Venice. You can bribe senators and cardinals to gain their favor and votes. You can also support or oppose various factions and policies that affect the game. You can even become the Doge of Venice or the Pope of Rome if you play your cards right.
Use diplomacy and warfare wisely. The game allows you to interact with other merchant families and foreign powers in various ways. You can form alliances, trade agreements, marriages, or wars with them. You can also use your agents to sabotage, assassinate, or frame them. However, you should be careful not to make too many enemies or provoke too much hostility, as you might face retaliation or sanctions.
Use cheats if you get stuck or bored. The game has a number of cheat codes that can help you overcome difficulties or spice up your gameplay. For example, you can type "money" to get 1000 florins, "spy" to reveal all cities on the map, "army" to get 10 units of mercenaries, or "event" to trigger a random event.
Conclusion
Merchant Prince 2 is a classic strategy game that offers a unique blend of economic, political, and military simulation set in the Renaissance era. It is a game that rewards exploration, experimentation, and cunning. It is also a game that suffers from outdated graphics, technical problems, and lack of innovation. It is not a game for everyone, but it is a game that deserves a try for those who appreciate its genre and theme.
If you are interested in playing Merchant Prince 2, you can find it on various online platforms such as GOG.com or Steam. You can also visit the official website of Holistic Design or the fan site Merchant Prince Online for more information and resources about the game.
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FAQs
What are the differences between Merchant Prince 2 and Machiavelli the Prince?
The main differences are that Merchant Prince 2 has higher resolution graphics (800x600 vs 640x480), a revamped interface (zoomed-in vs zoomed-out), five new scenarios (Africa, Asia Minor, China, India, Japan), and runs under Windows (vs DOS).
How many players can play Merchant Prince 2?
The game supports up to four players in multiplayer mode. You can play online via TCP/IP or LAN, or offline via hotseat or email.
How long does it take to finish Merchant Prince 2?
The game has no fixed end date or victory condition. You can play as long as you want or until you achieve your personal goals. However, the game does have a scoring system that ranks you based on your wealth, power, fame, piety, and knowledge at the end of each year.
What are some similar games to Merchant Prince 2?
If you like Merchant Prince 2, you might also enjoy other games that feature trade, diplomacy, and warfare in historical settings. Some examples are Pirates!, Sid Meier's Colonization, Patrician, Europa Universalis, Civilization, Total War, and Crusader Kings.
Where can I download Merchant Prince 2?
You can download Merchant Prince 2 from various online platforms such as GOG.com or Steam. You can also find the game on some abandonware sites, but be careful of viruses and malware. You might also need some patches or compatibility tools to run the game on modern systems.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Merchant Prince 2. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading and happy gaming! 44f88ac181
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