of the lack of any "real innovations". PC Games Rüdiger Steidle wrote that "Blue Byte has not altered the concept at all". IGNs Dan Adams criticised the similarities to The Settlers III, writing, "it's hard to tell this is really a new game". GameSpots Ron Dulin called it "just the same old game with the same old problems". Heritage of Kings received mixed reviews, with many critics arguing the graphical changes, streamlining of micromanagement, and foregrounding of combat stripped the game of the unique Settlers identity. PC Games Petra Fröhlich argued it was a Settlers game in name only, noting "economic cycles are virtually non-existent". Eurogamers Kieron Gillen called it "brutally average". Computer Gaming Worlds Erik Wolpaw felt the game featured nothing to distinguish it from late '90s real-time strategy titles. The Settlers II (10th Anniversary) received mixed reviews. Whilst the graphics and sound effects were generally praised, and the designers were lauded for retaining so much of the original game's mechanics, some critics felt it was too reverential to the original, and, as a result, seemed dated. Gameswelts André Linken lamented the designers' "unwillingness to restructure" the repetitive mission goals of the original, although VideoGamer.coms Paul Devlin called it a "lovingly crafted remake". The Settlers DS received a very negative reaction, with critics citing unresponsive controls, a poorly implemented HUD, and, especially, game-breaking bugs. IGNs Jack Devries criticised it as "not even a functional game". GameSpots Kevin VanOrd called it "a buggy mess". Pocket Gamers Mark Walbank found the number of bugs "staggering". Eurogamers Dan Whitehead called it "one of the most clumsy and broken games to [ever] receive a commercial release". Rise of an Empire received mixed reviews, with many critics finding the streamlined gameplay too simplistic, and the overall game lacking depth. Although the graphics were praised, the mission design, AI, and single-player storyline were criticised. PC Games Petra Fröhlich argued that it didn't seem to matter what the player does, as "even the worst settlement somehow runs fine". GameSpys Allen Rausch found it "decidedly mediocre." IGNs Dan Adams called the economic model "simple to the extreme". On the other hand, GameSpots Brett Todd called it "the most fulfilling game in the series". The Settlers HD received positive reviews, and was lauded for replicating the original game on a portable device, and for successfully adapting the controls to a touchscreen. The most common criticism concerned the lack