Reviews (2)

Can't beat this suite of diverse and creative games
I really can't say enough about this package of creative games:Bugdom 2, Cro-Mag Rally, Billy Frontier, Enigmo, and Otto Matic.Each game has its own style and theme; the diversity is outstanding.All of them demonstrate the same quality of graphics, music and versatility of action as the original Bugdom.Since I loved that software, this package wasn't a hard sell for me.Brian Greenstone of Austin, Texas is the owner of Pangea Software which recently incorporated in 1999.He contracts artists and musicians, so it makes sense that some of the products in this package have a distinct look and feel.The background style, weaponry, and action of Bugdom 2 and Otto Matic, are reminiscent of Bugdom, yet the games are different enough that they have an element of excitement, mystery and surprise.I was drawn into each new level of each game with"so, what's going to happen here?!" I love games with a quest and I love exploring new frontiers within each level.All of the games were rated high by the gaming magazines and most have downloadable demos on the internet for folks to sample before investing in the pack.All in all, the total price for each game purchased separately is $115, so the Super Pack is quite the bargain.I can't imagine how many hours of great exploration this package might offer.It would be a great gift for older children on travel with their laptops (ok, with their parent's laptops!).

Bugdom 2 revolves around Skip, the grasshopper (at least I think that's what it is) who loses his knapsack to a bad bug right in the opening scene.On his quest to retrieve his sack he has adventures with snails, friendly talking chipmunks, white rats caught in mouse traps, water toys, and garden gnomes (you know, those ugly little statues in English gardens).There's even more bad and good bugs, but that should give you a flavor for this rich and varied landscape.I had trouble sewer-surfing and still haven't mastered the last few levels, but found this game to be equal to the original in fun and required skill.

Otto Matic is a space nightmare over ten different planets or levels.The Giant Brain from Planet X is determined to take over the universe and the player, in the form of an otto matic robot, of course, is out to save humans and escape in his/her rocket ship (Thanks, Brian Greenstone, for not making this one gender -specific).There are 25 different space creatures and many different weapons in this colorful and action-packed game.The robot tries his/her hand at skiing, riding soap bubbles, bumper cars, and being shot out of a cannon, but that's not all.Very cool game with loads of diverse settings and tasks to master.

Cro-Mag Rally is a series of race courses involving a caveman in different vehicles.He avoids obstacles and picks up weapons like bone bombs and bottle rockets.Two players can be displayed on a split screen; multi-players can play over the internet(but the last is only supported by OS 9 and won't work with OS X).I'm not a race fan, so this one didn't appeal to me that much.Key driven only, this game doesn't use the mouse.I didn't like the voice or music in Cro-Mag Rally either, so I guess it just wasn't for me.

Billy Frontier is different altogether from the games already mentioned.It has a strong cowboy theme and the enemies are space creatures.Maybe it's better to kill a space monster, but the game does involve squirting blood... over and over as the player masters the keystrokes to win.I wouldn't recommend it to kids and was even a little grossed out myself.Target practice involves replicating arrow key sequences within the time allowed.The action is keyboard driven only; like Cro-Mag Rally, there's no mouse here.There's also stampedes, duels, and shootouts requiring different levels of skill and a repeating theme with chili peppers.The look and feel of the game is totally distinct from Bugdom, Otto Matic, or even Cro-Mag Rally, so it offers interest, a distinct change of pace, and a totally new challenge to the player.

Enigmo is still even more different.The action in this game requires logic and experimentation in solving 50 levels of liquid puzzles.Each level involves droplets of liquid (water, oil or lava) and a variety of tools (including bumpers, slides, accelerators and/or sponges).The object of each level is to combine the objects in a manner to capture the droplets in a repository or repositories.It's an amazing challenge given the configuration from "drip" to "bucket."I loved trying to figure out which tools to use where and the variety of combinations that were possible.I'm told that players can even make their own puzzles and post them on the internet or email them to friends.The game includes an additional 20 levels for kids; I could see the educational value right away.Very different and very cool!Excellent exercise in logical thinking for all ages.

Each game has different system requirements, but for all games to run, the user must have Macintosh GS3/400mhz, 256MB RAM, Mac OS 10.2.6, and ATI Rage 128 3D accelerator.Most computers since 2000 meet these requirements, but be sure to check.Pangea is also great in supplying free updates to its products.

Great Fun!
This is a good deal on some of Pangea's most popular titles.I'd rate each game like this:1) Otto Matic -- best game of the bunch, extremely creative, somewhat challenging, though it seems to be written with kids in mind, hence not too tough, great graphics.2) Enigmo -- fantastic puzzle game, never seen anything quite like it.Very challenging, especially if you try to beat the clock and get the bonus points, great graphics.3) Bugdom 2 -- also extremely creative, easier than Otto Matic to complete, suitable for kids, great graphics.4) Cro Mag Rally -- this was ok, I'm not a fan of racing games, but it's very suitable for someone looking for a cartoonish racing game.5) Billy Frontier --This game was mediocre and I would've rather see some other game included in the collection instead of this one.Besides average game play, I didn't care for the spewing blood that frequents the Billy Frontier experience and stands in stark contrast to Pangea's record of making fun, yet psychologically sound games.I contacted Pangea, and they said there's no way to turn off the blood effects which makes Billy Frontier, imho, unsuitable for children or anyone with a sense of humanity 8-) ---------------------------------------Overall, it's a nice collection at a reasonable price.Each game ran perfectly at max settings on my 1.25gz G4 Power Mac running 10.2.6 w/ 768 MB of memory.My only other complaint is also part compliment.Of the games I liked, which was 4 out of 5, I found each game a bit short and left me wishing for more.10 levels on Otto Matic is not nearly enough! ... Read more

Product Description

The ultimate shopping mall simulation has returned!

With radically enhanced graphics, a streamlined and improved user interface, more staff and items to unlock, and the ability to build up to 9 stories high, Mall Tycoon 2 offers all the great playability and fun of the original game and much, much more.

This entertaining sequel still lets you design, build and manage the shopping mall of your dreams, with drastic improvements to every category of game play. Customize your mall with a virtually infinite combination of shop types and decor, hire staff members and balance your payroll. Unlock over 75 new items and staff members and add improvements like heating systems, solar panels, plumbing and exotic plants to turn your mall into a true shopping Mecca.

Watch as hundreds of customers shop, eat, rest and interact in an ultra-realistic 3D environment filled with surprises. Run promotions such as fashion shows and circuses and watch your revenue increase. Will you design become the utopian model of state-of-the-art shopping complexes? Or will it quickly degenerate into a modern-day nightmare filled with angry, frustrated shoppers? It's up to you whether your mall thrives or dies! ... Read more

Features

• Features enhanced graphics and a new, improved interface
• Build, design, and manage your own shopping mall
• Choose from up to 462 unique store models
• Hire and fire mall staff, and set rent for individual shops
• Content with random events like floods, fires, and criminals

Reviews (29)

Rome - and apparently the mall - wasn't built in a day
Okay, first off, this game plays quite nicely on my system, which is only a few months old and rocks righteously.

I built two malls and promptly went bankrupt both times before I went online searching for a strategy guide or cheat codes.[Caveat - no cheat codes apparently exist.I think all simulations should have cheat codes for impatient people like me who just want to get down to the business of building and not futz around with legitimate strategy.I found plenty of sites that claimed to have codes, but they all worked on MT1, not MT2.]

I found a detailed strategy guide by a regular player type (who obviously has more patience than an army of preschool teachers) by the name of "soldyne" that does a pretty good job of explaining the game and how to actually make a profit and keep playing for a long time.

The biggest tip I can offer is G-O S-L-O-W.If you try to research everything all at once or hire expensive staff right off the bat or fill up your mall with all the objects too early, you won't be able to recover, even with loans.

Build the mall that soldyne suggests.Start small and expand only when you're making a profit.Expand slowly, going up rather than out.Watch your shops carefully and adjust rents and sales cut according to their performance.

For ten bucks, I've found this to be a pretty fun simulation game.It just requires a lot of patience - maybe more than $10 worth.

Waste of time, money and energy
This is undoubtedly the worst simulation game to have ever been released.The graphics are poor, even at the highest resolution; the game is both confusing and uninteresting; and the scenarios are, at best, uninspired.Don't bother with this game...buy Tropico, Zoo Tycoon, or something else designed by people with talent.

NOT the greatest game
Installing mall tycoon 2 wasn't the problem but getting the game to work for more then 15 min at a time was the challenge. It would send me back to the desktop after the first 15-20 min. into it. I finally found a patch on the internet witch solved the problem, but after I finally got the game to work it wasnt as fun as I thought it would be. Its hard to understand how to play and when you do get the hang of it its imposible to keep your mall from going bankrupt (even with loans). Its just not worth the money or time to figure it out! I wish I would of read the reviews before I bought it. I strongly recomend not wasting your time with it.

THIS GAME DIDN'T WORK FOR ME & IT PROBABLY WON'T FOR YOU!!
When I saw the Mall Tycoon 2 game at my school book fair, I was so excited that I could get it and I thought it would be so fun to play. My Mom bought it for me forValentines Day and I immediatly installed it on my computer. This took a while, but finally it completed. I crossed my fingers, hoping it would work b/c my cousin said it didn't work on her comp. when I bought her the same game for her bday. At first, I thought it was working but after all the names of the company's flashed by, it went back to my desktop. I tried everything and it still won't work. Mabye my system isn't up to date enought; i don't know. But after skimming through the other reviews, I think that the company that made this game is not that great since the other 1's said the same thing. DON"T BUY THIS GAME; IT IS A BIG RIPPOFF!!!!!

Dose not work.Waste of money
I got the first mall tycoon for my birthday last year and it didn't work I took it back 2 times and got new ones and none of them worked. When mall tycoon came out I got it again for my birthday, I'm a huge fan of these kind of games have them all. But just like the first one the first 4 times I loaded it and it didn't work and when it did it didn't work good. Its a waste of money and a big disappointment, I was very excited by the concept of building the mall but all that happed was that i was disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description

These Are No Longer Being Made These Are Some Of The Last Ones So Get Yours Now! But Hurry Before They Are All Gone! ... Read more

Reviews (40)

THIS GAME IS THE BEST
I bought this game when I was 9 years old. It became my favorite game. In the game you have to take care of norns, ettins or grendels(you decide!)
You can breed norns and ettins in the same world together, of course you can also have grendels there, but the problem may be, that the grendels can sometimes kill norns and ettins, so I recommend to breed grendels in separate world. The fan-made addons all around the internet make the game much more interesting to play! Norns are cute, so are ettins(they've became my favorite breed, lately) and (suprise!)I also think that grendels are cute! I highly recommend this game to everyone above the age of 8.

Amy`s ConsumerReport
Cretures 3 is great!Be careful about grendels. They can kill your Norns. If you create more than six woulds a wourld will go down.Click on arrows to reach it.IT I`s a pain installing but i`s wourth it! It also needs connpatibillidy.Buy Cretures 3 and other creatures games. It needs a user manual. I like this game because I like annimals plants and any Cretures.

Wow!!! Love this game!
This is the best game ever! By the way, norns are WAY hardier than belived and with a watchfull eye they can thrive easily.

Hint: If you're worried about grendels, just get 2 eggs before they hatch and put them in water! No more grendels!

I think the medical pod is really cool, you can see if your norn is sick, and then you can help it. The machines are really cool too, you can connect them to make super machines to help you or your norns.

Overall, this is a really cool game, and should get it!

Not for casual gamers...
Unless you invest considerable time reading the manual or online websites on how to play the game, you can accomplish nothing with this game.I spent a couple of hours trying to make sense of the game, and trying to see if I could understand the basic activities and goals, and ended up feeling very frustrated as I could figure out nothing.Absolutely nothing.Compare this to best-sellers like ... where even a novice player can enjoy the game at a basic level without having to study a manual.Yes, I know, Creatures 3 does not fit into your typical game genres, but that is *all the more reason* for having a good in-game help / guidance system for novice players.I should know - I have worked in the game industry for 9 years ...

Possible best game ever!
You might look at Creatures 3 and think "for babies" or "how stupid is THAT!" that is not true. this is possibly the best game ever, not excluding Star Wars Jedi Knight 2, or Star Trek Elite Force. This was my third Creatures game, the first (Creatures Playground) was a little young, Creatures 2 the second was kinda pitiful (don't buy that one), but this one blows them out of the water. The peaceful, explorer norns have left there home world in a shee ship, but it was ambushed by the grendels, and the shee went to the planet, leaving the norns to fend for themselves- with your help. The ettins are engineers that, for some reason, take all the stuff to there terrarium. The grendels are villans, bullies, and almost vicious-looking. They, for some reason, take all the norns and attack them.
The ship is full fledged, with a bridge, engineering section, Norn terrarium (green grass, trees, a pond, and a learning center. I use the learning center to stash stuff like the ettins) ettin terrarium (desert, with a volcano) Jungle terrarium (grendels, jungle and pirahnas) Aquatic terrarium (kind of a hobbie center, a garden, or maybe a off duty lounge). A hint: when you find the control for the grendels and ettins, throw the grendel in one of the airlocks and just shut the door.

I don't reccomend this if you don't have much time, but if you do the price would be worth it up to $$. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This first collection of Battleground games has a decidedlyNapoleonic theme, and is a terrific way for fans of Talonsoft's acclaimed CivilWar games to get better acquainted with this exciting time in military history.

You can begin at the end (for Napoleon, anyway) with Battleground 3:Waterloo, then progress to later games in the series: Battleground 6:Napoleon in Russia--The Battle of Borodino, and Battleground 8: Preludeto Waterloo--The Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras. Rounding out the packageis Age of Sail, a real-time naval warfare simulation that lets playerscaptain vessels in many conflicts, but mainly those that took place during theNapoleonic wars. This was the weakest game of the bunch, but it still delivereda great deal of fun.

We were more drawn in by the land combat games, which model Napoleonic battleswith a great deal of realism despite their turn-based structure. The battleslisted in the titles are included (some are broken into pieces for easier play),along with numerous hypothetical engagements that provide some interestingpossible answers to the questions that students of these battles ask most often.

These titles have some of the best terrain and unit graphics ever to grace thewar-game genre--it's almost like playing with miniatures. Cavalry charges andhistorical unit formations are modeled very well, making this a must-havecompilation for fans of the period and war-game fanatics of all stripes. --T.Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Fun games model a fascinating time in military history
• Nice graphics for a war game

• Age of Sail seems like an afterthought for the bundle
• Lack of printed manuals makes the games more difficult to learn than theyshould be

Reviews (1)

Napoleon in Decline
This Battlepack by Talonsoft allows the the diehard wargamer a last chanceto succeed where the mighty French Emperor failed on land and at sea. TheBattleground series has never looked or worked better than in thischessmatch type turnplay.Napoleon in Russia offers you a chance todestroy the Russian Army of the Czar at Borodino. Having chased theRussians from the Elbe to this small town outside Smolensk, the RussianArmy finally decides to stand and fight. In what was the largest battle ofthe Naploenic period to that point, whether the Russians or the French andallies you have tremendous forces at hand. As Napoleon will you commit theguard And finish the Russian Army ?. Napoleon chose not to do so, as theywere his last reserve on the March to Moscow. You face no such dilemma.This is the only shortcoming, a lack of context as to how your success orfailure affects an entire campaign. If you care about context try the nexttwo, Prelude to Waterloo and Waterloo. Where your success or failure inPrelude to Waterloo can be used to setup Waterloo. No excuses here, youcontrol the campaign from start to finish. Command and control allows youto better co-ordinate the destruction of the Prussians at Ligny, therebyremoving them from the battle at Waterloo. Prelude offers a chance to winthe campaign on the first day where the Emperor`s Army failed. We do notwant to hear about your piles or the failure of your subordinates. The fateof the Emperor`s 100 Days is in your hands. All three offer vastbattlefieds, a variety of units and will truly test your tactical abilitiesin the warfare of the period. Morale and organization are key. Cavalrycharges can be deadly, but must be timed perfectly. Infantry, the queen ofbattle, can be used in a variety of formations. They are the key tovictory. Combined arms tactics must be used or your forces will bedestroyed piecemeal. The chance to plan the last great campaign of Napoleonis a must for the Napoleonic enthusiast or the Wellington who wants to showit was more than just a bad day for the Emperor. From Dry land we turn tothe sea. Was it all " rum sodomy and the lash"? Play any one of anumber of Nations. Are you a Nelson? or a Villeneuve? Refight the Battlesof the Nile or Trafalgar or smaller fleet actions. Can you lead the Frenchto that ever elusive naval victory? Ships of all classes are represented.Realism includes prevailing winds, crew experience, ship quality battleformations, you can almost smell the salt air.Is this too glowing of areview? These games really highlight the turn-style gameplay of theBattleground series better than any others. The system and the games workwell together.The land battles are Leviathans, but can be played insmaller actions, although there is a unique feeling trying to recreate anentire battle or campaign and change history. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

When Alexey Pajitnov, creator of Tetris (one of the most addictive games of all time), designs a new puzzle title, fans everywhere perk their heads up and take note. While it's not quite up to the irresistible standard set by its legendary predecessor, Microsoft's Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition was named Puzzle Game of the Year by the Electric Games website, and offers hours of nonviolent, uncomplicated enjoyment through its 10 different types of puzzles.

Nearly all of the Pandora's Box conundrums resemble the traditional jigsaw puzzle, though you'll find plenty of visual twists, such as sliding pieces on a circular plane or having to solve a puzzle built on a complex 3-D object. Some deviate from this formula, but the most addictive puzzles follow this model, and those provide the most extended--and replayable--diversions.

For those overwhelmed by complex computer games, Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition offers a simplistic interface and basic rules, easing computer novices into the puzzle environment. This edition features 40 new puzzle games, as well as the original 350 puzzles from the original Pandora's Box. There are five difficulty levels, plus various hints and wildcards that remove the frustration factor when you're unable to complete a particular puzzle. Looking for new puzzle games to replace your Tetris addiction? Check out Alexey Pajitnov's engrossing Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A Puzzling Experience.
Loved the game. Still do. I have played it many times before, just to get a better understanding of the different puzzles included in the game, and also to try and better my personal scores. If there is a better puzzle game out there, I would like to see it. It has kept me captivated hours on end each time I open up a new account for play, and I will keep playing it for years to come for that reason.

A computer game for people who don't play computer games
Pin ball makes me grit my teeth, other computer games are either too violent, too complicated to figure out how to play or too juvenile. But Pandora's Box is the exception. It's the game for lovers of geography, art, history, mythology and for jigsaw puzzle lovers. The graphics are stunning, the music, while not the best feature, lends the right note, changing from African drums to a Caribean beat to pomp & circumstance depending on what parts of the world your game takes you. If you don't want to keep score you can also solve the puzzles on their own. This is my second copy and I hope Microsoft brings out a third installment with new puzzles.

A computer game for people who don't play computer games
Pin ball makes me grit my teeth, other computer games are either too violent, too complicated to figure out how to play or too juvenile. But Pandora's Box is the exception. It's the game for lovers of geography, art, history, mythology and for jigsaw puzzle lovers. The graphics are stunning, the music, while not the best feature, lends the right note, changing from African drums to a Caribean beat to pomp & circumstance depending on what parts of the world your game takes you. If you don't want to keep score you can also solve the puzzles on their own. This is my second copy and I hope Microsoft brings out a third installment with new puzzles.

Most intriguing
...

I had played it at a friend's house, and enjoyed it immensely.
A young student and I spent hours just having fun with it.Each puzzle opens up a new dimension.A new way to look at a problem to solve it.

Encourages thinking and problem solving.
I don't know why Microsoft discontinued it, but I found it to be most thought provoking.
Mr. Gates, get it back out there.

Give me more!
Our family has delighted in playing this game for several years.We've enjoyed the variety of puzzles and the various challenges offered at each of the levels.And beyond that, we've enjoyed the photography and art that is featured in the games.I have looked in vain for other computer games that are as enjoyable...until I saw that there is a millenium edition of Pandora's Box with 40 more games.I am so disappointed that I can't find a copy that I plan to search for a used one.After 7th Guest and 11th hour games were exhaused, we revelled in Pandora's Box.I long for more of these challenging types of computer games. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Are there any computer and video game players that haven't dreamed of piloting an intergalactic starfighter against an overwhelming enemy assault? Perhaps there are--but if you share that dream, you can live the vision, at least in computer game form, with Interplay's high-octane space combat simulation FreeSpace 2.

Placing you in the role of a nameless, but extremely able, Terran pilot, FreeSpace 2 continues the complex story first introduced in its predecessor, Descent FreeSpace: The Great War. Over 30 years have passed, but the nefarious, spiderlike Shivan race continues to threaten Earth and its peaceful ally, the Vasudan Empire.

Over the course of 30 new single-player missions, a dynamic tale of both civil war and armageddon unfolds; the improved storyline is just one of several sequel improvements. FreeSpace 2 implements the most impressive 3-D graphics of any space-combat simulation to date--prepare to feast on mammoth capital ships, missile trails, detailed ships, and eye-opening, screen-filling explosions. Many FreeSpace 2 missions occur within dense nebulae. The immersive, clouded environment offers intense dogfighting gameplay to match the dazzling visuals. When you're finished with the single-player campaign, hop online and compete against others, in both team and solo warfare, on Volition's online service. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (32)

The all-time pinnacle of space sim games?
I remember getting an ad for the original Freespace just before it came out back in 1998 and mentally dropping my jaw at the "life-sized" starcruisers exhibited in the glossy fold-out I'd been sent. I bought the dramatically titled "Descent: Freespace - The Great War" and enjoyed it immensely. Not since the release of the first two Wing Commander games had a computer game blown me away in quite the same way.

A couple years later, I was in the minority in hearing about the release of this, the sequel. The same amazing graphics (updated to accomodate Moore's Law, of course) with added features like nebula effects and beam weapons -- something for which sci-fi sim fans have clamored for ages -- are instant buying incentives. But most importantly, these games have a plot worth paying attention to, which, keeping the short attention span of the game playing populace in mind, explains why Freespace 2 sold as poorly as it did. That Interplay (FS2's publisher) barely promoted it probably didn't help much, either (I never got a glossy fold-out about Freespace 2).

It's honestly bewildering to look back on how badly this series apparently fared; the original's main competition at the time was Wing Commander: Prophecy, a shameless and despicably cartoony co-opting of the franchise name that most closely resembled an ugly, speed-addicted old hooker wearing too much makeup. A "Moulin Rouge" to Freespace's "Return of the Jedi." For many, Freespace 2's failure marked the sad end of an era for the genre.

More recent contributions to the field of space sims include Starlancer and Freelancer, two games from the original creators of Wing Commander. Starlancer is the gaming equivalent of the Wing Commander movie (you know, that endlessly terrible suckfest starring Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Chris Roberts's ego), taking Chris Roberts's strange obsession with World War II in space to an illogical and tedious extreme.

Freelancer has breathtaking graphics going for it, but its plot and gameplay leave something to be desired. It's overreaching goal of creating a living, breathing universe fails since Digital Anvil's idea of a "living, breathing universe" is apparently synonymous with a big game of Madlibs in space, turning Freelancer into a mildly amusing diversion a couple notches above a screensaver. And as far as repetitive shoot-the-monster role-playing games go, Diablo II has it beat quite soundly in terms of both replayability and sheer fun factor.

As a political footnote, Volition (FS2's developer) was forced out of their contract with Interplay a while back. In lieu of being able to make a Freespace 3, the source code to Freespace 2 was made available to the public. Since then, an outpouring of freelance talent has created such interesting projects as "FS2_Open" (largely a graphical updating of Freespace 2 to take advantage of advances in video card technology and processor speed) and the "Wing Commander Saga," a Freespace 2/Wing Commander mod. If the included FRED (FReespace EDitor) wasn't enough to keep one occupied playing user-created missions, the near-unsettling drive of the FS2 mod community is sure to create literally endless replayability for this series.

As far as space sims go, the duology of Wing Commander and Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi will forever sit as kings of the hill in my view, but Freespace 2 takes an entirely respectable second place. It's well worth the lofty prices one is forced to shell out these days in order to get a full, working copy, especially considering the thriving mod community surrounding the game.

Freespace 2 artfully balances style and substance. Volition made a visually-stunning masterpiece with a pulse that, while not as intimately cinematic as the Wing Commander series, skillfully sets the "suspension of disbelief" button in the gamer's mind to "On." This is the real deal. You can't go wrong with Freespace 2, no matter how you slice it.

Man this brings back Memories
I just got this game from a friend who just happened to not want it anymore and let me tell you,,,I am having fun. Pretty good story and acting is not bad, graphics are still on par. I remember the wing comander games and by far this blows those away. If you can't afford the 95.0 dollars, like who can?
Get it if you can this is a great game.

The best space combat game ever created by human hands!
This game will check the meaning of the word "game" for you.

1.) Deep, well-writen sci-fi plot.

2.) Incedibly dog-fighting action

3.) Capital ships have huge beam cannons that can punch right through hostile ships (awe-inspiring). Bottom line here, the graphics rock!

4.)Dozens of user-made campaigns online. Done with the main campaign? Go download some more.

5.) Amazing battles and dogfights composing of seemingly endless swarms of allied and hostile fighters.

6.) Rise through the ranks, earn medals, and even acquire your own squadren to command.

7.) Great multiplayer modes!

8.) An excellent mission editor which allows you to easily, and quickly, create missions of pro developer quality...without any programming!

9.) Some missions are very non-linear. So sometimes what you do in one mission, effects the next mission (fail to destroy a cruiser? It may just show up in the next battle).

10.) Amazing cutscenes, better than any other game i've ever played.

11.) High replay value.

12.) Heck, everything about this game rocks.

Bottom Line:

This game blows away any other space combat game! BUY THIS GAME NOW!

The greatest Space Simulation ever created
Though this game is coming up on 5 years old, it has aged very well.I have replayed the game more times than I ever had any other game.You will see why it is THE benchmark upon which all other space sim games are based.It's a travesty that it didn't get more credit and press.If you enjoy combat flight simulations and you haven't played this one, you're missing out.Play it; you won't be disappointed.

Now if only Volition would release a Freespace 3!

Sadly.. still is the best
The only competence is Starlancer and Freelancer.. but still they don't enough good.

Stunning graphics (even for a pc for 2004). Luckily you can use max resolution, max details.. (the game need only a pentium-2 but now everybody have a p3,p4 or athlon!).

Also it run without problems in XP. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As a member of the Rebel Alliance, climb into the cockpit of an X-wing and battle the Empire for freedom as you fly against deadly TIE fighters and menacing Star Destroyers. Fight in three combat tours of duty, including two add-on tours of duty, Imperial Pursuit, and B-Wing. You'll pilot three spacecraft with full instrumentation and 17 cockpit views per craft and dodge the weapons of the evil Empire in both deep space and on surface missions. Includes X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Flight School with 14 playable levels. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Still the best space combat game!
I bought the orginal XWing back in 1993 as one of the first games I got for my then state of the art 486. I was blown away by the game dynamics. Compared to most games of the time the 3D universe was incredible. Especially when compared to the SNES that I had just upgraded from. The developers had elected to use 3d polygons (now the standard) to build the in game graphics and this worked far better than its main rival at the time: Wing Commander and its 2D bitmap graphics. (Wing Commander was once regarded as the standard in space sims but is virtually unplayable now because of the awful graphics and boring AI/combat. I know I've tried it recently!)

Playing XWing now (the updated version included in the collectors CD) it still feels fresh which is an amazing achievment when you consider it is now 10 years old. It may not have cutting edge graphics but they work well enough and still manage to give a smooth and convincing 3D feel. The combat and power management gameplay is still engrossing even by modern standards. To be honest the gameplay stil knocks some of the more recent Lucasarts console based space combat games into touch.

The updated in game orchestral music score is lifted straight from the movies and is a vast improvement on the 1993 Xwing's midi version. This is one of the best and evocative uses of the original John Williams score in any of the Star Wars games. (Much better than in Jedi Knight 2!) You really live the Star Wars experience in this game. (Not only that but you can put the CDRom into a CD player and get the music in full on stereo Hi Fi quality.)

If there is one critisism it is the difficulty. Tie Fighter the sequel game (also on the CD) is much more fondly remembered than Xwing but that may have something to do with the fact it is a much easier game to get into (plus the fact you are the bad guy which is more fun). XWing is hard with a capital H but I think that makes it so much more satifying when you get that mission complete message.

If you like Star Wars, especially the space combat bits towards the end of Return of the Jedi and you have an older PC (even a 486!!!) this is an ideal purchase.

Now this one takes me back...
I remember playing this when I was twelve back in '96 and I really dug it. Not 'till a few months ago did I start playing it again (mainly for nostalgic reasons. Being a Star wars fan from day one I was naturally interested in this game and I was very pleased with the results. Sure, the graphics are seriously outdated but this game is so good that it doesn't even matter to me. Learning all the command keys (Enter hyperspace, etc., etc.) was slightly confusing at first, but I quickly learned how to memorize all of the command keys without looking at the manual every few minutes. A lot of the missions are challenging in which you are required to act very quickly in order to save a ship in order for the mission to be succesful. Some of the missions are damn near impossible. I especially like games in which the player is required to constantly be on the edge of his or her seat. I find this to be (for the most part), a fast paced game requiring quick wits and even faster reflexes. The added missions as well as the addition of the B-wing fighter are also very worthwhile bonuses to this gem. This is a must for any Star wars enthusiast like myself.

star wars
if you like star wars get this game. It is exactly like the film only there are more ships.

Oh yeah!
I never expected to find these again! While X-Wing is fun and all, well,let's face it, playing the bad guy is always so much better. Nothing butnothing beats playing as a TIE fighter, the flimsiest starfighter from anymovie, relying on only your speed to destroy all those who would standagainst the will of the Emperor. Or better yet, a TIW interceptor, withthose 2 extra cannons! Basically, this game rocks. Now I anxiously await anew copy of TIE Fighter to show up in my mailbox. Yay!

An all time classic
A wonderful collection of the original X-wing game, with the two add on campaigns.Sure the graphics are old, as are the sound effects, and some of the missions are nigh on impossible, but it is still hard to beat forthe re-play value.For any who enjoyed the original, or would like to seewhere the more modern versions of the same game come from, this is one toget. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Frogger is back almost two decades after first appearing on the Atari 2600. In his new 3-D world, he must rescue 175 baby frogs from Swampy the Crocodile. There are 35 levels split between 10 worlds. Frogger's tricks include the power croak, super hop, and heat-seeking tongue. Special levels were designed for multiplayer gaming; up to four can play specially designed levels on a split screen. Gamers can play over the Internet and LAN. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Frog Hoppin' Butterfly Lickin' Good Time!!!
Not a bad game at all! Fun, and it lasts a while. Doesn't ruin the original. But don't get the "Frogger Adventures". Those aren't fun at all. Okay animation. Good music and sound effects. Nice color too. All in all a good game.

Great
The levels are cool.It's a fun filled adventure.My favorite level is "the garden".It's pretty easy, but challenging enough to make it interesting.

Decent, but short
This game is pretty darn fun, but unfortunately, too short... Anyone can finish it in 3 hours flat, which doesn't justify its price.
The gameplay is great!
Overall, a good game, but too short.

Don't try it on a laptop!
I'm sure it must be a great game and all but after going back and forth with technical support for lots of hours couldn't get it to work on a Windows 98 mainstream laptop, everything becomes super slow motion to the point of unworkability.Tech support didn't do any real investigation just sent me the standard 'suggestions'.If anyone has successfully done this please enlighten me!

A Great Game
Frogger 2 Swampys Revenge is a great game I thought. You can be frogger or even his new girlfriend lilly the frog! It has over 40 new and exciting games to play! It has awsome graphics. In my opinon it's a better game than the first one.

About the game: Swampy has kidnapped Frogger's and lilly's frogs and it's up to Frogger and Lilly to rescue them before it's too late!

So buy it now! it's an excellent game to own!! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Heroes of Might & Magic
This is a great game! It does get you hooked, though, so be careful. You can always save the game, however, so if you limit yourself you can always come back later to finish a scenario. In this game, you are... well... you are you. You don't have one character that's you, you are as many characters as you recruit. These characters are called Heroes. There are different types of Heroes, all having different abilities and statistics. In the beginning, you can either start was is called a campaign, where it's usually 3-4 scenarios all towards the same goal - in some you carry on your heroes to the next one, in some the first 3 are all different, and in the end you pick the group you want to use. There are more than 15 different campaigns.
For a single scenario, it's just one scenario, you complete it, and you're done. When doing this, you can either start with completely random things, or you can chose what different castles you want, what resource you want to start with, and what single hero you will begin with. There are 9 different castles, and for each castle there are maybe 10 heroes. For resources, you get to choose between gold, an artifact, or a different resource (depending on the castle you've chosen). Then you begin the game. In each scenario and campaign you have a different goal - most of the time it's to defeat all your enemies castles and heroes, but there are some where you have to kill a monster, gather all resource supplies(?), get a certain amount of gold, collect an artifact, kill a certain hero, or defend one of your castles from being captured by the enemy. When you start, it all depends on the certain scenario on what you have. Some start with your only hero, and you have to get a castle before you can really start playing - and in this game, if you are without a castle for a week, then you lose. In other scenarios, you start with one or more castles, and sometimes more than your chosen hero. In your castle, you can buy something to improve it once a day. It has barracks for different creatures to recruit, resource silos that will earn you some resources each day, mage towers that enable your heroes to learn magic spells, castles to improve the defences of the castle, and the greatest thing is the Capital, which you don't get until you get a few other things first, but once you do, it increases the amount of creatures in your barracks each week, and it gives you the mighty sum of 4000 gold per day. In your castle you can also recruit heroes, a choice of two per week - unless you recruit one, then a different one fills its place. And don't get me wrong - it takes money to recruit your heroes and creatures. You can also find money around the map with your hero, but most of the time you'll find yourself short of cash - unless it's a really long game and you've bought everything in your castle, have the limit of eight heroes, and your money is just piling up.
But enough about the castle - it's very important, but what you're trying to do is achieve your goal, and unless it's to accumulate gold, you can't achieve it by doing nothing with you hero. In any case, you have to have your hero capture resource places (ore pits, crystal mines etc.) so you have the resources to buy the things in your castle. You hero has a certain amount he/she can move each day - this increase with certain statistics you can get, or certain artifacts. There are also spells, if your hero is advanced enough to learn them and you have the right mage tower (and level) that enable him/her to transport somewhere on the map. That map in the beginning, by the way, is black, and you can only see things once you've explored there. If you have an ally, then you get to see where they've explored as well. Your hero sometimes starts out with a good army, but normally you have to wait to fight anything until you get enough troops in your castle. You hero has 8 'slots', which you can fill with an unlimited amount of 8 different creatures. There are different levels of creatures as well, and some are better than others. Your hero fights creatures around the map to get places, to gain experience (enough allows him/her to go up a level), to gather resources and artifacts, or to win the game. When you attack 'a' creature, sometimes they will flee and you can chase them (not on the map, your hero stays in one place) or let them go, and sometimes they will join you, which is always nice. You can also kill enemy heroes, but take in mind that if their army is better, you can die. You can make your hero retreat, however, and recruit him/her in the tavern in your castle. You can sort of view an enemies army by putting your mouse over them and holding down a certain key - I think it's the control key, the tap key, or the option key. Some heroes are also better than others from experience. You can also gain experience by doing other things besides killing beasts.
So now you have this very long narrative, and I still haven't told you everything about this game. Don't worry, you can figure it out yourself (I'm so nice). This is a really great game, for children and adults alike. It does involve strategy, however, so maybe you should be at least 10 before playing. It's a great game, and I recommend it to anyone who likes computer games - this version is for Mac OS, but there are Windows versions. This pack comes with three heroes games, all having many different campaigns and scenarios - as you can pick levels to each single scenario, that is almost an unlimited amount. You can also create your own map, but I haven't really figured out how to do this the exact way I want to, so I can't help you there.
I hope this review has helped, even it was really long. I hope you enjoy the game!

great game
One of the best computer game I have ever played

the heroes review
I think it is really cool!

Heroes 3 Of Might and Magic
This is the best turn based strategy game I've played so far. I simply love this game. Earlier I had read the review of the game Age of wonders on Amazon.com and downloaded its demo. To tell the truth I was not much impressed with the game, especially since it was turn based. But this game is really addictive and I thank my stars for the day I bought this game as I was in two minds whether to buy it or not, one - because it was yet another turn based strategy, two - because the game was being sold for a very very low price here in India (the pack also included the expansion - Armageddon's Blade).
Well this game is very well made. The good things about this game are plenty. I just love the campaigns and the vast number of scenarios available to play. Turn based system is pretty fast in this game and the best part about this game is the turn based combat. Auto-combat is cool but is not as great fun as manual combat. Spells available for combat are plenty and fun to cast. Chain lightning, Death Ripple, Frost Ring and Clone are a few spells that are fun to watch.
The graphics in the game are cool. The numbers of creatures available in the game are numerous, each with its own special ability and I enjoyed them very much during game play. The monsters are a wonderful work of art. My favorite creatures in the game are many. The Fire Elementals are the best. I love the way they cover distance. The Scorpicores are absolutely frightening to look at. They create a sense of terror. The Gorgons, Unicorns, Thunderbirds, Cyclops Kings and the Liches are other rare beauties. It is a real pleasure to watch them. The Zealots are really creepy to look at and the Harpies are equally weird. I love the way Efreet Sultans attack their enemies. The Master Genies, Arch Devils and Arch Angels are equally cool to watch.
The Heroes available in the game are numerous and it is fun to build up their skills. The game is so cool that u just need a map with a group of enemies and creatures scattered on random locations to have fun. I think that's a plus point. The storyline in the game just adds more fun to the whole thing. On the whole the game is really neat and I've had many fun filled hours of play thanks to Jon Van Caneghem and group.
5 Stars!

An argument for neural implants
Of the strategy games, this is my all-time favourite.The graphics are fantastic, the spells are awesome, and the gameplay doesn't crash my computer. :)This game is about as addictive as it gets--I'd take it intravenously if I could.You might want to think twice about buying it if you have other interests...job, family, etc.My only caveat is that the Complete addition is the only way to get the nifty Shadow of Death upgrade (I already owned HOMM3 and Armageddon's Blade).However, after a few hours of HOMM3, the pain in my pocketbook just faded away... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Close Combat: Invasion Normandy is the fifth game in the highly acclaimed Close Combat series. Play as the Allies or the Germans in the World War II's most dramatic battle. Sneak attacks, stalwart defenders, spies, and saboteurs are among the surprises available to both sides. The improved campaign system allows movement of multiple battle groups on a scrolling strategic map of the Cotentin peninsula. An all-new battle-group screen allows you to not only customize your own battle groups but your enemy's as well. The option to play with historical conditions extends even to the weather and its effects on air and naval support availability. Track the progress of your men from battle to battle, as they improve their combat skills and earn medals. With dynamic map tracking, the shell holes, trenches, and vehicle wrecks you create today will be there tomorrow. Tactical successes and failures will have a direct impact on strategic play with extended continuity from battle to battle. Create your own battles, operations, and campaigns with the scenario editor. Review the action in-depth on the improved battle debriefing and soldier screens. Play head-to-head via TCP, UDP, serial connection, modem, or the Internet, with free matchmaking services. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Not For Action, But For Strategy
This is a game that you will probably find yourself playing many, many times, depending on whether or not your intentions for purchasing the game are for action or strategy.
Historically, I felt it did a great job of duplicating the scenarios of the real invasion of Normandy.Hedgerows were a major nuisance for the Allied forces and it was that way in Close Combat 5, as well.It makes it hard to put the tanks into some sort of effective use, without the help of supporting infantry.Sometimes the amount of troops allowed to fight in a battle were actually too large to be historically accurate, when considering the scattered drops of the U.S. airborne, and that made offensive moves in this game too easy, but it really didn't take away much from the game.In all honesty, it wouldn't have been much fun to lead an attack with only a group of men the size of a few squads.
Strangely enough, an entire division is lost if it's involved force, in a battle, loses every man.Although not the entire division participates in the battle, the entire division will no longer exist, as if the rest of it is disbanded.
Overall, the game was much fun for me.I was interested in learning more about Operation Overlord, and the involvement of the U.S. in World War 2, and found this game to be very helpful, although I could still tell which historical aspects were true, and which were inaccuracies due to the game itself.
I read a review that described that, in the beach landings, there weren't enough bullets whizzing in the air and that it basically seemed too tame.But this game focuses on Utah Beach, not Omaha.Utah WAS much tamer, and had much fewer casualties, so don't expect a slaughter.Besides that, the "Atlantic Wall" that the reviewer talked about being climbed was not the Atlantic Wall, but a simple sea wall.This game is much more realistic than you may have been led to believe.And, yes, sometimes the aim of the soldiers was horrible and humorous at the same time, but the cons are outweighed by the pros.Strategy is definitely the way to go in this game.Don't expect to win battles by charging the enemy head on.

close combat : normandy
I think that C.C.I.N is great unlike C.C. 1 & 2 This one has better graphics,experiance and fun! i would say anyone who liked C.C. the russian front would like this A+++++ 5 star class!

Ironically, the name shows where the game fails most.
I loved the series when it debuted - primitive, yeah, but fun nonetheless. CC2 moved the series a step in the right direction - music to the ears of fans of the genre. Fast forward to Invasion Normandy, and it's honestly hard to see what's worth playing anymore.

Gameplay: terrible. For a series which prides itself heavily on AI, this game has little, if none. Units will often hold their fire, even if an inferior enemy unit is cleary charging right at them. Line-of-sight problems plague the entire game, with areas of identical elevation and free of obstacles sometimes being impossible to fire at - it's sometimes even impossible to fire at an elevated position, which is otherwise visible.

Another thing - unit worth and accuracy. Units such as snipers, mortar teams, etc. are basically useless. You would think a sniper could easily pick off a stationary target, not hidden behind cover, at a distance of 50 metres - not so. Mortars seem to land in random locations, and, even if it graphically appears as though it would have taken out a whole squad, they're left miraculously unharmed. There are many instances where I will have an enemy scout unit surrounded by an entire platoon, and, although the maximum distance will be 30 metres, the enemy will be on an area of no cover (i.e. middle of the road), the nearly one hundred bullets per second raining down on them will fail to hit - and this pathetic little squad will STILL manage to take out enemies while under massive suppression. Not only that, but AT squads are nearly useless as well, since they have a tendency to miss 99% of the time, and the 1% where the round would hit, it will instead land on the other side of the tank - which is physically impossible, since in reality, rockets go in straight lines, and this isn't duplicated properly. The tedious 20-metre engagements between whole platoons for 10 minutes is so ridiculous, I feel like I'm fighting on a battlefield full of Gomer Pyles.

Still, passing the game is incredibly simple, ... and, somehow, inferior German forces. I found it hilarious in the invasion scenarios that there wasn't even any gunfire raining down on the beach, and that the Atlantic Wall could easily be climbed by the average person - STRAIGHT OUT CLIMBED.

I'm getting pissed off at this game just thinking about it. The last thing I need is to play a game where everyone's aim is about as good as an extra in a Schwartzenegger movie...

Storm The Beach!
I have always been a close combat fan since the series came out. The game is fun overall, but can get dragging at times. I do like how the game is focused more on the infantry, rahter than heavy armor. Sounds are great, graphics are great, game play is great, but my only complaint is that there is no zoom in button. I know other CC games had them and I don't know why this one shouldn't have one. But that is ok. The planning feature of the game is intersting too. You are in control of what forces you are sending in as back up. The game is fun, especially if you are a hard core CC fan. There isn't much of a huge improvement over any of the other CC games, but like I said it is still fun to play. I hope they come out with more theaters of combat in future installments.

Invasion Normandy returns to Close Combat's roots
Close Combat: Invasion Normandy is probably the best recent title in the Close Combat series.It returns to Normandy, the battle ground for the first CC title.You are commanding either the US divsions invading at Utah Beach or the Germans trying to stop them.No Tommies in this one!Personally, I would have liked to have been able to control British troops as well.Invasion Normandy puts the emphasis back on infantry and returns the armor to its support role.For those of you who thought that The Russian Front had way too much armor in it, then you will be happy to know that in Invasion Normandy most of the missions have no more than two armored vehicles to each side.Of course at times there are more, but for the most part this is an infantry strategy game.In some of the battles between the airborne divisions there isn't any armor at all!

Game play is still pretty much same as compared to previous CC titles.During campaigns, you can now control your different battalions movements on the overall strategic map.This lets you move your battalions forward to take a new section of the Cotentin Peninsula and assign your mortar barrages, naval bombardments, and air strikes to battalions that you think will need them the most.It adds another dimension to the game and makes you think a little more. And sit back and enjoy the show when your naval bombardment comes from the 13in guns on a battle ship!!!

The graphics have been improved slightly since The Russian Front.I haven't played Battle of the Bulge, so I don't know how the graphics compare there.The AI is still...well the usual CC AI.The infantry AI has never been that all that bad.The armor AI has improved some in this game, but you still end up wondering, as you watch tank after tank get destroyed by some stupid blunder, if maybe the tank commanders aren't really Nazis at heart!

There are a few minor bugs in the program, but nothing catastrophic that I have seen. All in all this is a well rounded, real time strategy game, that is historically accurate and a whole lot of fun to play.This game ranks right up there with Age of Empires II as one of my favorite strategy games.It is definitely one of if not the best WWII strategy game out there right now.SSI made a smart move in aquiring the rights to the series as it fits right into the genre of games they produce. ... Read more

Product Description

Super Collapse! II builds on the gameplay offered in Super Collapse! with four distinct modes:

• Traditional: The original game that hooked so many players
• Puzzle: Ten brainteasers that challenge players to clear the screen with only the blocks provided to them
• Relapse: The blocks enter from the top and bottom of the screen, forcing players to keep an eye on two piles of blocks at the same time
• Strategy: Gamers must think ahead by pushing up a new row of blocks every time they click to clear a few from the screen.

Features

• For Windows 98,ME,NT,2000,XP/ Macintosh 10.1 OR HIGHER
• Has ESRB rating of E for Everyone

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

Amazon.com Product Description

Build your real estate empire from the ground up. As owner and landlord of the building, your objective is to construct and develop a balanced and profitable commercial property by leasing space inside for apartments, offices, restaurants, and shops. Name your tenants and watch their everyday activities to plan improvements to your building's design. Terrorists, fire, and even a visiting VIP pile on more fun as you build your way to a 100-story self-contained city in a skyscraper. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

SimTower
SimTower is a really great game, but the graphics for people really stink. They are just like pixeled black dots-and when they are red they are angry, if they are blue, they are given a specific name-and the movie places need more movie options. Plus you need to put elevators for higher floors--from 45 to 100 (if you ever reach it)or more. Overall, it is very fun, but don't expect it to have very good graphics!

Good fun but........
Well, this game is a ton of fun through 1-3 stars.But after people start to get incredibly aggravated with your condo rates (even when the are so low you are losing money) and your cash starts going down the drain. But it is very addicting, so even when you lose you start right over again.It's like suddenly zooming into one of the buildings that is being built in SimCity.You start with nothing, except a few thousand dollars and an empty lot.But as you build your tower up (I suggest leaving the basment levels for later because you will want them for cooler stuff later, like a subway) from a 1 star rating to a 5, you get many new features that improve your Tower.Oh...but just to warn you, to change the price you charge for certain rooms, you have to click on every single one.But besides all the cons it is really fun and should work on any Window computer, though you might need to change it's compatibility.If you do decide to buy, good luck to you, and may your tower ever grow taller and a terrorist never put a bomb in your building.

Very very very very very Great
This game is the best game I played!!!!!!!

i agree with stamphers
this game is really fun in the beggining you get to build stuff and people move in.but towards the end it gets boring because like everyone moves out and your down money and cant build anything. so theres nothing to do but stop the game. but i did find a souloution for this that rarely works in the night every time build a bunch of condos for people to move into because some mornings people move out otherwise i would rate it a 5 but i couldnt really reccomend for you to buy it or not. if you like short games buy it.if you like to finish games to their full extent i strongly reccomend that you DO NOT BUY IT! but ill leave it up to you

Great games
This is a very good game. You will naver get boring with this. I whish EA remake this game and make it compatible with XP. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Tool!
This is a great learning tool.My daughter didn't even know she was learning fractions or spanish vocab.She had a blast playing this game. ... 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

Amazon.com Review

If you are the type of gamer who can forgive a game with mediocregraphics as long as the gameplay is solid, Shanghai Double Pack is aterrific bargain. For those unfamiliar with the game, Shanghai usesmahjong tiles that have been arranged in specific patterns and layers. It's theplayer's job to match like tiles (or tiles from the same family) to remove themfrom the board and clear more of the playing field so more tiles can be removed.Of course, there are rules in place regarding when you can remove tiles, andoften there are several possible matches, so a good deal of strategic planningis involved.

Like all great puzzle games, Shanghai is far more difficult to explainthan it is to play, and it took us less than 10 minutes to learn the basicmechanics. This package comes with two of Activision's popular Shanghaititles: Shanghai II: Dragon's Eye and Shanghai: Great Moments.Purists will love the first title, which has eight tile sets includingeverything from standard Chinese characters to pictures of flags.

We liked Shanghai: Great Moments for adding multimedia flourishes and newmodes of play to the standard Shanghai game. The Great Wall modeintroduces gravity to the board, making tiles above a removed tile fall towardthe bottom of the screen. Action Shanghai is a decent game for adrenalinejunkies, as new tiles are added to the board every few seconds. Players have toact fast to make matches before they are blocked by incoming tiles. Finallythere is Beijing, perhaps our favorite mode (besides classic), where rows oftiles must be moved all at once to make matches. This mode requires moreplanning than other variations. We also liked the themed tile sets in the game,depicting great historical figures, landmarks, and artworks. The ShanghaiDouble Pack is a great overall puzzle compilation for the price. --T. ByrlBaker

Pros:

• Plenty of play modes
• Highly addictive
• Two great games for a low price

Reviews (1)

Europa 1400 Gold - Much Better
I played the original Europa 1400 "The Guild" which was a bit buggy, and really wasn't fun to play because of the game crashing every 10 minutes or so.I've been playing Gold for awhile now, and it seems to be a little less buggy.It actually runs pretty good for me, online play still doesn't work worth a crap, but people say playing it on lan works O.K.I'm not sure because I haven't beenable to test it myself.With gold there are plenty of new items that will help you politicaly and revenge, or for your own well being.Also new professions, like the Traveling Entertainer, Tailor, and Graveyard Keeper.Which bring in good money from the start, especailly Graveyard Keeper and Traveling Entertainers. New building types, like the Magnificant palace with cannon tower, so on.Where you can make wizards potions that you can't sell, but come in handy.I'd say it's worth every penny.It's the best game to play when you have nothing to do basically, sit back kidnap some people, rob people, whatever. ... Read more