Sins of a Solar Empire - Game of the Year Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is an EXCELLENT game that takes the galaxy civilization games a clear step further. Open-ended like a new science-fiction world and played as a seat-of-your-pants RTS game, this is a very intelligent hybrid that I greatly enjoyed.
In effect, SINS is a successful blend of the wonderful GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS and HOMEWORLD series, with a sprinkling of TOTAL WAR for good measure. This is NOT a turn-based civilization game, so expect a much faster pace. What this means is that while it maintains the characteristics of classic turn-based civilization games (exploration, expansion, exploitation and extermination), by relieving from the micromanagement tedium, it allows for an intense RealTime Strategy experience. Now, this probably may not appeal to turn-based purists, but I would advise an open mind: this is a good game.
This concept-blending is new, so expect a slow learning curve - it took me a number of ...false-starts to get the hang of it: after all, it plays like an RTS and (although simplified) it still has enough of turn-based features that need to be taken care of. The interface is simplified and informative at the same time, with info trees sliding out only when needed.
There are three different factions to choose from (financiers, technologists and psitecs) - yet, their differences focus mainly on research tree-branching and ship designs. What I did not like was that the ships of all three factions are effectively the same and their differences are only skin-deep. What I would have liked to find (and was disappointed to the point of withholding the 5th star for fun) was ship design and building! Remember how much fun was to design our own spaceships (from freighters to battleships) in GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS II? Well, no such luck here. Let's hope they keep it in mind when the patch gets prepared.
Quick and constant exploration is not only encouraged by a necessity if one wants to survive - let alone win. Spaceships built within a solar system cannot travel beyond it, unless using "wormhole"-like singularities. This adds to realism but can stretch your finances to their breaking point - since only locally built ships can be used. Moreover, it makes really hard to locate the strategic points to either built defenses or focus an attack. The AI will constantly be bypassing your planning like the Maginot line - and leave you with such a French feeling...
The graphics (of all of backgrounds, planets and units) are very nicely done. I really liked the multiple afterburners tracing through space as a spaceship squadron was dopplering past my screen...And less-than-cutting-edge PC owners rejoice: even 4-5 years old systems can handle this game like a breeze!
What I truly appreciated was the realistic scale of things. Galaxies are much larger than star systems, which in turn are much larger than planets, which in turn are much larger than space stations...than spaceships and so on. How is this achieved? Excellent zooming!
SUPREME COMMANDER was the first game to introduce strategic zoom; however, SINS implements it much better and shows how it should had been done: from a galaxy to a single planet and to a single spaceship, zooming in or out firmly maintains the effectiveness of battle controls by grouping and simplifying the info-tiles as one zooms out. In SupCom, we had to chose between either discerning the units or moving ...info-tiles around the battlefield - not a bad first attempt, mind you. In SINS, one almost never looses perspective: ongoing battles, critical hotspots, or colony revolts are all easily identifiable in real-time.
On another note, SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE is a STARDOCK release which, yes, means their specialized installation utility. Nevertheless, this game hides no DRM or other intrusive security idiocy. Since trust and respect between a game publisher and its customers is a two-way street (and STARDOCK was willing to prove its friendship first), SINS deserves our support.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sins of a Solar Empire - Game of the Year

Click here for more information about Sins of a Solar Empire - Game of the Year

Read More...

Galactic Civilizations II Ultimate Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Galactic Civilizations II Ultimate Edition is the latest and best installment of the Galactic Civilizations series, packing in both currently-available expansion packs in addition to the base game. It is a turn-based strategy/conquest game, allowing play to stretch out over days or even weeks. There is a lot to this game, but once you get the hang of how to play this game it is very much worth the time and effort.
To be very clear, this is a turn-based game, not a real-time strategy game or a first-person shooter. If turn-based games do not appeal to you, look elsewhere. If you have not played a turn-based game in the past, it is a different experience from most other games on the market in that the planning and strategizing require thinking in a different way, and this style of play is not something everyone enjoys.
One of the very first things that a player will notice about this game is that the graphics are absolutely stunning. Stardock put an incredible amount of effort and care into the interface, from the menus to the cut scenes. Everything is smooth, seamless and, well, beautiful.
Although the graphics are well-done, the interface is exceptionally complex and busy. The player manages almost every conceivable aspect of the game - economy and tax rate, research direction and funding, relationships with other civilizations, planetary production, fleet composition, trade and more. It is very easy to get lost in the sheer volume of options available.
Gameplay starts with several choices, most importantly race but certainly not the only option. Victory conditions (more on that shortly), universe size, star cluster density, frequency of viable worlds, number of other civilizations, and a few other options are all specified at the start. After making all of these selections, the player gets a single planet, a colony ship, a survey ship and an asteroid miner.
Every turn consists of a number of important choices. The player decides how to allocate all of the resources available and takes steps to better their position, with the ultimate goal of meeting the victory conditions specified at the start. This may include exploration of space junk (there is frequently much benefit to doing so), colonization of a new planet, or perhaps cranking up the tax rate. Once all of the desired options have been selected, the player ends the turn and a new turn begins after all selections have been executed.
One of the most interesting aspects of the game is in designing new ships for the fleet. The player gets to pick hull type, armament, sensors and everything else a ship needs to be a successful contributor. Once a design is complete and named, any starport orbiting the player's planets can build those ships. It is important to keep in mind that some designs may not work well through the entire game but that sometimes a design should be retired in favor of new, more advanced designs.
Gameplay continues until victory conditions are met. There are several conditions that can be specified - military conquest, diplomatic victory (peace treaties with all other major civilizations), technological victory (done through research) or even a cultural invasion.
Every choice a player makes affects something else within the game. For example, higher taxes can cause a planet to mutiny and join a different civilization. More important, though, is how choices affect relations with the other civilizations. Most civilizations pay attention to ethical alignment and military might, and depending on how strong or weak a player's civilization can even incite a war. Finding a good balance is the key, and finding that balance is inherently tough.
As this version comes with both expansion packs, there are three campaigns that are available for play. I have not tried any of these so I cannot really comment on them.
This is a very engrossing game with slick graphics and many, many choices for the gamer who wants absolute control over every aspect of the game. If this style of play is appealing to you, seriously consider picking up a copy for yourself and say goodbye to your free time.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Galactic Civilizations II Ultimate Edition

Galactic Civilizations II: Ultimate Edition includes the best-selling and award-winning space strategy game Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords and the two AddOns Dark Avatar and Twilight Of The Arnor in one comprehensive collection! Alternative map sizes and victory tasks Players can now design new starships from the main game menu All game campaigns have been updated to be playable within Twilight of the Arnor New user manual Numerous new game setup options Updated diplomatic options New planetary governors for automating the building of planets Revamped espionage system Auto-building for starbases Balance updating Improved graphics The Story In the year 2225, mankind's thirst for domination has spread to the stars, where the battle for conquest rages on. Humans struggle for supremacy over the other Galactic powers, who have their own plans for the cosmos. In Galactic Civilizations II, you will use technology, diplomacy, colonization and war as your tools to build a far-reaching interstellar empire. Key Game Features:
All in One- Comes with Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords and both expansions, The Dark Avatar and Twilight of the Arnor
Spacecraft Customization - State of the art 3D engine enables users to create their own ships from scratch!
Additional Maps - Experience New maps, units and scenarios
New playable civilizations
Enhanced graphics and soundtrack - Experience Galactic Civilization II's new look and feel
Triumph in an Epic Interstellar WarIn Galactic Civilizations II The Ultimate Edition, you'll utilize military prowess, technological advancements, economic might and cultural expansions to triumph in an interstellar war. The all-new map system helps you stay in control of your forces, while the 3D engine delivers incredible graphics. Discover why this game has won so many rave reviews and "Game of the Year" accolades as you enter a unique strategy experience.

Click here for more information about Galactic Civilizations II Ultimate Edition

Read More...

Elemental Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)OK - I am a love of turn-based strategy games. Civilization, the old Fantasy General, the even older Masters of Magic, Age of Wonders, Might 7 Magic, Galactic Ci - you name it, I've played it. All the ones I just names are really good games, however, the game I am reviewing is most certainly NOT a good game. Now, to be fair, I only gave this game two hours of my life, but that's only because I couldn't possible stand it for one more moment! EVERYTHING about this game (except for the concept) is done poorly - especially the user interface, graphics, gameplay and how you interact with the game. I was really hoping for a good fantasy Civ like game and I was utterly disappointed. The informative and intuitive way that the Civ series allows you to interact with their game is totally absent in Elemental. Absent as well are the decent & interesting graphics that the Civ series has. How a game like this - given the excellence of the others I mentioned at the beginning of this review - could be allowed to be published is beyond me. Some say that patches will *fix* this game but I just don't see it.
If you want a good Might & Magic like game check out King's Bounty and its sequel. If you want an empire building game, well CIV 5 is due out in a few weeks and there is always the Fall from Heaven mod for Civ 4. Believe me - Elemental War of Magic is NOT what you are looking for!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Elemental

Product Description From the Manufacturer

Click here for more information about Elemental

Read More...