Soulblighter takes place 60 years after the end of Myth: The Fallen Lords. Alric has become king and while those that fought in the war have cried, "Never again!", after decades of prosperity, the new generation has grown complacent, until rumors that one of the Fallen has risen again, with newer and more destructive powers.

The player assumes the role of a military unit that almost literally stumbles into Soulblighter's growing atmosphere of evil. In the single player mode, the missions are incredibly well-tied to the plot line, even more so than the original. From the initial village attack to castle invasions to the final climactic struggle with Soulblighter's forces, the events assume a rare coherency beetween game and story that turns each level into part of a greater narrative. Bungie is one of the few companies that understands story as an element of the game, and has learned to exploit it for full effect.

Thankfully, the learning curve integrates well with that new storyline. Unlike The Fallen Lords, which started at difficult on the first level and progressed to nigh-impossible one or two levels down the line, Soublighter is accessible to those new to Myth as well as veterans. The difficulty ramps up more gently, with early zombie target practice, and only gradually moves up to formations and siege warfare. Units are also more accurate at the beginning, and as a result, experience brings greater improvements. Perhaps the most welcome tweak in the game is the warrior's increased durability. They're no longer pure cannon fodder, and after surviving a few battles, become formidable enough to use as a front line offense instead of merely a
"delaying" tactic.

Likewise, the control interface has been improved subtly but significantly. Although the core controls haven't been changed, the addition of a formation control bar is a welcome sight for new and experienced players. Also, the mouse-based camera controls now include intuitive turn and orbit corners, which become quite useful in planning strategies.

In multiplayer mode, the games are as exciting as ever and some of the new units, such as the Warlock, are fun alternatives to the Myth's traditional repetoire. The new play modes are intriguing as well, with the pig-herding "Stampede" mode as one of the most unique in the business.

Myth II: Soulblighter's charm lies in a bundle of improvements and high production values that make the parts greater than the whole. It's more enjoyable than the first, and indeed, more enjoyable than most of the products out on the PC or Mac side. While it may not have reached Warcraft or Command & Conquer status yet, the series is deservedly a growing legend in its own time.