Tribes 2

Set in the year 3941 of the fictional Earthsiege universe, Tribes 2 allows the user to play as a soldier in one of several factions (referred to in the game as tribes), namely the Children of the Phoenix, the Blood Eagle, the Diamond Sword, and the Starwolf. Players can also choose to play a rebelling human-created soldier/worker race called the BioDerms. None of the factions differ from each other in strengths or weaknesses, but each has a distinctive look and background story.

Tribes 2 is a multiplayer online game, designed for Internet or LAN play with up to 128 players (64 vs 64) or bots per match, although a small single-player tutorial mode is included. The game may be played from both first- and third-person perspectives. Each match takes place on an Earthsiege-themed map. The Tribes 2 engine, an early version of the Torque Game Engine, is capable of both indoor and outdoor maps, with expansive play areas. Player movement about the map may be on foot, using a jet pack, or in various ground and airborne vehicles as pilot, co-pilot, or passenger.

Each match is played according to one of a number of possible game modes, which dictate the rules of the match. These modes include Capture the Flag, deathmatch, Rabbit, Arena, Hunters, Siege, Gauntlet, and Bounty. Players are free to choose their own role, and may deploy various items of weaponry, vehicles, and emplacements. Many of these items can be left unattended to operate automatically, or control may be assumed by players. Each player may also choose from three armor types (which trade off various abilities, e.g. weak but fast, strong but slow, or median), and a weapon and equipment loadout, which may be reconfigured at any time during a match.

The large variety of equipment and deployable items results in many opportunities for creative play and tactics, from pure combat to stealth. Tribes 2 gameplay makes extensive use of jet pack-powered flight, which adds a notable vertical element to combat, and a skiing action to slide down slopes. As such, playing style varies dramatically from player to player, and from moment to moment, but Tribes 2 gameplay may be generalized as being fast-paced three-dimensional combat over a wide playing area. Player vs player combat is a central element of Tribes 2 gameplay, even in team-based modes.

Tribes 2 was developed by Dynamix as a sequel to Starsiege: Tribes. Mötley Crüe recorded a song for the game that was never released with the game.{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tribes-2-motley-crue-song |title=The Mötley Crüe Tribes 2 Theme Song Time Tried To Forget |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=July 27, 2014 |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |publisher=Gamer Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921165817/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tribes-2-motley-crue-song |archivedate=September 21, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

On November 2, 2008, Sierra/Vivendi disabled the authentication servers required for its online multiplayer and dropped all official support for the Tribes franchise.{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/55173/sierra-shutting-down-21-old |title=Sierra Shutting Down 21 Old Game Servers |last=Ellison |first=Blake |date=October 8, 2008 |website=Shacknews |publisher=Gamerhub |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318193505/https://www.shacknews.com/article/55173/sierra-shutting-down-21-old |archivedate=March 18, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

In early 2009, a fan community project provided an unofficial patch and replacement server which restored online multiplayer functionality.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/06/tribes-2-lives-on |title=Tribes 2 Lives On |last=Thang |first=Jimmy |date=January 6, 2009 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025212304/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/06/tribes-2-lives-on |archivedate=October 25, 2021 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

The Torque 3D game engine, on which Tribes 2 is built, was released by GarageGames under the MIT license on September 20, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/21876 |title=GarageGames to Release T3D as Open Source |last=Preisz |first=Eric |date=September 10, 2012 |website=GarageGames |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225214405/http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/21876 |archivedate=December 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/21886 |title=It's here! The MIT licensed Torque 3D GitHub repo is ready! |last=Wyand |first=Dave |date=September 20, 2012 |website=GarageGames |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226163339/http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/21886 |archivedate=December 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 23, 2024}} The Tribes 2 source code beside the Torque engine was not made available.{{cite web |url=http://www.garagegames.com/community/forums/viewthread/132755 |title=Tribes 1 and 2 source code anywhere |date=January 4, 2013 |website=GarageGames Forums |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034313/http://www.garagegames.com/community/forums/viewthread/132755 |archivedate=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

Published by Sierra On-Line, it was released for Microsoft Windows in North America on March 29, 2001, in Europe on April 13, 2001, and in Japan on June 22, 2001 (where it was published by Capcom).{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/001/G000127/ |title= トライブス2［PC］|language=ja |website=4Gamer.net |publisher=Aetas Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020104255/https://www.4gamer.net/games/001/G000127/ |archivedate=October 20, 2021 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}} A Linux port was released by Loki Entertainment on April 19, 2001.

On November 20, 2002, Sierra released an update for Tribes 2. This update contained two new game types, new maps and updates to address several issues. Sierra, which was then part of Vivendi Universal Games, licensed the franchise to Irrational Games for a third installment; Tribes: Vengeance was released in October 2004.

In an effort to increase interest in the upcoming sequel, Sierra released both the original Starsiege: Tribes and Tribes 2 as freeware download on May 4, 2004.

In 2015, the game was released as freeware by Hi-Rez Studios.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hi-rez-makes-previous-tribes-games-free/ |title=Hi-Rez makes previous Tribes games free |last=Sykes |first=Tom |date=October 30, 2015 |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030184042/https://www.pcgamer.com/hi-rez-makes-previous-tribes-games-free/ |archivedate=October 30, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 30, 2015}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 88/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tribes-2/ |title=Tribes 2 |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223165341/https://www.metacritic.com/game/tribes-2/ |archivedate=February 23, 2024 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23994&tab=review |title=Tribes 2 – Review |last=Sutyak |first=Jonathan |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116011343/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23994&tab=review |archivedate=November 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 12, 2017}}

| CGM = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/tribes-02-r1.html |title=Tribes 2 |last=Wand |first=Kelly |date=July 2, 2001 |magazine=Computer Games Magazine |publisher=theGlobe.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011018030440/http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/tribes-02-r1.html |archivedate=October 18, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=October 25, 2021}}

| CGW = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_204.pdf |title=Unfinished Business (Tribes 2 Review) |last=Price |first=Tom |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=204 |date=July 2001 |pages=78–79 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114193015/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_204.pdf |archivedate=November 14, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

| EPD = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5524&full=1#mr_toppy |title=Tribes 2 |last=Gladman |first=Brian |date=April 13, 2001 |website=The Electric Playground |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020904040658/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5524&full=1#mr_toppy |archivedate=September 4, 2002 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-tribes2 |title=Tribes 2 |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=April 26, 2001 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010519231754/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/r_tribes2/ |archivedate=May 19, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

| GI = 8/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200106/R03.0804.1523.14643.htm |title=Tribes 2 |last=Brogger |first=Kristian |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=98 |date=June 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228013306/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200106/R03.0804.1523.14643.htm |archive-date=February 28, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 12, 2017}}

| GameRev = B{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32854-tribes-2-review |title=Tribes 2 Review |author=Joe |date=April 2001 |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407204226/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/pc/action/tribes2.htm |archivedate=April 7, 2004 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

| GSpot = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tribes-2-review/1900-2705268/ |title=Tribes 2 Review |last=Parker |first=Sam |date=April 5, 2001 |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417011746/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2705268,00.html |archivedate=April 17, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 25, 2021}}

| GSpy = 89%{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/april01/tribes2/ |title=Tribes 2 |last=Butler |first=Aaron |date=April 4, 2001 |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205182055/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/april01/tribes2/ |archivedate=February 5, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

| GameZone = 9.3/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/tribes_2_pc_review |title=Tribes 2 – PC – Review |last=Krause |first=Kevin |date=April 1, 2001 |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205075422/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13095.htm |archivedate=February 5, 2007 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 12, 2017}}

| IGN = 8.9/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/09/tribes-2-2 |title=Tribes 2 |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=April 9, 2001 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027020259/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/09/tribes-2-2 |archivedate=October 27, 2021 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}

| NGen = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen79Jul2001/page/n87/mode/2up |title=Tribes 2 |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=79 |date=July 2001 |page=87 |accessdate=October 25, 2021}}

| PCGUS = 89%{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/tribes_2.html |title=Tribes 2 |last=Williamson |first=Colin |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=8 |issue=6 |date=June 2001 |page=87 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315142527/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/tribes_2.html |archivedate=March 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 12, 2017}}

| XPlay = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,23008,3320135,00.html |title=Tribes 2 (PC) Review |last=Heron |first=Robert |date=April 20, 2001 |website=Extended Play |publisher=TechTV |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010802224807/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,23008,3320135,00.html |archivedate=August 2, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 12, 2017}}

| rev1 = The Cincinnati Enquirer

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/050901_tribes2.html |title='Tribes 2' lets players share action online |last=Saltzman |first=Mark |date=May 9, 2001 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |publisher=Gannett Company |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303110149/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/050901_tribes2.html |archivedate=March 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 12, 2017}}

| rev2 = FHM

| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fhm.com/games/reviews/gamereview.asp?intID=823 |title=Tribes 2 |magazine=FHM |publisher=Bauer Media Group |date=April 22–28, 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030102073238/http://www.fhm.com/games/reviews/gamereview.asp?intID=823 |archivedate=January 2, 2003 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 12, 2017}}

}}

Tribes 2 received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Kevin Rice of NextGen said of the game, "It's not terribly friendly toward newbies, and the system requirements are stiff, but wow... There's nothing else this incredibly good for team-based multiplayer mayhem." Human Tornado of GamePro said, Tribes veterans will want to pick up Tribes 2, but newbies will need some patience to enjoy the game."{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/33/GamePro_US_154.pdf |title=Tribes 2 |author=Human Tornado |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=154 |date=July 2001 |page=58 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207035926/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/13021.shtml |archivedate=February 7, 2005 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game 3/5 for graphics, 5/5 for sound, 3.5/5 for control, and 4/5 for fun factor.}}

The game was commercially successful. Its sales had surpassed 200,000 units and were steadily rising by the time of Dynamix's closure in November 2001, according to the company's Dave Georgeson.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_208.pdf |title=Dynamix: End of a Dynasty |last=Brundage |first=Sandy |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=208 |date=November 2001 |page=40 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428172836/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_208.pdf |archivedate=April 28, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 23, 2024}} Sales in North America alone reached 245,069 units by the end of 2001, according to PC Data. This amounted to $9.7 million in revenue.{{cite web |url=https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf |title=Markel Forum on Children and Media (N.A. PC Data PC Titles 2001) |last=Bradshaw |first=Lucy |date=January 31, 2002 |website=New York University |page=14 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619191112/https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf |archivedate=June 19, 2004 |url-status=live}} In August 2006, Edge declared it the U.S.' 70th best-selling computer game released between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all Tribes computer games released between those dates had reached 480,000 units in the U.S. by August 2006.{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |date=August 25, 2006 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/4/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century (Page 4) |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165938/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/4/ |archivedate=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |accessdate=October 25, 2021}}

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{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20011019164814/http://www.sierrastudios.com/games/tribes2/}} (archived)
• {{MobyGames|id=/3566/tribes-2/}}

{{Tribes series}}

{{Dynamix}}

{{Torque Game Engine games}}

Category:2001 video games

Category:Cancelled classic Mac OS games

Category:Dynamix games

Category:First-person shooters

Category:Freeware games

Category:Linux games

Category:Loki Entertainment games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Multiplayer online games

Category:Sierra Entertainment games

Category:Torque (game engine) games

Category:Tribes (video game series)

Category:Video game sequels

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Windows games