If you played the first game then you will instantly feel the difference in gameplay. For a start you can now build anywhere on the map instead of from pre-designated building pods, which marred the last game somewhat. Also there is a much wider range of armies and units within the armies are more diverse, as are the hreo units, you can now command the fell beasts and even summon up a Balrog to help your goblin minions but the game boils down to the tried and tested methods of Generals and other well established R.T.S. games leaving you with the deflated feeling of "ive done this all before" However there is a lot going for it in the graphics deparment with some beautifull fire effects and other such things and if you are a sucker for good graphics then you won't be dissapointed by EA's visual tour de force. If you have played R.T.S games to the bone as I have then you will find very little that is new this time around but if you are new to the strategy Genre then this would be a good place to start.