Army Men II is a real-time strategy game released in 1999 for PC. Players command squads of plastic toy soldiers in battles that shift between everyday household environments and plastic-themed battlegrounds. The game builds on its predecessor by expanding the scope of combat across kitchen counters, bedroom floors, front yards, and garages, where Green forces clash with opposing Tan armies and other factions.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on directing individual squad members who each carry distinct names and can persist across missions if kept alive. Commanders issue orders through an improved mouse-driven interface that allows free cursor movement across the screen. Combat mixes standard firearms with improvised household items, including magnifying glasses that melt enemy troops into puddles and spray cans that deliver area effects. Levels feature destructible plastic bodies and environmental hazards that add variety to engagements. Squad management rewards careful play, as surviving units carry forward with their experience into later stages of the campaign.
Enemies range from standard Tan soldiers to more unusual threats such as suicide bombers and cockroaches in certain missions. Pathfinding and AI behaviors reflect the era's limitations, sometimes requiring manual intervention to keep units moving efficiently through cluttered real-world settings. The game emphasizes tactical positioning over rapid reflexes, with players balancing offense, defense, and resource-like unit preservation.
Game Modes
Army Men II offers a single-player campaign that progresses through a series of missions set in both household locations and plastic worlds. Each mission includes objectives tied to capturing territory or eliminating enemy forces, with failure resulting in short comical cutscenes. Multiplayer supports skirmish-style matches where up to four factions, including Green, Tan, Blue, and Grey, compete on selected maps. Players can customize starting unit counts and include vehicles for larger confrontations. Matches against AI opponents provide additional practice or solo play options in the same RTS framework.
Campaign Structure and Factions
The campaign follows Sarge and his Green troops as they fight for control over household areas. Factions include the primary Green and Tan armies, with Blue and Grey appearing in select encounters or multiplayer. Some missions introduce cult-like groups composed of mixed soldiers. Progression rewards players who maintain their squad roster, allowing named characters to gain familiarity with repeated use. Environmental variety keeps the campaign fresh, moving from sink-side skirmishes to garage battles without relying on repetitive map designs.
Is It Worth Playing?
Army Men II receives mixed reception, with 68 percent of Steam user reviews rating it positively. Reviewers often note improvements in controls and squad persistence compared to the original Army Men, along with the humorous premise of melting plastic soldiers. The game appeals most to players interested in classic real-time strategy experiences that blend humor with straightforward unit command. Its short campaign can be completed in a single sitting for those who enjoy the premise, while multiplayer skirmishes extend replay value for fans of four-way faction battles. No ongoing updates or seasonal content exist, as the title remains a preserved 1999 release. Those seeking polished modern RTS mechanics may find the AI and pathfinding dated, yet the unique toy-soldier theme and household battlefields still distinguish it for enthusiasts of the genre's early era.
