Star Trek: Armada II
Windows - 2001
Description of Star Trek: Armada II
Ferengi. Who needs 'em? Stinking bottom-dwellers of the universe. Not only do they sound like nasally twelve-year old girls, but they look like rats on a bad hair day. Heck, I'd rather hob-knob with the Borg than associate with those furry excuses for a life form. In fact, give me one day as a Federation Admiral and I'd photon torpedo them all back to their homeworld. Wham, see you in the next rerun, ya hairball!
And while this is not exactly the plot for the new Next Generation-era real-time strategy game, Star Trek: Armada II, you do encounter the annoying species occasionally. In the skirmish mode you can even blow their cargo ships off the face of the universe. Cool. Besides that, you'll also resolve a new Federation crisis with those nasty Borg, power more ships and command two new races, and compete against other Trek fans in a highly improved multiplayer environment.
It's a strange twist that the single-player campaign is not nearly as interesting as the arcade-like gameplay of the original, released about two years ago. Memorable sequences abounded, from the time you had to slither you're way through a nebula-infested blockade as Worf, or the ambush missions where stealth played a more important role than outright combat. Armada II offers only three campaigns, including the Federation, Klingons, and Borg.
Somewhat of a letdown, the scripted sequences feel more like the design team was struggling for ideas. Why start the game with a mission against the impenetrable Borg, making one of the fiercest Federation enemies into hapless idiots? Usually, the Borg would deploy their gigantic Cubes and crush the Federation like ants. Instead, because it's the first mission, you can easily wipe them out in about 15 minutes. Other missions keep you on your toes in ambushes and escort missions, but there's rarely the adrenalin rush of a more fast-paced space combat RTS.
This might have been intentional. Changes to the basic gameplay mechanics include new resources to gather (metal and latinum), a new Y-axis similar to the one in Homeworld where ships can move up and down in space, and a new colonization requirement. In other words, you'll spend more time performing routine functions and strategizing about unit movement than actually firing phasers and killing off your enemies. Battles take more time to develop, and even a new "tactical" viewing angle that rotates around the action can't help hide the fact that there just isn't enough happening on screen other then lots of ships firing at each other. Cheesy cutscenes that introduce some missions don't make up for the lack of variety during the campaigns.
Still, the single-player mode does have its shares of strengths. There are 45 new ship classes and 22 new special weapons, plus a plethora of new space stations and incidental space matter. One obvious disadvantage to a space combat game that uses a real-time strategy model is that the game takes place in the blackness of open space. Fortunately, all the locations are well populated (or maybe over-populated) with space dust, dilithium moons, planets, black holes, asteroid belts, wormholes, and exactly seven different kinds of nebulae. Seeing the Borg stuck in the middle of space with the Federation on one side and Species 8472 on the other has its own appeal.
Multiplayer and skirmish modes have been beefed up significantly. In addition to the races included in the campaigns, you can also play as Species 8472, the Cardassians, and the Romulans. Only Species 8472 offers a significantly different gameplay experience. Organisms are birthed from a "mother" and then evolved into ships and stations. There's no resource gathering, but it takes longer to build up a fleet. The powerful Battleship is one of the only units that's a match for the new Borg fusion cube, which is essentially a combination of eight regular cubes. Borg can't assimilate Species 8472, so gameplay is balanced nicely. New modes such as capture the flag help keep battles interesting.
More than anything, it's the social aspect to multiplayer that makes it so entertaining. Trek fans are definitely devoted to their series. Newbies can easily find someone to show them the ropes, and clans have been forming quickly ever since the release. Players online are generally more helpful and serious about the game, as opposed to some multiplayer experiences where everyone is far less intense. This actually helps with the actual gameplay balancing because players are willing to change races, offer advice, and generally even the playing field.
There are just a few other new features worth mentioning. Armada 2 now allows you to group units into formations, which is helpful since there are so many new ships and intense combat sequences. "Facing Based Damaged" is a new strategy element. Frontal assaults will affect weapon systems and life support, whereas a rear attack will cause engine damage. In practice, the combat is just too quick and there are too many ships to even make this a viable strategy. If Armada 2 had focused on larger ships with more weapon systems it would have been a more important factor. Even the Armada 2 website mentions the fact that the best attack is to just send wave after wave of smaller ships into combat, so it's a negligible addition.
A revamped 3D graphics engine definitely enhances the experience. Borg stations have an incredibly high polygon count with layer after layer of detail. It's cool to see the wireframe ghost image when you first place these structures. Federation vessels are probably the most lacking since they look a little pale against black space. Some weapons send an expansive shockwave of destruction; others look a little more like peashooters. But, for the most part, everything you see in the game looks really impressive, especially when you zoom in for a close view.
One problem, though, is that you rarely CAN zoom in for a close-up. Since there are so many units, the game almost requires an overhead perspective to keep track of the action. There were many times when the screen just didn't seem big enough, even at high resolutions. The control interface takes up about a third of the screen, and most sections cannot be hidden from view.
Armada 2 has a low-key soundtrack and sounds that seem to be lifted right out of the Next Generation series. Each race has its own set of blips, weapon effects, and unit responses to match the tone of that race. It's especially rewarding to play as the Klingon and feel like you're getting chewed out for every action you take.
So, while the campaign mode doesn't offer as much arcade action and the new strategic additions actually lessen the overall space combat feel, there's still plenty here for Trek fans and non-Trekkies alike. Some gamers might decide to skip right past the campaign mode and dive right into skirmishes and multiplayer, and that's certainly not a bad thing. If Activision and new developer Mad Doc can think up more interesting things for these races to do during campaigns, add bigger ships to more races, and keep the multiplayer the way it is, we might see a third installment that outdoes them all.
Review By GamesDomain
External links
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews
gary hall 2021-12-26 -1 point
if this is no longer Abandonware then please remove it from your site
oldman 2021-12-21 0 point
I dl this when it was free, I bought it in 2001, Now they want money. Well anyone that needs help it does work perfect on win 10. mount the iso. or what ever disk image it's available now and install it on your pc. then you can move or copy it anywhere, Thats right, copy the C:\program files \activsion to D:\ if you like or even a removable drive. I'm retired now and get payed to do nothing. look for me on GAD nomad_64 I'll help even modding Armada II only
G. Host 2021-08-14 -1 point
All ya'll are forgetting about compatibility mode. Swap the SetUp.exe into compatibility for WinXP sp 3 and run as admin. Should start working fine after that. Before you play follow the steps to install the patch, then swap out the armada.exe for the nocd version.
OssiTV 2021-05-12 2 points
Hello,
My Problem is, that the Installer not Startet. i can't install the Game on Win 10 64Bit version. FleetOperation does not work, when i start FleetOperation, Armada2.exe can not start. So i dont have any ideas more. Can someone Help me?
OLDMAN 2021-02-27 1 point
I'm going to try and help you guys install armada II on your hard drive.
1. First get a fake CD mounting program. There are lot's online for free, wincdEMUmounter . And learn how to MOUNT a CD file as a real CD Example: CUE BIN mount as H drive.
2. Download the armada files unzip the file if zipped. CUE BIN is ready to mount. Now mount the FAKE cd cue bin as H drive or what ever drive is available. then...
3. The CD can be installed on your HD .
4. installing armada to C:\Program Files\ Activision\Star Trek Armada II\Armada2.exe double click it! Keep th cd mounted!
5. Download the nocd.exe, goto root dir rename Armada2.exe TO Armada2old.exe. Copy nocd.exe to the C:\Program Files\ Activision\Star Trek Armada II\ Reneme it to Armada2.exe Make a shortcut to your desk top.
And your all set. You don't need the cd files anymore ever again. ;-p Note: after the install is working you can copy the WHOLE Star Trek Armada II folder any were and run the exe.
Strip 2020-11-03 -3 points
followed instructions, but unfortunately I can't get it to work on my win10 machine. tried every possible compatibility mode. Splash screen appears but then the exe disappears from the list in taskmanager. log files also show nothing.
spellfire 2020-10-07 0 point
not sure why everyone is complaining about the cue bin files its just another form of cd rip never had probs with cue bin except if the files themselves are currupted
phoenix 2020-09-19 0 point
i downloaded the game extracted the files to default location but there wasnt anything there to b able to actually play the game was just 2 files BIN and CUE files that wanted another file to b downloaded B4 they could b opened did i do it wrong ?
oldman 2020-01-29 -5 points
I have a win10 32bit pc and armada runs perfect in windows 7. I used the nocd.exe and have copied it to drive D. It runs fine stand alone and you can make as many copies you want. I have 3 modded version on my D drive. But the map editor and the ship viewer only works in the default folder.
It's still fun 19 years later. :-)
kg 2020-01-15 1 point
worked fine win 10 for me, although you may have to troubleshoot the compatibility on some computers. mine did it automatically, but I think theres a submenu option (right click file) that lets you do it manually.
1.1 patch is on this page under the entire comments section, so is link to no-CD patch. its under these comments, scroll down. you need these patches, you can also find 1.1 on modDB. windows mount utility didnt recognize, so i use powerISO to mount. (daemonlite and wincdemu are also great.) Afterwards head over to modDB and check out the fo:roots mod +patch, its pretty fun and actually recent. (2019) or check out the Fleet Operations mod 3.2.x, an older variation but also fun. good luck gamers.
ANTI-SATAN 2020-01-11 -1 point
It doesn't work well with windows10. Although I got a right game,I can't play the game.
A Lesser Man 2019-03-09 -2 points
This is NOT an ISO file. It's a BIN and CUE file, zipped up! Liars.
TJ 2019-02-14 2 points
ARMADALOVER,
I followed your steps to the letter. Unfortunately when I have attempted to launch it, it gave me a "insert CD" window.
I do not know how to over come this, and I cannot play the game. If you have an ideas, let me know.
Armadalover 2019-01-04 3 points
Weazle,
1) Download and install Fleetops (https://www.fleetops.net/download)
2) Navigate to the fleetops directory and create a folder called "Mods" (Default directory is "program files/fleet operations/data/mods".
3) Download STA2 Classic (It's essentially Armada 2, optimised as a Fleetops mod, which is crazy, 'cause Fleetops was originally an Armada 2 mod) from https://www.moddb.com/games/star-trek-armada-ii/downloads/a2-classic, unzip and place in the Mods folder.
4) Run Fleetops, click on "options" and the "mod options". You can launch the game from there.
You will require the ISO from this site, or an original game disk to run it.
I know it's a little long winded, but I have never managed to find another way to get the game working.
Weazle 2018-12-07 3 points
Mounted the iso , ran patch, crack etc.. game now states i dont have enough memory or hd space.
win7 64bit ultimate os
1tb hd
16g ram
any one know a fix for this armada 1 works fine. Compatabilty adjustments make no dif.
The7PercentSolution 2018-12-02 1 point
I was able to install the program but it would never boot up the game. It just had the splash screen for a few seconds and then nothing. I tried opening it both with and without the "no cd" exe. Also had the patch installed. As someone else noted it apparently doesn't work well with Windows 10. Also didn't work when trying to change the compatibility with older Windows.
Oh well, at least Armada 1 works!
McKraken 2018-11-15 2 points
PS
wincdEMUmounter is the mounter that helped me get the battle net version of warcraft 2 to work that I also downloaded from this site
McKraken 2018-11-15 1 point
Ok. This is what i did to get this to run
-download armada 2 from link above
-download a .iso mounting program (i use wincdEMUmounter. its easy to figger out .. from the drop down menu choose cd-rom)
-once you do that the game will run an installer
-then download the latest patch from modbd.com
-run the patch (it has an installer)
-then go to https://megagames.com/download-ready/266793/0
(BIG THANKS TO TOROUS83 FOR THIS ONE) and download the no cd crack
-unzip the crack and you will get armada2.exe
-move this new armada2.exe to your armada 2 game directory and REPLACE the old armada2.exe
-I also made a new desktop shortcut (dunno if I had to but thought it was a good idea)
Hope this helps :)
Torous83 2018-10-30 1 point
you need the game crack and the patch to play, first install the game, run the patch then copy the crack to installation directory. You can find the crack here: https://megagames.com/download-ready/266793/0
RK 2018-06-22 -3 points
If you are trying to play this it does not play well with windows 10 however in the compatbility tab select windows 2000 and it should start, it may not be as good as the first one however it does have the best mod avilable which turns the game into babylon 5 rts game which is awesome. Play the vorlon/Narn/Earth Alliance/Centari (they can ally with draak or solo)Rangers faction (vorlon or rangers) Vorlons/Shadows or B5 faction which can choose to ally with 3rd space or use any league nation ships
Vandreal 2018-06-21 -23 points
How do I get this to play without the CD? I'm trying to use a crack but they won't work...
ArthurRex12 2018-03-26 -6 points
Can someone help me troubleshoot the installation process? I'm at a loss here.
Ferb 2018-02-25 1 point
Compared to the original, this was pretty rubbish - less variety to the races, borg cubes that went down like flies, missions with more set-in-stone failure conditions (so whereas in the first game, if you were spotted during a stealth mission, the enemy would all start fighting you and making the mission harder but still giving you a chance, in this game getting spotted would mean the mission immediately ends with a game-over message). Fortunately the modding community made so many improvements that they effectively made a third game from this, known as Fleet Operations. If you download this game, it's essential to download that mod. Their website also has some patches for getting the original game working on modern computers.
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