DS Lite Tackles Real Time Strategy with Settlers II

Due to its innovative touch screen, a lot of praise followed Nintendo's DS Lite release, concerning the console's extraordinary capabilities for porting PC games. Although few efforts actually came to fruition, one such endeavor was for the handheld to host real time strategy games. The Leipzig Game Convention saw this dream coming one step closer to reality as publisher Ubisoft presented the audience with a Settlers II version for DS Lite.

With help from the handheld, you could soon conquer the world as Romans, Vikings, Asians, and Nubians while casually walking the streets. Strategy fans will be pleased to know Ubisoft preserved real time gameplay for the DS port, unlike the previous encounter with Age of Empires: The Age of Kings turn-based system. There's no need to be upset as Settlers II looks and runs real time in its entirety. Being filmed at the Leipzig Games Conference, gameplay footage reveals fluid actions and movement, with delicate touch screen controls to navigate across the map.

Blue Byte Studio preserved the game's original feeling and did a good job keeping the graphics up to date. 30 different jobs and 6 different types of soldiers will be available in the game, over seven continents featuring different land types. The top and bottom screens can be swapped in-game. This way, you can use your stylus to navigate using the map, select and give order to your settlers or simply zoom in for a closer look. Unfortunately, no plans to include a multiplayer mode have been announced yet.