Alpha Centauri Delivers
Sometimes you worry about a sequel game. If the previous games were really good, you almost build your expectations up too high and are then disappointed by the sequel when it comes out.
That's not the case with Alpha Centauri!
Working on the Civ I/II model, Alpha Centauri expands into new and interesting areas. It's a game you can really start to feel connected to your cities and forces in. To start off, you get to randomize your planet and/or customize it in a variety of ways. There are difficulty levels, sizes, etc.
You then get to choose your faction. Each faction has its own leader photo, its own aims and goals. There are the tree-loving Gaians, the group-mentality Hivers, the thinking University people, the progress-minded Industrials, the survivalist Spartans, the religious Believers, and the ever-hopeful Peacekeepers. You choose a faction, but then get to customize your name, adjectives, titles, everything.
It's so much fun to have the Believers come on line and address you by your first name, using the terms you choose to be identified by!
As in the past games, you have great auto-actions and 'governor' functions for your units and cities. They do pretty well, but usually I like to control my units, sending them places and coordinating attacks. I love playing the Gaians, and concentrate on expanding and grabbing all space, then making treaties so nobody else can move in on where I'm located.
The graphics are gorgeous. When you get various technological advances, you either get a blurb on what they are, or a little video on the advance. There is online information on the way they relate to each other, as well as information on just about every other aspect of the game.
Interacting with the other factions is great. You can do all sorts of bargaining and wheedling. If they get annoyed with you, which they always do when you start to kill them off at the end (heh heh), their comments turn downright nasty. Last night the Believers snapped, "Your tree-crazy prattle scares me." Only moments later, the Peacekeeping Forces, who I was about to annihilate, seethed, "Exterminating each and every one of your eco-daft minions will provide great sport for my peacekeeping forces."
How can you go wrong when a great strategy game also has you laughing your fool head off while you play!
This game has gotten huge ratings from all the major gaming magazines, and for good cause. This should be very high on any strategy gamer's lists of games to have!
Buy Alpha Centauri at Amazon.Com
|
|
 |
Walkthrough Index
PS2 / PS3 Reviews
Wii Reviews
Nintendo DS Reviews
XBox Reviews
PC Game Reviews
Video Games and Child Soldiers
Women in Armor
Free Dating Tips
|
|
