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Did this game really need a sequel?

I remember wasting a good hour trying to beat Pandemic 1 back when it came out, and as a concept game it was actually kinda interesting. The biggest problem with Pandemic 2 is that while it certainly adds a few new trait and elements, it's still pretty much the same. The idea of creating a disease to wipe out all human kind is certainly the grounds to build a fun and interesting game on. Unfortunately this idea is let down in both games by completely dissociating the player with the genocide process. In both 1 and 2 the entire duration of the game is spent looking at a map watching different regions of the world change color. Never do you actually get to see the destruction your virus causes, or even a picture of what you unique disease looks like. It's like all the action is happening behind a closed door.

It's not just not the interface of lack graphics that make this game bad either, the game play is flawed as well, in fact it's pretty much nonexistent. The only control your actually given over the outcome of the game is how your disease evolves, and even that doesn't seem to have much effect compared to the huge dependency on luck. The real outcome of the game depends on rather or not your disease infects the more remote regions before boarders, airports, and shipyards are closed, I found this depends far more on luck than what traits you choose and it can get really frustrating in that way. After playing it for a certain amount of time the game just stops being fun and feels more like work. I didn't even waste my time trying to beat it this time around because I'm guess all get at the end is a "You wiped out Humanity!" text box like in the first one.

Pandemic in general is an example of great idea for a game that's been poorly executed, it gets boring really fast and even if you do menage to beat it there's really not much satisfaction in accomplishing a total genocide because at that point your probably aware that the game is mostly luck. After reading other reviews it would seem I'm going against the popular opinion here, which makes me wounder if people are really this easily amused.

I may not speak for everyone here but to me, a game that feels like work is not fun. A game where you loose over and over, not because you did something wrong, but because you got unlucky does not qualify as challenging. And a game in which your entire contribution is to click a few buttons is hardly a game at all.

Oaky...

The game is too unrealistic. I had ABSOLUTELY no symptoms, yet the governments of the world were shutting down the borders. If the people don't know they have it, how the hell are they suppost to know to shut down the borders? Also, if your symptoms are EXACTLY like the common cold; which, by the way, is one of the most prevelant diseases on the planet; why does the average person panic when they get it? This game is too unrealistic to get more than a 3.

I like the series but this one is just too hard..

I tried many different methods and LOST THEM ALL.. I like the audio / newer features but still... too difficult. Also, It seems to rely on luck too much for my tastes.

Man..

The thing that really killed this for me is the nigh impossibility of infecting Argentina or Madagascar. The moment they close their shipyards, you're fucked. Serious improvement required on that end.

Otherwise it's a damn awesome game.

I like the game but Madagascar is programmed to not become infected. ships only visit Madagascar once a month and even if the entire world is infected and the port is open it still doesn't become infected when a ship enters. there is no way to win the game. Madagascar cant be infected