Amazon.com Product Description

For Lords of the Realm II fans, Sierra announces more excitement, new combat, plus head-to-head combat on the Internet with other Lords of the Realm II fans. The Lords of the Realm: Royal Collection offers you everything you need. Get the original Lords of the Realm together with Lords of the Realm II and the Internet-ready Lords of the Realm II Siege Pack in the Royal Collection. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Bad.Bad,Bad.
the new lords of the realm 3 is Bad it is not as good as the original.please save your money go and buy yourself the original game you will be a much happier perso!Bad Bad!all they had to do was alow the original to be able to be played on EAther xp or windows 2000 etc ,just up date the game and everyone would be happy IT WAS A GREAT GAME ,this new game is BAD

bad
the new lords of the realm 3 is bad it is not as good as the original.please save your money go and buy yourself the original game you will be a much happier person!bad bad !

A classic
Lords of the Realm 2 was the first strategy game I played.A friend brought it over in 7th grade, and in the past 7 years it's been the one game I've gone back to repeatedly.I have yet to grow tired of this game.

First, I love the game's soundtrack.I've actually put all the music WAV files in a playlist...and while I'm on the subject of the audio, if you haven't listened to setup2.wav, DO IT!

As for gameplay, it isn't exactly the most complicated of strategy games, but I think that's part of what makes it fun.If you're going to create an army, wait for one of the merchants to come through so you can buy ale.It's much easier to feed people on grain than cows, and it doesn't hurt happiness.The Knight is a spoiled brat.It is music to my ears to hear "The county is yours, my lord..."After countless hours playing this game, things like these are what you will discover.Oh, and defending your first siege without losing a guy (and no auto-calc either)...now there's a feeling of intense pride.

If you can manage to get the (now flaky) multiplayer system to work anymore (it sure as heck wasn't designed for XP!), you're in for quite a treat.The Siege Pack adds in a new gameplay form, the Skirmish.This is the real-time battles of the game played separate from the game itself.These are great for when you don't have time to sit through the typical hours for an RTS, but have a taste for medieval battle.

Simple mathematics give you a winner
Although i have this game already for over 5 years, i still enjoy playing it. Sound, graphics and gameplay are great, considering the age of the game. The only sad thing perhaps is that you can perfectly calculate what to do in order to win the game: 1 cow feeds 10 people, next season i will have exactly produced 124 bows etc... The only random factors, which you can't influence at all, are events like the plague. If calculated well, you can defend one county against an invasion of all other counties together. So don't set the difficulty too easy. For the rest it is a recommender although its age.

lords2
it not working on lords play....and the cd is broken? ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Eve Online is a bold sci-fi online role-playing game that challenges players to survive in a hostile universe of traders, pirates, corporations, and police. It's a gigantic game: the huge playable universe contains some 5,000 star systems to explore. Your options are almost unlimited. You can play a pirate, sticking to the fringes and raiding player-character ships, you can mine for a corporation or play a privateer and help guard against pirates, you can manufacture ammo, weapons, or equipment, you can be a trader, and more.

Unlike most MMORPGs Eve doesn't force you to play canned missions and quests. The developers have taken the risk of depending, mostly, on players to form the economy, social structure, etc. Things are raw and unformed at the start, but very interesting. Eve encourages players to form corporations for self-protection and to control sectors of space so they can mine the resources there. Competition between corporations is a perfect excuse for player vs. player (PVP) combat, and Eve provides plenty of room for players to slug it out. In most online games the bulk of the world is safe except for a small zone that is open to PVP combat; in Eve there's a small core patrolled by brutal AI police and vast areas where anything goes. Of course, the most valuable resources can only be found in the dangerous, wild frontier.

The graphics are gorgeous and the game is played in full 3-D. Stellar and spectral space effects, nebulae, and massive space stations dominate most sectors, and when lots of players are together, the game is a maze of drifting metal. Asteroid fields, meteors, and a few surprises are in store as well.

If anything Eve suffers from a steep learning curve, an excess of clicking (many menus could be simplified) and the aforementioned dependence on the players to form the society. Eve is unlike most MMORPGs, but worth a look if you feel the lure of open space lanes and the promise a truly unexplored social frontier. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Players determine economy, social structure
• Gorgeous graphics
• Seamless server structure makes it easy to find friends online

• Cumbersome interface
• The game's reliance on player-generated missions and political structure might not work

Reviews (89)

Real Science Fiction for once.
The best way to describe EVE online is as a sim game, not a RP game.
EVE really does a exceptional job of creating a believable, world, grounded in real science, and free trade market realities. If any of you out there ever thought to yourself, "Gee, I love MMORPGs but I really wish there was one out there where I could use my Finance Degree to my advantage." Well, then this might be the game for you.
While there are few like myself who go out of our way to immerse ourselves in the EVE universe, many, if not most, play the game to amass as much wealth and power as they can.
While this occurs on almost any MMORPG system, what makes EVE stand apart is that both these styles of play, Hardcore RP and flat out Powergaming, can coexist with very little friction.
Character advancement, in comparision to other MMORPGs, is non-linear. It is TRUELY possible to excell in the game without being a combat junkie (I have a friend who is essentially a space trucker)and TRUELY possible to take your character in just about any direction you want.
The graphics are outstanding, and while there are noticible bugs, I've yet to have a bug crash do more than crash the game client, after which I was immediately able to log back on without rebooting.
The only thing that I wish for in this game is to be able to exit our ships and wander the planets, moons, and spacestations.
But, considering that is my worst complaint, I highly recomend this game.

As close to being a Space Captain as you can get
I have been playing the game for 2 weeks and I am throughly happy with it. This is by far the best virtual space simulation that i have seen. You actually feel like living a virtual life in space and that you are a Captain of your own space-faring vessel and have to life your life accordingly. You can mine, fight pirates, do quests for npc or real player corporation and do pvp if you desire. The graphics fx and sounds is a site to behold and the game has been stable for me in all aspects. The game has lots of depth and as a result a Steep Learning Curve which you have to get through to even remotely enjoy the game not to forget its a huge time-sink too. It take easily 10-15 minutes to mine and jump to deeper space and you will be rinsing & repeating this a lot. Its not everyone cup of tea. If you have patience, lots of time and a desire to be a Captain of your own space-ship this game is for you. If you like fps, or are time conscious or prefer shallow mmo's you are better off steering towards wow or coh.
I for one absolutely love my alternate life of being a Captain of my own space-ship.

Great game, not perfect
One of the reviewers above talks about " Too many bugs, poor customers support". Well, that is a very very old review. Of course since then they've fixed many of the bugs. The game is playable. But what that person said is still somewhat true, there are still too many bugs. But they usually are not Fatal bugs, they are usually just little annoying bugs. Sometimes though you loose a ship and die because of the bugs. It's just a game.

Another person said "Allows 'Narcotic' trading with realistic drug names/details". What that person said in his review is completely true. But they are fake drugs in a game, so who cares? And if you transport them the cops will get you. What he said about the GM's is still very true, but it is true in every game I've played with GM's to one degree or another. You deal with wild and crazy gamers all day long and you might get a bad attitude, too.

It's an incredible game, with very good graphics, good game play, and a lot of bugs and arrogant, semi-useless GM's. But they are from Iceland, and I guess with all that ice they don't know what bugs are.

But I still play it every chance I get.

Allows 'Narcotic' trading with realistic drug names/details
Eve online also allows commodity trading and 'smuggling' of 11 narcotic substances on it's market, which strongly resemble known controlled substances.One of these drugs also ties in to the human(oid) slave trade, which players are free to participate in and profit from with little npc interference.The publisher is based in Iceland, which must have milder terms for promoting the profits of drug trade than the UK or USA.ESRB 'T for Teen' seems inappropriate.System specifications are now:

Windows 98 or Windows 2000 / XP
DirectX 9.0
Pentium® III 600 or better
256 MB RAM
32 MB GeForce, RADEON 7200 or better
56 Kbps Internet Connection
1 GB of hard drive space

with recommended at:
Windows 2000 / XP
DirectX 9.0c
Pentium® 4 or better
512 MB RAM
64 MB GeForce, RADEON 8500 or better
64 Kbps Internet Connection
1,5 GB of hard drive space

and as an online game updating to this system load to play is mandatory.

Although a player may have up to 3 characters, only one may develop at any given time using a time-based skill system.Some skills can require as much as 30 days to gain a single leve (of 5) in, and some equipment requires multiple level 5 skills to use (at all).12 months out and you will still be unable to use many new ships and pieces of equipment, even at maximum attribute levels.GMs are notably hostile to criticism and have gagged and taken action against people for 'complaining' or criticizing the publisher/service in the context of the game.GM participation in the storyline is thinly veiled and exceedingly frustrating - combining denial of involvement and consistent 'superuser' action with a fair amount of bias typical of a game boasing only 8-12K simultaneous users overall.

This review is the product of one full year of gameplay.

best game ive ever played
seriously this is the best game Ive played, as opposed to other mmorpg's its not a level grind, and the graphics and audio is some of the best ever.

The game promotes roup play ie: its a highly social game.

All I can say is try it. ... Read more

Features

• 3 hours of astonishing animation
• Unprecedented graphic depth and detail
• For 1 player
• Graphic puzzle/adventure sequel to the hit game Myst
• 4,000 breathtaking images

Reviews (8)

An experience
The Playstation version of Riven is definantly not as good as the PC version, but it still adds up to be a great experience. Solid gameplay, crips graphics, and top-notch sound. But still falls short in some areas. Disc changing can get very tedious. That's one reason why I recommend the DVD version for the pc. But it's no doubt this game will suck you in and keep you sucked for a long time. Get ready to experience a whole new world.

Myst lover's answered prayers
We were really looking forward to this sequil, after having so thoroughly enjoyed Myst.We were not disappointed.The kids are enjoying it now.

so awesome!
this game was a giant step up from myst.myst was great and all but riven was 5 times harder and more complex.it took my sister and i a while to beat.but it was worth it.we did it all using only 2 small hints from the book and one, at the very end, made me feel really stupid that i hadnt thought of it before.the graphics are great and the story relates back to myst a little bit.some things like journals and such are still here and even though its a bit of a pain to read it all, its worth it.there were actually a few people and that was cool.the puzzles were great.not impossible but some were close.it kept me busy for a while.but it was hard not to keep playing all night.it was frustratingand intriging at the same time.i highly recommend it.switching disks got annoying after a while but the rides were cool the first time through.id just turn out the lights and end up swaying with the movements.it just sort of took me into its world, even more so than myst.this was my favorite after playing all three.though exile was good too, it was a lot easier than riven and a lot shorter, dealing more with the graphics and story and video than the actual puzzles and fun.not to sayy that riven didnt do that.the puzzles just seemed to be better.and if you ever got stuck on one place, you could take a break from it and try to solve the puzzles on a different island.overall, a great game.id buy it again.replay value isnt that great since you remember exactly what to do the 2nd time through because it took you so long the first time.but im keeping it and ill replay it in another year or so when ive forgotten it.it keeps the mind sharp and the senses acute.watch out for those little subtle clues!

Riven...Let your dream begin..!
This is the game you M (Y) S Ttry!I can tell you one thing,if you like beatiful landscapes and mystiqe music,this game will
N O Tlet you down!!! I haven`t Counted all the hours I`ve played this game,and I`m still not finished..!So,do I need to say more..?

Myst-Riven-Exile
First if you are a myst fan then Riven is a must-have. Riven the sequel to myst easily lives up to its name. The graphics are magnificiant for playstation although it may be sticky at times.

Riven is a thinking puzzling game if you like to be confused to the point you dont know what to do then it hits you and you know what you have to do this was made for you. Riven is a five disk game and its length mainly depends on how fast you can put things together, so dont be intimidated by the 5 disks. Althought Riven is the sequel to myst you can play it without playin myst first. I would suggest playing Myst first thought to learn the storyline. But if you havent played Myst, Riven is still a game that is worth having.

See if you can solve the puzzle...... ... Read more

Features

• vices.

Reviews (37)

It knows what you have in your hand!
This game is OK for the basics, but don't expect anywhere near a real experience here. I can't tell you how many times I get beat on the last card, with just one higher card, say a 9 high to my 8 high. Always with only one card higher! That's not real. Plus, too many of the players are idiots, while a few are otherworldly lucky. It's nothing close to a random draw, and that's what you need for a real experience.

This toy is so fun!
I first played this toy at my friends house and thought, "How fun!"Of course then I wanted the game for myself.When I bought it, I played every game and loved it right away.This game rocks!

Card Games is Great !It's from the experts.
Hoyle Card Games is a great way to learn the finer points or learn a new game all together.This CD is free of bugs; the graphics and audio are very good.Hoyle are well-known rules experts.

have to learn all over again
It takes some time to get used to the fact that you have to play it with the CD in.

Puzzle Game
I read the reviews and was thrown for a loop because 99% of the complaints were talking about card games.I was looking for review of the puzzle games and I found only a few.Puzzle is outstanding, addictive, fun, relaxing and frustrating.What more can you want? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Solitaire and mahjong tiles are two classic card games now available on your computer with spectacular graphics, fun animation, and great sound effects. Play 30 variations of solitaire and mahjong tiles, featuring large numbers on the cards to make them easy to read. Play by yourself, or with a friend or family member on the same PC. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Beware this outdated software
This software is designed to run on a monitor at 640x480 resolution.This means that if you are using a relatively new computer (less than 5-6 years old) your resolution is probably greater than 640x480.If so, the game area will not fill your screen, rather it will shrink depending on how high your resolution is.The window you are running in will fill the screen, but Sierra fills the space not used by the shrinking game area with black.My monitor is a couple of years old, but was designed to run at 1280x1024.The actual game area uses about the center 1/3 of the screen.The card backs on the Solitaire are so small I have to strain to read them.I guess you could change your screen resolution before you play and then change it back afterwards, but that makes the game too much trouble for me.It is a shame too, because the games are quite good (probably 4 stars) if you can see them.

Not very Mac OSX-friendly . . .
Not sure how this package of games works on a PC, but is is not very Mac OSX-friendly, from what I can tell.(It is listed as Mac friendly, but I suspect it is probably more PC-oriented.)There are no drop-down menus, and finding instructions for the numerous games - - when there are some - - is not easy, either.The printed materials are virtually useless for this purpose, also.Finally, it seems to be fickle about whether it will let you add players.In short:the CD has dozens of games you can play; but if you are unfamiliar with the game's rules or objects, you wind-up having to try to figure it out for yourself.All-in-all, this CD is a letdown and not what one would expect from Hoyle.

There IS an Undo Feature
I almost didn't buy it because other reveiws said the game lacked an undo feature.Perhaps in older editions, but the one I bout last week has an undo for every game I've tried so far.

This game is tremendously varied.It will take months of steady play to go through every game once.The MaJong tiles even have an option where you can design your own layouts, if you ever get tired of the ones they have.

And you can decide to play with someone elso, too!I'm glad I've got it (although it may take more of my time than it should!)

Don't Make The Same Mistake I Did...
When we switched from a Mac system to a PC system,I needed to replace the Eric's Ultimate Solitaire that I had enjoyed on the former system.Because Eric's isn't available, I replaced it with Sierra's Hoyle Solitaire and Mahjong Tiles, the best I thought available. Boy was I wrong!Sierra's Hoyle Solitaire DOES NOT HAVE FEATURES/OPTIONS that are available on other software (not only Eric's Ultimate):

NO "AUTOPLAY", so every card must be clicked and dragged even when winning is definite;
NO "RETRY GAME" - you get one chance and that's it;
NO "HINTS";
"UNDO" is good for only one play;
NO "FLYING CARDS" option.

Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for a solitaire game and don't make the same mistake I did.

It's great
Hello... my name is Kelly... I would just like to say that i think this software is excellent and extrememly good... the only thing that i wish was that there were even more games for everyone to enjoy the fun of!!! haahaa! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Jane Jensen's spooky private eye is back for another round of supernatural mystery in Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned. This installment offers greater challenge and interactivity, with a fantastic 3-D engine designed specifically for the game. Each scene offers multiple vantage points and may or may not bring you another step closer to solving the game's ultimate mystery.

Play as Gabriel or his assistant, Grace, as they race against time to locate the young kidnapped son of a dethroned prince in the small French town of Rennes-le-Chateau. The backdrop is used to heighten the tension and add detail to the story, for just over 100 years ago bizarre real-world happenings enriched the parish church and may have led to the local priest's untimely demise.

The game offers a great balance of puzzles and investigative problem solving, often shifting from one to the other between scenes. Only rarely are hints offered, so if you get stuck, you may have to do some real-life investigation to track down other players who have published online help, but you shouldn't have to be an enlightened master to make it through the game. For the most part, persistence pays off, and the lush visuals and outstanding voice talent should help ease the sting of frustration enough to keep you going through the rough spots. Gabriel Knight 3 appeals to the eye, ear, and mind as well as the sense of the macabre--pick it up before the conspiracy hears about it!--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Wonderful story and characters
I was sorry to end the game -- you get very attached to the characters, and the historical background is fascinating.I liked the video in GK2 and would have to say that the villain there doesn't have an emotional equivalent here, but Grace gets to play an even more important role.Music is great, and there are lots of Easter eggs and humor as well.

If you are a religious Christian, you may not want to buy the game; the ending has the potential to offend.

I am truly sorry that GK4 appears to be unlikely, I would by it in a heartbeat.

Bloody Good Game
Gabriel Knight has been a highlight of the Sierra titles since the first game came out years ago.BotS, BotD continues that tradition in a fully rendered 3-D environment that lets the player become immersed in the scenes of the crimes that truly adds to the fun of being an investigator of the paranormal, like a mix between CSI and The X-Files.Though the puzzles can be weird at times (getting cat hair with scotch tape to make a fake moustache), and the locals French accents get annoying, you'll love the story, adore the characters, and start to hope that Gabriel Knight 4 comes out very soon.

A fantastic game
While the third installment of the Gabriel Knigh series takes third place in the series(in my opinion, mainly due to the ending where I think Jane Jensen overstep a few boundries she shouldn't have), it is still a fantastic gaming experience that is EXTREMELY rare today and when the game was release. Part of what makes this game great is that it is a TRUE Adventure. Since the game industry which had once spurred with creativity had changed direction for the worst when greedy capitalists took absolute control and decided their new customers won't want to bother trying something new or understanding games and genres the selection of games and quality have declined to a unprecedented low. This genre, Adventure, as it is presented in this game and the entire series embodies what games used and are SUPPOSED to be like! Normally I never write review but one review I spotted for this game was so very ignorant and misleading that somebody needs to point out the numerous errors. It seems that Mr. Jason Moore does not want to put effort into learning anything about the series that he purchased a game from. First of all, NO game from the Gabriel Knight series is based on ANY book! Jane Jensen wrote the Gabriel Knight series as GAMES and afterwards wrote the books which are based on the games. You cannot get a very good understanding of the characters from the books as much as you can from the games. The main character is of higher quality to a person who played the earlier games from the series but still well crafted and has an interesting personality(And yeah, Jason Moore, he IS southern! He's from New Orleans!). The graphics engine displays very good graphics which would be pleasing to anyone but it is very heavy on the CPU and would seem buggy on a slow machine. Calling graphics outdate is a clear sign of ignorance of games. Graphics can NEVER be outdated, just poor. And GK3's graphics are neither. Graphics must fit the presentation of the game.Calling graphics outdated would be like calling using paragraphs in a book outdated. As far as Jason Moore's comment on story: This is an adventure game! It's all about the story! The story is the single most important part of an adventure game! The story in every Gabriel Knight are incredibly well written and intriguing. Jane Jensen is a fantastic writer who is few can come even dare to match both in game design and in books. You never have to read the books to play the game. In fact it is impossible to read the book to understand the game because the books are written after the games and the GK3 book has never even been written as far as I know. Gamers like the one previously mentioned are exactly the kind who caused the game industry to rot. Most game players do not even know what an adventure game is any more(RPGs and Adventure games are very different genres, contrary to miscategorization on many sites, including Amazon.com).

How can you give this less then 4 stars?
Truly a great adventure game. Now I was an "old-school" fan of adventure games back when developers cared about that genre. now adventure gaming is a dying breed, with only about one or two new adventure games coming out a year and most of those slipping through the cracks where only devoted fans hear about them. True fans are forced to the classics. Now this game in my mind is one of the true great adventure games along with the monkey island series, space quest series, and heros quest series. The game itself may confuse some non-adventure gamers, who don't understand the point of adventure games, but it will leave a great taste in your mouth when you finish it. Regardless if you played the past two Gabriel Knight games you can pick up the plot pretty easily and it draws you in and never lets go. Sneaking around churches and cellars hearing screams and seeing claw marks help set the mood of terror and suspense throught the whole game. This game is similar to one of the movies where the movie dosen't become great until the end when it all wraps up. A must buy for adventure fans, and for those gamers sick of shooting the same space aliens!

The Best Tale In Years
A scary intense story with deep felt characters and a world of mystery. It is truly a game that will make you care and wonder about the exciting conclusion of the adventure game that ends the story Beautifuly. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

SimCity Classic: The original city simulator. A true classic in computer entertainment, SimCity dares you to design and build the city of your dreams. SimCity took the computer world by storm (well, by earthquake anyway), stretched the bounds of entertainment software, and tore down the wall between fun and learning. With its simple interface and the ability to run on almost any computer, SimCity Classic is the best introduction to both simulation games and city planning on this or any other planet.

SimTower: The vertical empire. Start by building a small office complex: a lobby, a few offices, and a café. Expand by adding more floors, more offices, and elevators. Then diversify to hotel rooms, shops, theaters, restaurants, condos, and more as you build your way to the top. Success in SimTower requires design talent, management skills, business acumen, and the ability to keep your customers happy. Be on the lookout for fires, insect infestations, terrorists, and--you'll find out soon enough.

Streets of SimCity: It's your city to cruise through or bruise through. Check out one of over 50 built-in cities, or take on opponents in an urban free-for-all while skidding, bootlegging, and blasting away. Speed through a sprawling metropolis or tackle one of Streets's rim-rattling missions. On the Streets of SimCity, you set the road rules. Combat up to seven other players in network mode over LAN, Internet, or modem.

SimCopter: Fly missions in the metropolis. Attention SimCopter pilot: you're cleared for a rooftop landing, where the local temperature is a balmy 678. That's because there's a five-alarm fire in progress, not to mention rampant riots and SimCitizens running for their SimLives. So soar through 30 built-in cities in hyper-realistic 3-D and perform death-defying missions. Complete your heroics and receive your rewards: a snazzier copter, a tougher mission, and more near-death experiences.

SimIsle: Missions in the rain forest. OK, so you're the king of the forest--make that rain forest. Now what are you going to do? You'd better decide fast because there are miners, poachers, petrochemical companies, endangered species, tourists, polluters, ecologists, natural disasters, and even UFOs, all vying for your attention--and for your resources. With teams of agents at your command, you'll embark on missions to determine the fate of a series of island rain forests.

SimSafari: Create and explore your own African safari park and camp. SimSafari brings Africa to you! Imagine yourself in rugged bush country, peering through binoculars at vast herds of elephants, zebras, and lions. Choose from exotic plants and wildlife to create your own safari park. Team with a neighboring village and build a flourishing safari camp. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Good Pack, but SimIsle sux
Okay, first warning: like other people said, these games were made from 1989-1997, so some of them are REALLY old. If you want moderately modern games for the price, I reccomend the SimMania 2 pack. Anyway, my uncle bought this as a gift for me 3 yrs. ago. I'll rate the games individually:

- SimCity Classic (1989, Maxis)
Yep, folks, it's the first SimCity ever. While it certainly was a great game for it's time (it must've been good then if Maxis got daily calls from the CIA), it is preceded by the sequels (Sim City 3000 and 4), with even more options, so if you're planning on buying the entire set just for this, don't.
If you want a taste of the game right now, you can check out SimCity's website at www.simcity.com because they have an online version of it on their website. Only problem: you have to have a username.

- SimTower (1994, Maxis/Yoot Saito)
SimTower, as the name describes, allows you to build your own 100-story tower with condos, restaraunts, offices, shops, all that good stuff. Even though I haven't played it in a long time (too much time playing Sims) it's pretty fun. I will warn you about this: it is a bit hard to get past 3 stars, because the people in the suite will never like you. Good for it's time, and I'd really like a SimTower 2.

- Streets of SimCity (1997, Maxis)
Like some people said, this really isn't a Sim game. Though you can customize your own cities with the help of the SimCity 2000 Urban Renewal Kit, and make the gameplay feel a lot like the U-Drive-It missions from SimCity 4. Though nevertheless, it's a good game when you really aren't focusing on a game and you're just looking through your CD collection.

- SimCopter (1996, Maxis)
I have a feeling this is an updated version of Raid on Bungling Bay (NES), Will Wright's first game before creating SimCity. I've barely played this game, though I personally think it's sorta hard to control your helicopter.

- SimIsle (1995, Maxis)
Most disposable game: ever. In SimIsle, I don't get the very concept of what you're supposed to do. I "build" something, and hire architects and construction workers, and nothing happens...nothing. Recommended only if you're on a quest for every Sim game ever made.

- SimSafari (1998, EA/Maxis)
SimSafari is a nice novelty to pass the time. I personally remember renting SimSafari from the video store when I was little. Oh, how much fun I had... though anyway, being the sequel to SimPark (the game with the annoying frog, thank god for the Rizzo Off option) it is set in the African Savannah plains. Your objective is to attract people to your safari camp and get 5 stars, and meanwhile help the village get essentials like a granary, a schoolhouse, etc. via hiring the villagers. Though it certainly isn't the best game in the world, it is pretty fun if you're trying to pass the time.

That is my review.

Keep Sim Copter & trash the rest
Sim City- eh, an ok game,, pretty boring though, same thing happens every time.. you build your city, citizens demand that taxes should be lowered, a big fire, etc... zzz....

Sim Tower- this game is KINDA fun but again, just kind of monotnous. This is kind of the reason why I don't like a lot of "Sim" games

Sim Isle- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

Sim Safari: a boring, stupid, corny, fruity, kiddie game

Streets of Sim City- zzzz,, I get bored with racing games very quickly

Sim Copter- Now THIS game is FUN!!!!! Look for my seperate review on this first.

Bottom line: dont waste the $, just buy Sim Copter seperate- it's the only fun Sim game (with the slight exception of Sim City 2000, and Sim Tower is midly allright)

Cheap Fun
Retro gamming is not for everyone. I like to play old games, well, because I just have a problem with nostalgia. If you your not worried about graphics and you want to explore the early years of the "SIMS" universe, then it would not hurt to drop a couple of bucks for this pack of games.

Be warned, I could not get all of the games to run on my system, which is still 6 months away from not being modern anymore. But since the price was reasonable I still felt it was worth the three games I was able to run.

The original Sim City is just stupid fun. It's so easy to build a quick city and it's still easy to fail. This is a no frills, time killing game.

Sim Copter was by far my favorite. Talk about a game that had so much potential, but it still turned out to be fun to play. Maxis should have gone out of house on this one, like to MICROPROSE (while they lasted). The people inhabiting the cities are like the original "Sims" and funny to hear where I think the simesse language came from considering what's it's evolved to today.

Sim Tower was a dirty little pleasure. Who thought that building and office tower with apartments, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. could be soo much fun?!

Sim Island, just throw it away when you open the box.

Like I said, the game only costs a few bucks so why not give it a try. Worst case is you loose a few dollars from what you paid when you sell to the pawn shop.

A review of the games in Sim Mania
Sim Mania is an excellent game pack from the creators of the original Sim City.This pack includes six fantastic simulation games from Maxis and Electronic Arts incorporated.Games include the original Sim City, Sim Tower, Sim Isle, Sim Safari, Sim Copter, and Streets Of Sim City.Most of the games in this pack are simple to figure out but Sim Isle takes a little more time and effort.The original Sim City is the beginning of the Maxis Sim game series.In Sim Tower, you are a building owner and a construction worker to create the building.You have the choice of making it an office building, hotel suite, condo complex, and a restaraunt facility.In Sim Isle, you are in charge of creating an island and hiring people to maintain the island. In Sim Safari, you are in charge of creating a Safari park in Africa.You get to place the animals that you desire in the park and designing the camp site.This game is especially good for those who enjoy animals and the wildlife.Sim Copter is an exciting game where you are the pilot of a rescue helicopter.You are responsible for clearing traffic jams, fighting fires, reporting crimes, transporting people from one area of the town to another, rescuing people from rooftops and turned over boats, and getting injured people to the hospital.Streets of Sim City is a great game for those who enjoy high speed auto games as well as a little bit of shoot'em up and bang'em up action.If you do decide to purchase this product, you will have hours of computer entertainment.

Some of the games didn't work.... Disappointing
Sim Safari and The Streets Of Sim City didn't work on my computer much like i_love_ritchie_forever... I feel your pain!
Anyway, the games that do work are cool.

Sim City is the classic, very first version of the now famous Sim City. The graphics are terrible... but the game itself is pretty cool. It has cool scenarios and I like playing around with the options on the menus.

Sim Isle is alright... I suppose. It's pretty boring, I don't know why some people think it's brilliant. I played it, but I didn't really understand it.

Sim Copter is cool. I love flying the helicopter around and crashing into things. I also love using the megaphone. I'll play it again.

I have played Streets of Simcity. It's pretty boring. You just drive around Simcity and blow yourself up.

My favourite game was Sim Tower. I LOVE IT! I love building the tower and renaming all the people and the shops. I like the events and the cool sounds

This gets 3 stars because of Sim Tower. If Sim Tower wasn't on it, it would get only 2 stars. Considering some of the games didn't work on my computer, I probably have a right to be disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Homeworld took real-time strategy into the third dimension, andthe latest installment takes the series to exciting new levels. Set 15 yearsafter the events in the original, Homeworld: Cataclysm comes with newships (some of which are upgradeable), enhanced gameplay, and a load of newtactical challenges. Once again, it's your job to lead a fleet of spacecraftthrough a campaign that involves past threats, a civil war, and eventually afrighteningly powerful menace that eclipses everything that came before it.

The basics are still the same, but now players can't see anything outside of therange of their ships' sensors. This makes defense tougher, because it's hard topredict where attacks will materialize; also, it requires the effective use of asmall screening force to avoid nasty ambushes. Your new mothership is a lowlymining scow, so it isn't possible to build anything but the most basic shipuntil a captured vessel is towed in and researched. There's also a new limit onthe number of ships that you can have in your fleet at any time, which meansthat it's important to build the right ship and make it count. There are a lotof new things to learn in Cataclysm, and all of them add to the game'sfun.

One of the best things about Cataclysm is that you don't need a copy ofHomeworld to run it, and the story line is completely self-contained. Anexcellent tutorial is included that will help players come to grips with movingtheir ships in a fully 3-D environment. The graphics haven't been upgraded much(but they didn't need to be), and the game runs smoothly on even low-end PCs, aslong as you have a capable video card. This is a must-buy for fans of theoriginal, although newcomers might want to start with the original (or wait forthe inevitable Homeworld/Cataclysm combo pack), so that they canfeel the full effect of this polished series. Then again, no real-time strategyfan will want to miss the multiplayer mode. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• More challenging and deep than the original game
• Doesn't require Homeworld
• Absolutely beautiful, especially at high resolutions

• Missions are large, but you only get 17
• The cutscenes can be somewhat lame, but this doesn't affect gameplay

Reviews (146)

Very good game
This was one of if not the most fun strategy game i have played. It has an amazing story, unbelievable graphics, and an interface that once you learn it is relatively easy to use.
Tbe only reason i didnt give it a 5 is because it is so hard as to exclude this game from some of the less hardcore stategy gamers. The game does take a hit as well from not being able to order your ships into formations (an important part of any space strategy game) but it is more than compensated by just generally being alot of fun. Now i am a fan of space stategy games and i thought that the toughness of the game was an asset because insted of just building a huge fleet and crushing your enemys (satisfing but doesnt take much brain power) you could manipulate the battlefield leaving your enemy crippled and unable to fight back (buy controlling recource spots ect.) I do have to admit i went through a few mouses because i broke a few in sheer frustration. So in conclusion i highly recomend this game to you if u enjoy a tough but satisfing game and your not one of the "gamers" who like to boot up warcraft and put in all the instant build cheet codes. This game is well worth $20 and it was worth it to me when i pre ordered it in 03 for $60. BUY IT PEOPLE!!!

Fun?
I just have one thing to say: this game is as fun as you can throw it underwater with your wrists chained to some wall.Also, the interface and mere gameplay feels like an act of congress (looking up how to do things in the manual!)To be frank, don't by this game even if they would give you money in return!

Loss of The Real Concept!
Look, I've been a Homeworld fan ever since I bought it when it FIRST came out, it was beautiful, the graphics were just delightful, and the stradegy was complex to a portion where I can sit in a room, for 20 hours of non-stop harvesting and planning of an attack with a lil' math and algebra on the side.

When I started to play Homeworld 2, I was hyped, and ready to complete the saga in my world of stradegy gaming other than StarCraft, WarCraft, Age of Empires, and all those other fun stuff.

I began by downloading the Demo from Sierra, and I was full blown by the new graphics it had, though my video card was really acting kinda messy since it was the summer time. (Yeah seasonal changes make items work slower or faster.) Anyways, when I started to play the demo, I used the mechanism of the keyboard and controls of what Homeworld 1 had, lemmie tell you this, TOTALLY DIFFERENT! I can't believe my eyes of what I felt and seen! Everything; the whole concept has changed, the keys and etc. Then I saw that the stradegies have changed, and there were only 3 formation patterns I could only choose for my fithers, I'm like, WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING!? I really wanted to bust a few chops with my strategic mind... so then I thought to myself, eh, not bad, lemmie get the whole game and see what it's really worth...

Bought it, it's totally the same concept, doesn't relate to Homeworld 1, doesn't relate to ANYTHING LIKE HOMEWORLD AT ALL! I thought that they would stick to their story, but the whole thing changed... I was really mad about it.

The game-play suddenly became boring, just traveling with no real dog-fight, "Some destiny this is..." ok, maybe a few dog-fights, but the game just gets harder and harder *like any other game* But I'm looking at it, I swear to you, I would've beaten all these fools if I had all those formation patterns. This game has less stradegy in mind, and the shipmaking, is just build in bulk, something that a gamer would NEVER LIKE. Listen, usually, it's always great to build ONE AT A TIME... WHY!? BECAUSE HAVING THAT FEELING TO SIT ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WAITING FOR THAT SPECIAL OBJECT TO BE BUILT REALLY SHOWS THAT IT'S A GREAT GAME. This however, was truly dissappointing... No wonder it was 20 bux. Not many people like it! For God's sake even Diablo 2 is 20 times better than this and the graphics can be as horrible as they want, but their game play is just completely mind blowing as well as the story line.

For all kids that love graphics, I suggest this game as a STARTER, but for gaming stradegy and story lines, I suggest that you should TURN BACK, THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE BUT A GAME THAT TAKES 20 HOURS OF YOUR LIFE JUST SITTING AND WAITING FOR NOTHING, BUT RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR ENEMIES.

Even Homeworld Cataclysm is better than this. I wouldn't call this game trash though, but would've worth a lot of money if they knew how to bring back the story line as what they were before, but spiced up, with more allies and enemies, and probably if Sierra was lucky, deception.

Wonderful Game
Before I start, I would suggest anyone who gets this game be sure to download the patch that has been made available.This balances out units a little better (not too much, but a little) and also decreases the difficulty of several of the missions (they are possible to beat without the patch, but they are hard).

This game builds wonderfully over the orrignal Homeworld.It has made several improvements in how things are handled and also polishes up things in general.In addition, unlike the orrignal Homeworld the different sides have very different strengths and weaknesses that are readily apparent when playing them.

Some nice additions:

You no longer build single fighters, but rather build fighters in wings.So long as a single fighter in the wing survives you can send the fighter group back to a carrier or mothership or shipyard and have the unit returned to full strength.This makes fighter units much more useful and practical then the frail things they were in Homeworld.

Resource collection at the end of missions has been automized.You will no longer have to sit around for hours after missions sending harvisters out to collect resources for you.Once all enemy units have been defeated all resources in the map are automatically collected and added to your resource pool.

Subsystems.You can now build subsystems that give your ships interesting capabilities as well as target enemy subsystems.Large ships (such as battle crusers, carriers, motherships) come with some standard subsystems that cannot be completely destroyed but can be dammaged to the point that they no longer function.This makes hit and run type attacks much more useful then they were previously since you can use them to dammage enemy capabilities or cripple enemy ships, while allowing access to some nice abilities should you chose to build some of the more unique subsystems.

The ability to capture any ship in the game has also been added.That is right, capture ANY ship in the game.Including motherships.In addition, the units which capture enemies are much less flimsy so while they do still need an escourt they can be counted on to not die immediately.

Fleet formations have also been added.While there are really only 3 choises for fleet formations, they really do make it easy to use ships of different classes together.When used properly these formations are extreamly powerful, however you need to learn when to use a formation and when to break it up.

There are a few things I am less than satisfied with however.It is for these reasons that I am only giving it a rating of 4 out of 5.

The first major thing I was disapointed with was the reduction on the number of formations.I remember that with the orrignal Homeworld there was a large number of fomrations to chose from.I kept wishing I had access to some of those, particularly the claw and the sphere.While it may be argued that the addition of fleet formations makes up for this change, I couldn't help but wish that I had access to many of the old formations.

The interface is something I am not 100% satisfied with as well.While I will agree that it is definately a step up from what was used with Homeworld, it does feel somehow cumbersome.I guess it is a function of too many menues when it comes to building units and researching.Even in this respect it isn't too bad though.

Also, the 3D nature of space has largely been ignored.This problem still existed in Homeworld, though it was a little less noticable there since they did fairly often launch surprise attacks from above or below.Homeworld 2 largely just uses the horozontal plane when it comes to combat.Units controled by the AI simply will not try coming from strange directions, but rather take a head on approach.Thankfully I was able to find a group of people to play with online who were not burdened with this problem.

My final real problem with Homeworld comes with the addition of a new unit: the shipyard.The reason for this has to do with multiplayer where its importaince overshadows even that of the mothership once it has been built.It has more subsystem slots than the mothership.It is the only unit which can build battlecruisers.It has all the capabilities that the mothership has and more.From a stand point of game ballance I can see why this may have happened (the game designers didn't want players skipping ahead in the research tree right to battlecruisers), however I cannot help but feel that if anything the shipyard should be more of a smaller mothership with more limited capabilities.Somewhere between a carrier and the mothership.

All that said, the game is still a wonderful game.It contains almost all of the orrignal Homeworld's good points, and gets rid of many of its bad ones with the introduction of few flaws.If you like the idea of controling an intergalatic battle fleet then I would definately suggest that you pick up this game.The campaign alone would be worth it, but multiplayer is where this game really shines since that is where you will see interesting tatics that can be used once the pesky notion of 2D is forgotten.

Visually stunning but shocking game play
In light of completing Homeworld 2 twice, the review is a brutal truth of what the game is---a game so challenging, so hard, it just simply isn't worth your bother. Ordinary gamers will derive no enjoyment from this. In a manner of words: this is a game with spectacular graphics, breathtaking naval fleet warfare, all hampered by arduous game play.

Fifteen missions long, the average player will find themselves struggling by just the fourth, if you finished the third by the skin of your teeth. Rapidly changing mid-mission objectives, wave after wave of enemy forces, you'd better be up to the challenge of preventing your shipyard from hostile takeover to graduate to the real fun.

Then mission 4 hits you, hard and heavy.

Players are simply not prepared so early in the game, after such breezy missions, for one of such difficulty. Continual enemy attacks never leave you alone, never giving you a breather, to collect resources, to replenish your ragtag fleet. Don't grin that smile yet, that massive frigate assault will wash it away. There's no time to get a feel for ship classes, what works best against which enemy unit, to experiment on new technologies. Took a stunning number of weeks to beat that mission alone. Just concentrate on bombers and pulsar corvettes and she'll be right mate. Homeworld 2, it seems, is one heavy mission after another, broken up by occasional missions so quiet you could sleep through them. Those restful missions would be ideal to build your fleet to full strength and maximum unit numbers.

A detrimental mistake!

An unbelievable attribute of the game---the stronger you are, the heavier the next mission's enemy forces will be. The astounding stupidity of this is simply shocking. Try full unit limits from the tenth mission onwards, when enemy forces are already considerable, you'll see. This isn't so bad, really, but it makes hill into mountain.

Homeworld 2 is a RTS game of its own, nothing like Starcraft-type games. Even the hardest Starcraft mission gave you time to rebuild a weakened army, fix your base up. You could explore the darkened map, tease the enemy from different sides. H2 won't let you do that. This game demands strict obedience to the mission objectives. You play to fulfil them, not your own agenda.

Even more absurd, whatever forces you have left you begin with next mission. Scrape a mission too finely, and what are your chances of survival, really, when come the enemy hordes, and come in numbers they will.

What H2 steals from you is enjoyment. This is for the determined player. Who doesn't want a challenge in a game? But it's not fun. Move! You can't sit idle at any time; you can't split your fleet up, to feint at an enemy base from different angles. You want to live, keep all eggs in one fleet.

The menu controls are shocking. Mouse scrolling doesn't work in H2. It takes valuable time to position and drag the tab down the page. You can't even press ENTER or ESCAPE keys, only mouse commands. Such is the Idiotic Intelligence of the developers, that you can't authorise commands with an ENTER tap. The screen panels where you click to load or save games are so slim you really have to position your mouse precisely over them.

The method of saving is a joke. Strict alphanumerical order, the starting letter or number determines its placement in the list. It's better to save games chronologically, like Starcraft and Jedi Outcast. In-game auto-saving works against you; replay a mission, and you might re-save over it.

Where in the game booklet does it say docked strike craft automatically repair? A tiny offhand mention in the Vaygr Battlecruiser. How would you think to dock your fighters when you need them active at all times?

Absurd to target warship subsystems (engines, weapons, etc) when destroying the ship takes just as long. Absurd to capture an enemy ship, not only from your strict unit numbers, but the ship will always target your marine frigate. Played game twice, still can't get cloaking technology.

Like viewing a sphere of blinking red and green dots all game long? You'll spend considerable time looking at your radar screen; it's the only way to see enemy units and positions, and easier to select targets.

Graphics are awesome, ship details commendable. Mouse-wheel scrolling permits easy panning and rotation of the camera angle. Fun to follow a bomber group on their attack runs, or zoom right in at besieged warships about to be missile volleyed. High comp system will avert the occasional slowdown when camera-close to a ship going nova; exploding capital ships are cool.

Mid- and inter-mission cutscenes are simple but satisfactory. Fleet Command voices sounds too similar; Makaan is chilling as the Vaygr warlord, smooth and polite.

Game music will become repetitive. Only two tracks stand out: the oriental Hindu-like music of the Keeper missions, and that brief heavy battle track in missions 9 and 12. Hammered by endless Vaygr fleets, your heart pounding as you brawl for survival, why the damn hell did they finish after two minutes? Superb and haunting, they rapidly faded back to that mundane battle music.

There is nothing special about mysterious Sajuuk, the one hope of your homeworld. Can't spoil you here, but the game designers are criminal fools to make the guy just that. And if that doesn't inspire your outrage, behold the short, simplistic final cutscene of the game.

This is Homeworld 2. Visually stunning, rigid game play design. You'd do well to think long and hard before sampling this farce of fun. All fine and fancy to spout rave reviews and the shine the five-star flag, but honest and informative feedback goes a long way to whisper the truth. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

IT IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!
it is the best game ever u have to play it so exitingand fun with realy cool movies even tho it is old it is still and will always be my favourite. Buy the game, play the mission, then go on the internet and play me at it cuz its the best game eva!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool game. Cool units and battles!
The very first Command and Conquer is extremely fun to play. The missions are exciting and can be challenging at times. You can get glued on this for hours, for fun, or you may be stuck on a complex mission for some time. GDI and NOD are both very cool sides, and both have exotic units and structures. Some of the mission play can be strategic or tank rush like. On the GDI mission in Hungary, you get to build a base and destroy NOD presence in the area. This includes: Their vehicles, infantry, structures, everything. I used many Medium Tanks + Humm Vees, barged into their base, and took out their construction yard and Tiberium Refinery. They were weakened after that, and a built several more Humm Vees and killed the Turrets and Hand of Nod. I built an APC, and filled it with engineers to capture the rest of that base. This was a somewhat strategic mission unlike some of the very first ones. For those of you who just began C&C, the missions will be challenging, and it will take you a while. In my opinion, this is the best NOD and GDI conflict game. If you finsh this game, try Tiberian Sun, but keep this winner.

Awsome
C&C tiberian dawn is the original and best strategy game ever. Originally released in 1995: the game still rocks!

Easily the best game ever created
Let me just say WOW.If you are the person that likes RTS games, and you don't own a copy of this game you don't know what RTS games are.This game game is phenominal.I bought it back in 97 and i started playing it single player.I loved it at first but it got boring.Then i decided to try the game out online.This game doesn't even get good till you have played it online.No game will ever be as fun as this game was to play online.THE BEST ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAME EVER.Unfortunately the online gameplay has died because it is such an old game.The game that started it all: Command and conquer Gold 95 will never be eclipsed by any other RTS game to come.

The game that started an epidemic!
This game changed the meaning of real time strategy gaming!The live action videos fill yuo in on what your next mission is and where you are in the game.The game has a variety of units from ground to air from the Brotherhood of Nods flame tank to the high flying GDI orca aircraft, learnig new strategies on how to command your troops and conquer your enemy! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

WarCraft II isn't exactly the freshest real-time strategygame on the market, but that doesn't mean it's any less fun than it usedto be. For those of you who missed it the first time around, WarCraftII is set in a fantasy realm where knights hack at trolls withswords, deadly spells crisscross the battlefield, and powerfulfortresses dot the landscape. The game pits the evil orcs against thehumans, letting players choose whichever side they want in a series ofbattles over the world.With the WarCraft II: Battle Chest, players can experience themagic of the original game along with the added enhancements of theBeyond the Dark Portal expansion pack. Rounding out the BattleChest is a complete strategy guide that will walk beginners throughthe basics and provide more experienced players with advanced tactics sothey can master the game. That's good, because players will need all thehelp they can get challenging other WarCraft II fans online. It'spossible to challenge one to eight other players on the developer's freeBattle.net servers, while more solitary gamers can immerse themselves inone of the fun single-player campaigns or stand-alone missions.WarCraft II's finely balanced gameplay has lost none of itscharm, even if the graphics are aging. In most missions you start with asmall force and must gather enough resources to build a strong base ofoperations that can field a formidable army. We had the most fun withthe set-piece battles, where we had to shepherd a few beleaguered troopsacross an enemy-infested map to either link up with a larger force onthe other side or protect a hero on his way to some goal. Blizzard isfamous for delivering games with terrific production values, timelessgameplay, and lots of extras, and the WarCraft II: Battle Chest isan inexpensive reminder of why the company has such a terrificreputation. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• A true classic with timeless gameplay
• Multiplayer mode is a lot of fun
• Plenty of campaigns and scenarios to satisfy the single-player set

• Graphics are showing their age

Features

• Support for Win95/98/NT and Macintosh
• Multi-player support for as many as 8 players via Battle.Net or IPX network
• Battle.net. play features Unique User IDs and a ranking system for worldwide challenge ladders
• Play as both Human and Orc in over 70 explosive missions across 4 epic campaigns
• Over 100 Blizzard signed and approved maps, newly built or redesigned and specifically balanced for multi-player games.

Reviews (68)

One of my all time favorite RTS games ever
Although Warcraft 3 and its expansion have come out within the last few years, I still prefer Warcraft 2 a bit more. Yes the game looks kinda dated now, but it is still a blast to play. The game was fun in that it never got too complicated or anything so that newcomers could always have a good time. The map editor was easy to use and the online play in the Battle.net edition will keep you busy for a while. Anyways, if you've only played Warcraft 3 then it might be difficult for you to enjoy this game since it is so old, but if your willing to look past the graphics then you'll find a real gem.

Oops
Great game.It looks like amazon actually posted a screenshot of warcraft I: Orcs and Humans, instead of a picture from this game.

Aging but still good
This game has definitely been around for awhile, but there's a reason it's still played.It's fun!The interface is easy to use, and the 'tech tree' aspect is fairly simple so that even people who haven't played other rts games should have to trouble learning it.

There are a couple of downsides to this game, though in my opinion they aren't much of an issue.One is of course that the graphics are definitely aging and nothing spectacular.It's nice to be able to quickly recognize your units so that you can make the best use of them (high detail can get in the way of that) but don't expect the graphics to wow you.Also, this game runs on a 2D engine, rather than the 3D engine that more recent games are using.

Secondly is that I wasn't incredibly impressed by the campaigns.They tend to get a little repetitive, so most of the time I find myself just playing a custom game.

Another similar game I might recommend instead of this one would be Starcraft.The graphics are slightly better, and the game is just as interesting.Then of course there is Warcraft III out now, which has a 3D engine and a couple of additional races besides human and orc.Aside from the things I mentioned, this game really is very good.I've been playing it for years and haven't gotten tired of it yet!

Best Game Ever- period!
Warcraft2 is an awesome game that has been around a lomg time...a classic. While some say that its graphics are aging, I love the undetailed, squat Orcs, among other things. Welcme to the World of Warcraft!!!

RTS legend.
This game is the first RTS game that I have played along with Starcraft and Lords of the Realm 2. But Lords of the Realm 2 (Starcraft is a whole diffrent stoty) didn't have what Warcraft had. The easy to get used to gameplay with great graphics in terms of running smooth, the very low system requirement, and the satisfaction of the Battle.net. I have not played this game since 2000 (Because my dad broke my CD. Read my Starcraft Battle Chest review.) so I don't know if anyone plays online now but all I know is that I had the most fun playing this game back in 2000. I remember the satisfaction that I had with my friends after beating the opponent with my ogres and the dragons. This game ran fine when I used to have Intel Celeron 400MHZ, 64mb ram, and 56k modem. So if you get this game right now, you shouldn't have any technical problems. Also this game is very easy to get used to with easy gameplay and great graphics for an outdated game. This game is definitly a must have if you are a RTS fan. You should know that Warcraft started it all. It started the great RTS gaming genre. ... Read more

Book Description

Law & Order: Dead on the Money is an exciting 3-D game based on an original, complex murder case created by a Law & Order TV writer. You'll step into the dramatic world of criminal investigation when you're called to a crime scene in Manhattan's Central Park. You and your partner, Detective Lennie Briscoe (actual voice of Jerry Orbach), will work to uncover the identity of the victim, gather evidence, track down witnesses, and identify viable suspects. Once you've got enough evidence to make an arrest, your supervisor, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (actual voice of S. Epatha Merkerson), will sign off on your warrant. Once you have the killer in custody, the focus shifts to the criminal courts. You'll work with Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn (actual voice of Elisabeth Rohm) to build a compelling case that will convince the jury to return a guilty verdict and convict the defendant. ... Read more

Features

• You are a Detective:
• Crime Scene: You and your partner, Detective Lennie Briscoe, arrive at the crime scene. Scout the entire area for clues and collect all the relevant evidence.
• Map: Use the map of Manhattan to get around town. Throughout your investigation additional locations will appear on the map as you develop new leads.
• Witnesses: You'll encounter many witnesses during your investigation. Pull out your notepad and fire away with your questions. Ask the right questions, get closer to the truth. Ask too many wrong questions and it's back to square one.
• Case File: Evidence and witness testimony you collect will appear in your Case File. Use the forms to order a lab test, surveillance, background checks or a psychiatric evaluation. You can also request search warrants and arrest warrants.

Reviews (56)

Would be fun if it didn't have a time frame
There is way too much stuff to be picked up and sent all over the place for testing and researching and whatnot. Unfortunately, some witnesses are only "unlocked" after you submit the right item, so unless you're quite fast picking up stuff etc. you can't solve the case within the allotted time frame.

This game would be very interesting and entertaining if they didn't cut off the investigation after a week (that's gime time, not real time).

Law & Order: Dead on the Money
This game is fun.This game makes you look and listen real good.If you like the show, you will love the game.

Good but needs improvement
I am a Law & Order addict and was thrilled when I came across this game.I couldn't wait to get it loaded on my PC, only to find it was frought with problems!Even after upgrading my memory, installing all the patches from the software manufacturer, and cleaning out my hard drive, I still had problems running the game.The speed was quite slow and I had difficulty getting from scene to scene because of this.Despite this, I was very interested in the game and the more difficult the "investigation" proved to be, the more I wanted to see what happened next!After many times failing, I finally made it through the "investigation" and on to "the courthouse," only to have the game freeze up when I was very close to solving the case!I was livid!I am in the process now of replacing my PC system and resolved not to play the game again until the upgrade is complete.

Despite all the problems, the game is quite interesting and the character roles are really close to the actual TV ones.I did have to use the hints on the manufacturer's website quite a bit, as I found the game quite challenging!After patrolling the same area several times, I finally wised up and went for the hints!Another reviewer stated that frequent saves are a must in case the game locks up and I agree completely with that statement.Saving your progress ever so often would prevent having to repeat the same parts of the game over in the event of a freeze-up or botched investigation.

I am looking forward to finishing the game and will purchase the second Law & Order game that is now available.I just hope it will have less technical issues than the first.

Best Game Ever!
It is a good game, interesting like the show. It's bad because it has a short time limit and freezes up every once in a while. But I would recomend it to Law & Order fans.

Yes, 4 stars...even w/ the bugs
I have to admit that at first this game seemed ridiculous. Going through weird pieces of evidence at the crime scene seemed like a waste of time to me and I didn't find the right thing for awhile so I was stuck. I felt a little silly sending cigarette butts to the crime lab. LoL. But once I got the hang of it, it was great. I was lucky to be able to check this game out for free at a local library. Otherwise, the bugs would have really bothered me. One other problem...for a game that stresses logic, the gameplay at time lacks it. I just thought it was odd that when something about a piece of evidence revealed something new about other evidence, the Researcher made no connection when you asked him for analysis again. Other than those things...and of course, the common error of the game freezing sometimes, it is well worth playing. Playing again? Maybe. It might be better to play the game in secret from another person, then have the other person play the game and you monitor their progress. That might be fun to see who solved it faster. ... Read more

Product Description

Manage "real" situations like crime, maintaining a budget, educating the citizens and natural disasters, while developing and maintaining the residential, commercial, and industrial areas of the city. ... Read more

Features

• For 1 player
• Control all aspects of your own city in this simulation game
• Create industry, transportation and housing
• Watch out for destructive forces of nature
• Protect your city from alien invation

Reviews (19)

Disappointed
When I first saw this game I was excited because I loved playing SimCity 2000 on the Sega Saturn.Unfortunately, instead of just downsizing and porting the game to the Gameboy Advance, they added stuff from the newer SimCity games.The controls aren't that good and the manual tells you nothing - which is that way for pretty much every EA game so no surprise there.It still is mildly entertaining for about a half hour or forty-five minutes at a time.If you were hoping for this game being like the older SimCity 2000 games on the Saturn or the Playstation, you will be somewhat disappointed with this game.

I Expected ALOT MORE
This game sucks I Havent even bought this game but my cousin did and when he came over I tried it, Its THE crappiest game ever. When ever you have a fire in your city you can only put a limited amount of firefighters on the scene(about 10)and when an alien attacks your town (how stupid is that!) You can only put about 8 firefighters and cops are limited to!+ You start with about 15000 (not alot)

Pretty Good
Hard, and sometimes frustrating, but still kind of fun. PC versions are much better, like Sim City 4 Deluxe. This is for only select people who like this kind of game. Features aren't great and it has confusing and hard controls. The idea is good but it could be better.
By the way, SimCity 4 Deluxe is one of the best PC games ever.

STICK WITH THE COMPUTER!
Ok this one was ok but it takes along time to scroll and where have the cars gone? Very tedious disasters such as the earthquake, screen shakes a little and that's it! ANd no highways or signs, and when you build things it gets this stupid "Loding" screen and what the heck where they trying to tell with the bumble bee? Also there is not much fun in it and the menu music sucks. Take a PC or Mac version of this, they are much better.

okay
it kinda glitches during disastors and while saving which can be very annoying.It can get very annoying because it takes so long to move places.the pc version is much much better.If you really need to play this game while on the go buy it but if you have a computer buy the pc version.I dont think they have the big buildings that hold thousands of people it got boring before i could find out.... I GUESS WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS I DONT LIKE IT.YOU MIGHT BUT I DOUBT IT. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With 3-D Ultra Lionel Traintown Deluxe, you can build theultimate railroad system without cluttering up the entire basement. Constructa maze of rail lines for freight and passenger trains to ship goods and peoplefrom place to place, become the engineer of a steam engine, or even manage severaltrains at once as they pick up and deliver needed goods to the factories near the track.

The game begins with a series of tutorials that outline the basic functions ofplay--driving trains, moving from track to track, and managing loads--beforepresenting a series of timed puzzle scenarios. Younger players may find even thesimplest of these scenarios too challenging, and may prefer the options that allow them(or their parents) to lay out train routes on their own. The electronic element alsoallows for some creative settings, such as scenarios set on the moon or the North Pole,or ones that include dinosaur farms.

Despite these fictional elements, the program's best feature is the level of realisticdetail it provides on the nuts and bolts of train systems. Each train car has a specificfunction, prohibiting players from loading inappropriate cargo. Track repairs, coupling anddecoupling cars, refueling, track switching--all of the basic concepts that rule the railroadsare covered in 3-D Ultra Lionel Traintown Deluxe.

Though its approach is low-key, it's also very educational, developing in young players anappreciation for how trains and railroads work--not to mention how food gets from the farmto the local grocery store. 3-D Ultra Lionel Traintown Deluxe may well be everythingboth a parent and a child could want. It's engaging, well designed, and informative. Best ofall, playing it is a lot of fun. (Ages 7 and older) --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My 4 year old loves this game!
My little boy loves trains.When I came upon the Traintown Deluxe CD I thought I'd give it a try.He loved it.And now at 5 he still plays the CD and has truly excelled at the different levels. I reccommend this CD for any train enthusiast at any age. Its the best money I've spent on a CD game in a long time.

Want A Real Train Game Try Trainz!
Don't touch it. This is the most horrible excuse i've ever seen for a train game ew! This a bad game for kids to get into trains oh i love Lionel but they are not so good at games stick to the O gauge stuff.But seriously folks don't waist your money on this game.How about Trainz very good game awsome! well fell free to SEE MORE ABOUT ME Bye!

You Should LOVE This Too!
I've played with trains, train sims, and even fixed Lionel trains once or twice, and I can say how wonderful this game is to me! It has wonderful train music, and 3D sound, 10 worlds from a regular living room to a fantasy land, and the models in this game look just like the real ones! There are over 80+ puzzles from super-duper easy to brain-twisting hard! There are EVEN cheat codes if you just can't solve the puzzle. I surely reccommend this game to everyone! I LOVE it and you should too!

Excellent!
This is an awesome game for train lovers of all ages.It starts of with simple tasks, memory games, and thinking puzzles.The difficulty increases and becomes more challenging, even for adults.There are jobs to build your own train yard, deliver freight to their destinations, or to keep the train from crashing.There's math puzzles, sorting skills, and even some alien invaders.This is MUCH better than Lego's Loco.

Perfect
I haven't seen a program that's more fun for a train buff than this one. I haven't hit the big time with it yet, but I can't get over the simplicity of use and the graphics it has.I'm amazed at how complete it is and find new things to enjoy each time I start it up. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The moderator of You Don't Know Jack might be the only game show host in the history of celebrity judges, buzzers, and door-number-fours to consistently insult the contestants. (Well, maybe Bob Eubanks on a really bad day.) But Jack gets away with it--plus a whole lot of stuff that Bob Barker has only dreamed of--in a Gen-X answer to the typical trivia game format.

There's a lot to be said for earlier incarnations of Jack, including the original moderator (newer voices seem to be doing a derivative imitation) and sparse graphics that seemed retrocool in a You Bet Your Life 1950's fashion. But You Don't Know Jack--Offline offers Internet connectivity as well as Wired Magazine/Matrix-influenced screen decor.

Aesthetics aside, the brilliance of the game is its intersection of pop-culture history--movie and television characters, primarily--with textbook knowledge. Questions are put through the Jack blender until a quiz emerges that includes particle physics and Starsky & Hutch. Because of the clever (and prevalent) double entendres, You Don't Know Jack--Offline isn't appropriate family fare. Instead, pick up a copy for your favorite procrastinating graduate school student. They might not finish their doctoral thesis, but their life will never be the same. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Recycled Jack, Needs a little work
YDKJOL isn't a bad game. It has more questions then the previous games in the durable PC series, The best host in the game-Cookie-is again at the helm making sure that your quest for game dollars is a sarcastic and smartallecky one, and those phoney commercials at the end of the game as alwaysare gold.So why not 5 stars?Well this game has got some flaws, but theyall mostly fall in the same catagory.One is that it takes away from game4, THE RIDE format, which in my opinion was the best.THE RIDE helped withthe looping question problem as well as the possiblity that anyone can winnear the end, unlike others where it is sometimes pretty obvious.Butsince this game supposed to be best of the netshow game, it wasunavoidable.The biggest flaw is the extreme re-use fo older jokes, musicand sound bites from previous games, particularly game 3.Offline was theframe to hold the new questions on, for those who do not get the netshow,but I guess the jokes and sound slipped off the side.Regardless, Offlineis not a bad game, it is YDKJ, it is still a blast, and if you haven'tplayed any of the games, it's a good place to start, and veterans will morethen likely want it too.Those veterans however aren't going to findanything exciting or new, with the exception of the new Pissed About aQuestion feature, a slightly new question type in which angry players whovented to the company with their frustrations get well, vented back.Overall, a good game, but it could have been better. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Nile calls once again as the Queen of Kings takes center stage in Pharaoh Official Expansion: Cleopatra, with four new campaigns for Pharaoh. Offering a completely new story line, starting with the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, this expansion pack includes the mysterious and exotic time of Cleopatra VII. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Addicting, very addicting...
I can spend five hours playing this game and not get bored. That's how I feel about most of these city-building games like Zeus: Master of Olympus and Caesar 3. The only thing I didn't like about this game was that you always had to put the industrial buildings very close to the homes or else there'd be no workers. Unfortunately that brings down the neighborhood appeal, and then your houses devolve. Also the gods can be somewhat hard to please. Of course, since the mission editor comes with this game, you could always edit a custom mission and limit the gods to 3 or so. Overall, this is a great add-on to an already fantastic game.

CleopatraOfficial Expansion
I enjoyed this game.Of all the sim games I prefere the ones like Pharoah, Cleopatra, Zues and Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom.

Shameless Cleopatra plug
I play many city building games but I always come back to this one.

Its pretty good
First of all you need egyptian background. you love the game for the first 2 months but after that youll have no intrest. It is a great game though its so real you trade with other cities and built monuments and basically build an egyptian city. 1 word of advice always keep seth happy

Great Game!
Addictive, fun, great lesson in foreign AND domestic economics, ancient Egyptian history.I absolutely love this game, and never get sick of it!Lots of different choices, and ability levels. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Great!
It's great being able to have more control over what your sims do for a living, how many friends they have, etc.

Adds new interest to Sims game
I tried the free online version of this, and it crashed my game, but the paid-for "pro" version works fine for me.You can create new career tracks, setting job requirements, salary, hours, and so forth.I've made some "real" jobs, which made the game interesting again after I'd played it to death.I've also made a Gambler track where they only work an hour a day but bring home lots of money, for when I want my characters to concentrate on training the dog or forming social relationships.More fun than "rosebud," and characters get the status of having a job.

Beware, It'll Crash Your Game!
Should've known better. If this program were any good, wouldn't Maxis itself be making even more money out of it?

Sure, it's a great idea, in fact, so good I--I who am usually a better consumer--ordered it right away without even reading the reviews.

The creating a career part works fine, but none of the other features seem to work. You can't test your career if you have Unleashed or above. If you can actually initialize your game, you might find the requirements you set for each job are all mixed up. And apparently every time you get a new expansion pack (which is, what? Every day now?), you have to restore the defaults and uninstall if you expect it to work (that's a hoot).

But the worst effect is, of course, the fact that now my game crashes during loading and dumps me back to the desktop, even after going to the scanty promo page Abacus calls home and downloading the Unleashed patch. If you're an avid Sims player, you'll certainly not envy my next task now: wading through Maxis's own nightmare help system, and inevitably trying several user suggestions before finally just winding up uninstalling this stupid program and losing all the joy I had in creating my stupid little career.

Oh, and read through the other reviews--apparently this program is to be had for free if you're good at searching. Not that getting it free is a good idea, it just would have hurt less than paying all this money, waiting for it to arrive, and then this hassle.

Beware! Beware!

WARNING: this program may crash your Sims game!
I picked this program up, hoping it would show me more than its free counterpart (available online) did.It failed to meet my expectations.

Though a nice concept, the execution of this idea left much to be desired.Editing and creating new careers proved to be not only difficult, but downright annoying, with this program's not-entirely-easy-to-use interface.

The worst part is this:after loading these new careers I'd made into the game, my installation of the SIMS crashed time and time again.This managed to bug the game in a nasty way.

I encourage you to spend your money on the next Sims expension pack, not on this product.

Not a very good idea - the earlier one was better
May I point out that I have an earlier edition of Career Creator, (version 3) that does exactly the same things?

It modifies anything the Pro version can, AND I got it FREE, that's not a free trial, from a site, which I cannot include, I found through a search engine. With the Pro edition, you will probably be charged more for the fact that it is user-friendly. Version 3 comes complete with a full tutorial, and you can get editing within minutes, all still free.

All in all, this may not be the best use of one's time, money and anticipation of it arriving, when downloading the 950kb WinZip file is a lot quicker and free. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The best ever!
I have quite a few modern games (Empire Earth, Age of Mithology, Rise of Nations, you name it!) but the aging Caesar3 is still my favorite, it is relaxing, fun, enjoyable. It is true you won't find zoom capabilities or fancy graphics or complicate interface, it is just the best! By the way, Sierra, where is Caesar4?

good city sims
cleopatra and pharo are some of my favorite city sims.I found ceaser 3 chunky and hard to play.But getting 3 games in one is a great value.Get ready to lose some major time here!!A good value.

Time-travel the easy way.....
I've played both Caesar III, and Pharoah, and enjoyed them very much. The graphics and sound are quite satisfactory, and the gameplay is very absorbing. The key to playing successfully is managing your resources efficiently.
If you fail to do so, you will have difficulty meeting your objectives. In one early mission, I made the emperor so angry that he sent legions to arrest me and destroy my town. I was given a different assignment.....pulling an oar in the hold of a galley : ( Challenges with the potential for glorious success or miserable failure is what makes the game interesting. If the game were too easy to win, then it wouldn't be interesting. The degree of difficulty is easily adjusted on a menu in the 'Options' if you wish to reduce the challenge.
So, build what you need in order to meet your goals, i.e. usually producing goods either to export profitably, or meet your own needs, and thus allow construction of facilities which raise the quality of life in your city. Just don't build too fast before you have a solid financial base.
I find that I tend to become very involved with the welfare of 'my' citizens. I love being able to do things which make my cities prosper, enhancing the quality of their housing, and providing a higher standard of living, etc, and likewise feeling badly for them when I forget to provide something, and they suffer as a result. The audio contributes greatly to this, when the population is happy, you hear them laughing and cheering, but when a plague strikes the city, they cough and moan piteously. Also, the sounds vary depending on what you are looking at, if your view is centered on a gladiator school, you will hear swords clanging against armor and lions roaring. If you are looking at a fountain, you may hear water trickling, etc.
Generally, detail on the buildings, and the animations for the various activities taking place are good. There are many different characters, each with distinctive costume, from the little kid happily skipping around the neighborhood of the school, to the long-bearded priest associated with the various temples.
Each mission in each game takes place in a different city. In Pharoah they also take place in a slightly different time, beginning around 3000 B.C.E, and moving forward through time.
When I play, I become very immersed in the games, feeling transported back to these eras, which to me indicates that Sierra did a great job in the overall design and implementation of the games. These are very worthy games by themselves, and expect to be spending a lot of time with them. I also look forward to playing Sierra's other games, Zeus and Poseidon.

Ron

Very good
The great Empires Collection is over-all a good buy.I would have rated this game four & 1/2 stars, but this was not an option.

The Games are a good mix, but all three games are basically the same.

Caesar III is difficult to an extent, and may get boring.The combat system is good, but it is hard to keep your houses from de-moting.

It takes a week or so, but Caesar III is easily to pick up.

Pharaoh is the same with the exemption of flood plains, roadblocks, and archers, chariots, and inpenterey instead of leagens, spearman, and mounted spearman; also you could build things like pyramids.

Cleopatra is the same as Pharaoh, but there are zoos, some new industries and pyramids building speed-up.

S.S.M.

These are the best challenging scenario games - They rock!!
I bought the Empire Collection just about a week ago now, and so far I have only played CaesarIII, but let me tell you, this game is exactly what one wants in a game: Great graphics, challenging scenarios, smooth running with your computer. CaesarIII is very addictive, as I realised one day when I woke up and spent from 9:30am till 4:00pm playing it. I was not even conscience of the time but even after all that time I still hadn't got bored. Personally, one thing I like is that it doesn't cause your computer to "stick up" even after playing it for hours on end. The graphics and sounds are like real life and it is really amazing how a game with such good graphics and sounds doesn't cause your computer to freeze after extended play. The only "con" I see in this game is that it is very time consuming and in many scenarios Caesar's demands seem impossible to met. You either have runned out of space or don't have enough money.
However, if you think you're a pro when it comes to strategy games, then I highly recommend you to buy "The Empires Collection". ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Best
This is the best game i ever played in my life

Where in Europe can I order this?
I'm a big fan of all the Police Quests series, and I'd love to have it. On this site, it can only be shipped within the US. Since I live in the Netherlands (Europe), I'm most unfortunate (what this is concerned) Has anybody got tips for me, where I can buy it in Europe??

All the cop action you can handle
From where it all began until Swat came out, this is the ultimate collection.Police Quest 1 (vga and svga) I liked the old version since the day i played it, it was much more fun, but both are great. Plice Quest 2 (vga) lots of fun, this was the first time i played it. Police Quest 3,4 (svga) both were great, 3 was better then 4, and 4 was... to put it nicely weird Swat. simply put fun for everyone who ever wanted to be part of the team. if you have or haven't played any of these games, get this you will enjoy it for hours on end.

Help Please Read!
In the pack that has PQ1,234&5 is the remade version of PQ1 in it? E-mail me at DBZ31689@aol.com, THANKYOU IF YOU HELP!

need help
I am in need for the hints manual for the first version of Police Quest. Please help me. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Unlike Age of Empires, which takes on a single slice of history,Empire Earth offers you the whole darn pie! You'll start a civilization,directing your cavemen to gather resources such as food, wood, gold, iron, andstone. Eventually you'll advance through every era of history, all the way tothe far-flung future where giant robots armed with lasers dominate thebattlefield.

Empire Earth is the first game from Stainless Steel Studios and Age ofEmpires co-creator Rick Goodman, and is everything that hard-core fans whoconquered the Age of Empires games could want. Stainless Steel Studiosmanaged to pack more sheer gameplay, units, options, and replayability intoEmpire Earth than any other real-time strategy game had before it. Bestof all, the game is very much based on the interface and gameplay concepts thatmade Age of Empires and its sequel so much fun, so players of the earliergames can jump right in.

The core concept should be familiar to any real-time-strategy fan. EmpireEarth has your citizens (called peasants in Age of Empires) gatherresources so you can build various buildings and units. You have to gather wood,gold, stone, and food, as in the earlier game, but Empire Earth adds ironto the mix. Food is gathered from various colorful animals dotting the map, woodfrom forests, and the minerals from deposits scattered around. Gather enoughstuff and you can advance through the ages; there are 16 of them here, fromhumankind's prehistoric past all the way to the future some 200 years hence. Atthe beginning, you'll be fielding club warriors, and at the end, massive robottanks. In the middle you'll build archers, knights, infantry, tanks, etc. Alltold, the game features 20 buildings and some 200 units.

One major innovation is the full 3-D graphics engine. The engine lets you rotateand zoom in anywhere, which yields some impressive visuals. More strikingly, thegame engine can showcase huge numbers of units in full conflict, and you willsee massive battles throughout the ages. The game offers full multiplayer,several historical scenarios, a campaign mode, and a random map generator thatcan be tweaked to play in any age against any number of opponents, which is agreat option.

There are other key differences that set Empire Earth apart from thepack. You can build prophets, who can then summon mighty calamities on yourenemy. Think of them as divine spells. You can start a plague, call a rain offire, or summon a massive earthquake, for example. Artillery, aircraft, andnaval powers are also represented. You can staff your outposts with citizens tomake them grow into more efficient town centers, thus increasing your power overthe map and control of resources.

This complexity is the game's greatest strength, but also its biggest weakness.This isn't a game for the timid, the new, or the slow. If you thought Age ofEmpires was complicated when compared to other real-time fare such asWarCraft, you haven't seen anything yet. This sophistication can be a badthing for new gamers, but Age of Empires players looking for a newchallenge are in for a treat. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Plenty of units and ages to explore
• Impressive new 3-D graphics

• Too complex for casual gamers
• High difficulty

Reviews (248)

Crushing Good Fun, yes, yet somehow troubling
Empire Earth is an extraordinarily well put together game from almost any objective, "within the genre" perspective, as other reviews have mentioned the unit balance and combined arms aspect is excellent.The challenge factor is very high, and it's difficult to get much ahead of the AI in the normal game mode.You can have a LOT of units in exsistence all at once, and I often found myself wishing I could deputize other players, for example, to command my navy or helicopter fleet while I led the army or managed the economy.The game is a ton of fun, addictive, and will get inside your head.

And yet.There's no real way to negotiate with the computer players, and the goal of the game is either wonder construction or utter conquest.I almost always chose wonder construction, and the computer attacked my wonders with godawful savagery.When you're able to defend the wonders or crush all the other non-allied players, you win, and that's that.The creators of the game are either just looking to make a game and not a world sim, or are Machiavellian, zero-sum worldview security nuts of the Cleonic stripe.I eventually stopped playing the game altogether, because I couldn't deal with the endless war and the fact that the game gives you no way to make a lasting peace with your enemy.I feel this limited the game's replay value, and I wonder what the implications are, if such games are influencing a large number of people's worldview.We live in a troubled world ourselves, and we need to believe that peace between many nations is possible.Sadly, in Empire Earth, it is not.

coooooooooooooooooooool$$$$$
this game is the best game i played.don't believe those layers this game is fantastic with cool grabics you can't stop playing it.if you want to buy it buy it dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its the best!
This game is the best! You get to build walls (unlike any other stretagy games) which has high hit points (HP) to protect you from most enemies and it can help your team mates!Building walls is fun! you can even put gates! Heck why am I saying this to you? You should play the game yourself and see if you like it!

No Title
Even though it's not really fair, I tend to compare Empire Earth to Age of Empires II in my mind because they're so similar.Also since I'm a huge fan of Age of Empires II.

Empire Earth is a really nice game.The grapics are nice, it's nice to be able to select more than 40 units at once, it's great to be able to play from prehistoric times to the future and I like how modern prophets are basically bums wearing doomsday cardboard signs.It's really fun.It's amusing to create scenarios where you can have panzers fighting against hordes of swordsmen or rock throwers.The vast ammount of time it covers allows a lot of flexibility in creating your own scenarios.

My biggest complaints (that aren't significant enough to actually dent my opinion of the game) are the lack of Age of Empires II features.Maybe this is unfair because they're different games, but I miss being able to trade surplus resources in the market for resources I really need.I also don't like not being able to create trade cogs or trade carts.

However this is a fantastic game that every strategy gamer should at least try.

Much better than Age of Empires
While Age of Empires only lets you control the far past, Empire Earth includes the past, the present, and even the future.There are a lot of great units which evolve as you progress through ages.The graphics are also much better than those in AOE.It is also full 3D.Also, the different scenarios, units, and structures are historically accurate.This includes the ancient Greeks and Romans, WWI, WWII, and much more.If you liked Age of Empires, you'll love Empire Earth.I highly recommend it. ... Read more