ORIGINALLY released in 2006, The Guild 2 is a medieval life sim which earned respectable ratings from the major gaming websites and publications and spawned numerous add-ons and expansions.

Now back with its second standalone sequel following 2008’s Guild 2: Venice, developers 4HEAD Studios have brought even more life to the middle ages with Renaissance – though they’ve done little to help ease new gamers into this whole new world.

Much like your typical rags-to-riches RPG, G2R enables the player to select a career path on which to embark as they strive to build a successful dynasty.

Furthermore, various objectives can be put into place such as time limits or bidding to outlast other dynasties – or of course you could choose to simply play freely in an open mode.

With smooth graphics and a fitting (as well as award-winning) soundtrack to go with an absolute wealth of depth in choices and options, G2R certainly has a lot to offer those life sim veterans looking for a new experience.

However, the game’s biggest stumbling block is its aforementioned failure to reach out to those who find the game, or perhaps even the genre as a whole, rather daunting, forcing a long bout of trial and error for greenhorns such as this writer fumbling around in their quest to feel comfortable in the game world.

The chief cause of this is the inexplicable lack of a decent tutorial through the early stages.

A game as complex and potentially rewarding as G2R sorely needs helping hands through the perplexing array of menus and responsibilities heaped upon the player and without such a given as a simplistic guide through the main practical tools, many will be forced to rely heavily on internet sources to keep their heads above water at first.

While vast freedom in a game can be fun, it’s only so long before you find yourself begging it to set you a challenge; put you on a path with a clear finish line, if you will. Again, G2R is found wanting.

Lack of direction isn’t exclusive to just the gameplay – it seems 4HEAD and publishers and distributors JoWood Productions had little vision when creating G2R as a whole.

This is a “standalone expansion”, which straddles an actual expansion pack for an existing game and an out and out sequel.

The results are evident: G2R often seems to expect the player to know what they are doing from start to finish, even though its standalone nature means there are likely a fair percentage of buyers who’ve never actually played a prior edition.

Guild 2 Renaissance has all the bearings of an RPG that could and should, end up being very rewarding for customers new and old.

Unfortunately, there are far too many hoops to jump through if a curious casual gamer is to reap the benefits.

As it stands, 4HEAD have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that even something as coveted as a time machine is little more than scrap without an efficient manual.

Guild 2: Renaissance is out now.