Tribes 2
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Starsiege: Tribes |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Dynamix |
| Successor | Tribes: Vengeance |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Multiplayer first-person shooter video game |
| Owner | Sierra On-Line (publisher) |
| Parent | Dynamix |
Tribes 2 is a multiplayer first-person shooter video game created by Dynamix and distributed by Sierra On-Line in 2001, serving as the follow-up to Starsiege: Tribes.
Setting
Taking place in the year 3941 within the fictional universe of Earthsiege, Tribes 2 offers several playable factions known as tribes: the Children of the Phoenix, Blood Eagle, Diamond Sword, Starwolf, and the insurgent BioDerms. Each tribe possesses distinct visual designs and lore, though none provide gameplay advantages.
Gameplay
Supporting multiplayer battles with up to 128 participants (64 versus 64) or AI opponents via Internet or LAN, Tribes 2 also includes a brief single-player tutorial. Matches unfold on Earthsiege-themed maps powered by an early iteration of the Torque Game Engine, enabling expansive indoor and outdoor environments. Players traverse maps on foot, utilize jet packs, or operate various vehicles either as drivers or passengers.
Available game modes encompass Capture the Flag, deathmatch, Rabbit, Arena, Hunters, Siege, Gauntlet, and Bounty. Participants choose specific roles and tailor their weaponry, vehicles, and deployable structures—many capable of autonomous function or direct player control. Armor selections balance speed against durability, with loadouts adjustable during gameplay.
The broad array of equipment supports diverse strategic approaches ranging from direct combat to stealth tactics. Jet pack-assisted flight introduces vertical combat layers alongside skiing mechanics that facilitate swift movement. The gameplay centers on fast-paced, three-dimensional team engagements across large-scale maps.
Development and release
Developed by Dynamix as a sequel to Starsiege: Tribes, Tribes 2 had an unreleased song recorded by Mötley Crüe intended for its soundtrack.
On November 2, 2008, Sierra/Vivendi terminated the authentication servers essential for online multiplayer functionality and discontinued official support for the Tribes series. In response, a fan-driven initiative in early 2009 launched an unofficial patch along with replacement servers to revive online multiplayer capabilities.
The game’s engine, known as Torque 3D, was made available under the MIT license by GarageGames on September 20, 2012; however, the remainder of Tribes 2’s source code beyond the Torque engine was not released publicly.
Published by Sierra On-Line, Tribes 2 debuted on Microsoft Windows in North America on March 29, 2001, followed by releases in Europe on April 13, 2001, and Japan on June 22, 2001 (the latter published by Capcom). A port for Linux was delivered by Loki Entertainment on April 19, 2001.
An update issued by Sierra on November 20, 2002 introduced additional game modes, new maps, and various improvements. Subsequently part of Vivendi Universal Games, Sierra licensed the franchise to Irrational Games for a third installment; Tribes: Vengeance was released in October 2004.
To generate renewed interest ahead of the sequel's launch, Sierra made both Starsiege: Tribes and Tribes 2 available as freeware downloads on May 4, 2004. Later in 2015, Hi-Rez Studios also released the game as freeware.
Reception
Tribes 2 was met with "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic. Kevin Rice from NextGen remarked, "While it may pose challenges for beginners and demands high system specifications, the experience is truly impressive... There is nothing else quite as outstanding for team-oriented multiplayer chaos." Human Tornado of GamePro observed that longtime Tribes players would likely enjoy the title, although new players might require some time to fully appreciate it. GamePro assigned scores of 3/5 for graphics, 5/5 for audio, 3.5/5 for controls, and 4/5 for overall enjoyment.
From a commercial standpoint, the game achieved notable success. According to Dave Georgeson, a spokesperson for Dynamix, sales had exceeded 200,000 copies and continued to grow by the time Dynamix closed in November 2001. By the end of that year, North American sales totaled 245,069 units, yielding $9.7 million in revenue. In August 2006, Edge placed it as the 70th best-selling computer game in the U.S. released between January 2000 and August 2006. During that timeframe, cumulative sales of all Tribes series entries reached 480,000 units within the United States.