Amazon.com Product Description

Star Wars: Rebellion is a grand strategy game of galactic expansion and domination. At the game's start, players side with either the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire. They then battle for control of the known Star Wars galaxy (up to 200 systems) through strategic deft and tactical savvy. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Very Nice Game
This one is an oldy but goody, to be sure. It certainly doesn't possess the technology of today's games (one can still hold out hope of there maybe someday being an updated sequel...), but it is the only Star Wars game of it's kind. This strategy game emcompasses not just one army or one world, but the entire galaxy!

You have to use worlds with high resources to boost your supplies, use diplomacy to gain the support of more planets, and build up armies of space ships to defend your planets and conquor your opponent. The ultimate game of conquest, don't expect to complete this game quick! The first time I played it all the way through it took me a couple months, playing for an hour or so each day! The game requires patience and dedication, but if that's your cup of tea, you will be well rewarded with Rebellion!

Even Todays Technology Can't Put It Down
And that's the truth. Star Wars: Rebellion can still content with the current titles, such as Battlefront, KotOR (I/II), and Star Wars Galaxies (and its expansion, respectively). After 7 years I still find it a title that I won't put down. Unlike most other games, SW:R never seems to "get old". Why?

It's an in-depth game set in the Star Wars galaxy where you can build fleets, organize missions, convert planets, assault planets, and fight in massive tactical battles. The game is incredibly massive in and of itself; and this can be quite intimidating for the beginner. Even on the easiest and smallest level of the game the AI acts the same, but only has a limited amount of starting planets and resources. To be frank, this often makes the game frustrating for the "newbie". However, this is just one obstacle. Once the basics of the game are learned it is actually quite enjoyable. The idea of controlling your own empire per se is a Star Wars fan's dream. You're there and you decide how things will play out.

It is debatable whether the two factions are balanced or not but after many years of playing it seems that both are equal in the long run. The possibilities are limitless and Jedi's even play a role in the game, albeit sometimes minimal (it's by chance that you'll have force sensitive characters, however I find that the Alliance gets more). The game switches between Strategic-Tactical in a manner that flows. There is even a feature to "simulate" the battle in case you're not the type to enjoy the tactical portion of the game.

Overall the game stresses critical thinking, strategic planning, and constant adaptation. It is challenging, and sometimes overwhelming, but always provides fun. Star Wars fan should definitely play this game sometime in their life time. Be aware that this game contains graphics that are completely outdated, yet it is often regarded as inconsequential since they play a completely minimal role in the "fun factor" of Rebellion - unless you're a hardcore graphics gamer.

Addictive... a masterpiece fit for the Star Wars Universe
I first played this game in 1999 and was instantly addicted. Star Wars Rebellion lets you play the role of a supreme commander: you are able to send your minions (Star Wars characters such as Luke for the Rebels or Vader for the Empire) on missions such as recruitment for new characters, diplomacy for one of up to 200 planets, Force Training, espionage, sabotage, and other numerous missions. You also have command over a large fleet. With this fleet, you can attack the opposing side and command your ships in space battles. Resource gathering is crucial; reconniscance is essential. Multiplayer play is great for re-enacting your favorite Star Wars events with a friend or simply defeating your enemy Vader-style. It might seem complicated at first, but once the interface is mastered, Star Wars Rebellion will become a classic game for any gamer.

What a disappointment
This has got to be the worse game I have ever played, although I'm not much of a gamer.The story is that you're in charge of either the Rebels or the Empire (this takes place in the time of the three origanal movies), and you can make plans, move troops, make diplomatic trips to non-Alliance or non-Imperial planets, and conduct espionage missions.You can be any major charactor from Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader.This game sounds good in theory, but the excicution stinks.It is slow slow so very slow.If it is supposed to take a week to travel to a planet, then you'll be sitting waiting for it to happen for a long time.Stay away from this game at all cost.

Control the galaxy, but beware the mouse clicks
Star Wars: Rebellion has been around for a while, and with the neverending stream of Star Wars games being released by LucasArts, it is surely being relegated to the backwaters of Star Wars gamers' consciousness. Its graphics aren't as gorgeous as Rogue Squadron or any of its sequels, and its style (real time strategy) may not be as popular as either first-person shooters a la "Bounty Hunter" or even "The Phantom Menace."

Yet to some strategy-gamers like Yours Truly, Rebellion (known in the UK as Star Wars: Supremacy) does have its virtues. While it is a strategy game on a galactic scale, it does combine elements of roleplaying (players can send major Star Wars characters from page and film on missions)and space warfare at the tactical level (once a player has built a few fleet units, they can be sent from their territory into enemy systems to invade planets or engage opposing fleets).

Players can choose to play as either the Empire or the Rebel Alliance, choose the level of difficulty, and the amount of planetary systems that will appear in the Galactic Information Display. The tougher the level, the more systems will gravitate to the oppposite side.The object of the game, of course, is to control as much of the Star Wars galaxy as one can, with each side having ultimate victory goals that must be achieved.To be more precise, the Rebels must capture both Darth Vader and the Emperor, while at the same time taking and holding Coruscant.

The Empire's mission is similar but trickier.Not only are Mon Mothma and Luke Skywalker to be in Imperial custody, but Alliance HQ must be destroyed. But unlike Coruscant, the Rebel HQ complex (it looks like Cloud City) can be moved from one Alliance controlled system to another.(Those who find the complete Victory conditions to be too hard at first might choose the HQ-only option.)

Things I like about Rebellion:
1. The "main title" sequence. Most good Star Wars games pay homage to their parent media source (the films) by having the "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...." card and the title crawl setting up the game's storyline.Rebellion is set immediately after Episode IV, so in some ways the game can be used to imagine alternate timelines and different outcomes to those we saw in the movies.Actual cues from the John Williams scores add that touch of genuine Star Wars atmosphere to this starting screen.
2. The use of characters from books and films.Although Rebellion shows its age by incorporating worlds and characters mentioned in books published up to 1998, I like the fact that the game designers did not limit the cast of "agents" to just the canon film characters.Fans of such Expanded Universe characters as Grand Admiral Thrawn, Talon Karrde, Borsk Fey'lya, Labria, and Pellaeon will find them included here.The one limiting factor is that only a few major characters will have audio cues included in their mission reports (and even those get old fast if you play the game in one sitting), so don't expect to hear the famous Thrawn's musings or Chewbacca's growls.I also like the fact that certain characters have strong Diplomacy ratings (Leia, Mon Mothma, Piett, Jerjerrod, and of course Vader and the Emperor) that only get better with each mission, while others are better at Combat and Espionage.
3. The graphics. OK. The game is not new and it's showing its age, but those fleet battles are still pretty cool.They may not be very varied, and at times it's best to just go to the Results screen if you send, say, a Star Destroyer or two against a system defended by one X-Wing squadron....or a Mon Cal cruiser against a single TIE squadron.

What I don't like:

1. It depends too much on mouse clicks. Another reviewer called this game the Death by 1,000 Clicks (or something along those lines).I have gotten used to this, but getting used to something doesn't mean you have to like it.

2. Team building.Supposedly, you can make a team of various characters to accomplish missions...or send out decoys to divert the enemy. While fine in theory, either the program is faulty or I am as dense as a Kowakian monkey-lizard.It did take me several months just to figure out the basic game, even after reading the manual, but geez...I still can't get the Team thing done.
3. Predictability on Easy level. OK. I don't enjoy pain much so I tend to avoid switching levels on PC games, but I have noticed that the Empire never attempts to build a Death Star on Easy level.It DOES drain resources, and maybe when I play as the Rebels I don't give the AI Empire time to gather raw materials for a battle station, but c'mon...to never try?

For an older game, it is not without its bugs -- it does crash from time to time and some of its features do get annoying, but Rebellion is still entertaining and fun to play.What more can one ask of a game designed in the late 1990s for Windows 95/98....except maybe a Prequel edition or a revamped Classic Trilogy/EU version with new graphics? ... Read more

Product Description

Galactic Civilizations Deluxe Edition is truly an all encompassing game that allows players to feel like they are participating in an epic story that changes each time they play.This Deluxe Edition includes both GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS and the ALTARIAN PROPHECY EXPANSION PACKGALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS You are the leader of the human civilization at the dawn of the 23rd century; and the race is on between the human race and others to colonize, conquer, and dominate the galaxy using whatever m ... Read more

Features

• Full campaign along with 10 built-in scenarios and 10 custom maps
• Galactic Civilizations and Altarian Prophecy Expansion Pack
• Lead humanity in a struggle to dominate the galaxy in Galactic Civilizations
• Altarian Prophecy with 2 new alien civilizations: The Korx and The Drath
• Deep, immersive storyline; multi-threaded AI; multiple paths to victory

Product Description

Take advantage of enhanced visuals, richer tactics and strategic gameplay as you build your fleet and engage in 3-D space combat. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Genre: Strategy
• Mission: Lose yourself in the sequel to the groundbreaking 3-D real-time space strategy game Homeworld
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/XP/2000

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

Amazon.com Review

Ever wonder what happened to the explorers launched into space at the end of Civilization 2? This game has the answer: they landed on a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri, and quickly divided into feuding factions, each bent on reshaping the new world according to their particular philosophy or culture. But the human colonists are not alone. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack bundles together the full version of Alpha Centauri with its official expansion pack, Alien Crossfire.

Alpha Centauri employs the same basic game play, rules, and concept as Civilization 2, but features enhanced diplomacy and a new, slicker interface. Players begin by assuming leadership of one of seven colony factions, establishing a base on the unexplored world. Conquering territory, developing technology, expanding the faction's population, and dealing with native life forms are critical priorities that must be correctly balanced for survival. If a faction's military output is low, it may be vulnerable to attacks by others or by dangerous mind worms that roam the landscape. On the other hand, building war machines at the expense of scientific research may result in trying to manage a massive but obsolete war machine or a rebellious population.

Within the game, you can now automate tasks that--in the earlier game--were repetitive and dull. The factions also have a better mix of leaders; three of the seven factions are headed by women. The computer AI for the other groups does a good job of making decisions in accordance with each faction's particular philosophy and world view, and will often surprise a human player with an offer of strategic alliance or a sudden double-cross.

Alien Crossfire, the official add-on pack for Alpha Centauri, expands on the original game by adding seven factions, new facilities, additional secret projects, and new branches to the elaborate technology tree. The pack also provides new enhancements to Alpha Centauri, including play-by-e-mail multiplayer mode, hot-seat multiplayer mode, and numerous tweaks to the interface and unit properties. Alien Crossfire's new factions include cyborgs, drones, pirates, and two sets of alien societies. Factions are balanced by a set of predetermined statistics and characteristics, such as bonuses for particular government and production styles.

This easy-to-learn and thoroughly absorbing game takes the best features of the classic Civ 2 and sets them in a brave new world. The addition of Alien Crossfire's expanded features, missions, and multiplayer capabilities ensures that players will be exploring the fascinating world of Alpha Centauri for a long time.

... Read more

Reviews (21)

The zenith of strategy gaming. kudos to Reynolds.
This game is the only turn-based strategy game one would ever need.
It has everything one would want out of a strategy game and SO much more.
The story is epic. The world is fully realised. The gameplay is deep. The literary references(not only Sci-Fi but philosophical and ethical and social) are many and profound. The factions are compelling. The possibilities are endless.

The including of multiplayer as well as 7 extra factions in the expansion pack only sweetens the deal.

The only (minor) flaws here, which only present themselves to the diehard gamer, is the apparent lack of challenge from the AI, as well as the seemingly lacklustre graphics(but given the budget of Firaxis at the time, the art direction is still amazing).

Get This Game. It's one of those classics which you will keeping coming back for more. Even having owned this masterpiece for more than 5 years, I still play Alpha Centauri every 3 months or so, and it STILL retains its freshness and playability. This one is adefinite keeper.

Also, as a parting word, I want to make it clear that, despite the "Sid Meier" name on the package, designer Brian Reynolds(who has since left Firaxis I believe) was the man behind Alpha Centauri and as such deserves the kudoes.
It is THIS game which deserves the title of "true sequel to Civilization II", and not Civ III which has none of the depth that this game has in spades.

Buy it.

Extraordinary game
This game is probably the best I've ever played, and perhaps the best game I will ever play.It has all of the features you could want in a turn based game.

The automation of funtions is incredible.Based on your wishes, you can designate tasks for units to perform, instead of dealing with the monotony of reissuing the same command turn after turn.For example, you can just say tell a unit to "build road", and it will only build roads... and will do so in places that make sense.Truly amazing AI...

Add to that the rich cultures and philosophies of the characters, ability to customize units any way you'd like, great sci-fi, and you're left with a game that is still a force to be contented with 4-5 years after its release.

However, because of the wide range of possibilities, the game can be quite complex.

If you're not intimidated by having to think, this game is definitely for you.I look forward to a sequel, should they ever develop one.

Still the best thinking person's game
As titled.

The game's other principle designer, Brian Howard went on to do Rise of Nations, a worthy game but without the incredible story-line and in-depth richness of ACAX.

ACAX was a delight not just for the gameplay but for the entire experience: the cultural references, the well-developed factions, the whole mind-worm experience.

One could get immersed in ACX the same way one could in Balder's Gate, Everquest, etc: but at the same time play a Risk/Age of Empires-like military campaign.To be sure, the Starcraft seriesis classic; as well as the first two Myths.

But AC and ACAX, from the same era, set a standard for a total gaming experience that very few strat games since have approached.

Great stuff.I'd love to see a new version with many of the old characters.

Complex, intelligent and don't take your eyes off the domes
There are so many features and so much entertainment to be had I don't know where to begin.It's great that there actually is a story behind the strategy, building, managing, feeding people, keeping populations happy...It's a lot like Galactic Trader, which ranks right up there with this as a time-vaporizer.Warning: this game may cause you to lose sleep and sense of perspective.I actually had to uninstall it...that's how much fun it is.The graphics are terrific.

Don't neglect the supplies to your domes and put in plenty of airponics bays, creches, theaters, tree farms and other amenities.

Get it for less
There are moneygrubbers who are going to kill me for this but for all of you wanting this game for a reasonable price this is for you.

Don't bother buying in secondary market for an overblown price. Pick up the laptop collection by EA games, $20 for both main game and expansion and some other strategy games to boot, some of which are quite good.Save yourself some cash and get some great games. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Birth of the Federation is the first PC CD-ROM strategy game based on the rich Star Trek, universe! Forged from the cultures, time lines, events, and technologies of the hit TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation, this turn-based epic emphasizes resource management, combat, and diplomacy. Control one of five major alliances: Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Ferengi, or Cardassian, each with its own set of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Encounter over 30 exotic races. And beware, there lurks the potential for a Borg invasion--threatening all players! ... Read more

Reviews (35)

good game for trekkers
This game is very good for Star Trek fans.the multiplayer abilities make this game something special.One drawback is the micromanagement and slow speed for larger galaxies.Overall a very good strategy game.

Warning: this game is a time eater!
This game was the first turn-based strategy game I ever owned. My roomate played Master of Orion 2, but I never got into it because it seemed like it had a high learning curve and seemed kind of boring. However, as a Star Trek fan I heard of this game and somehow got a copy of it cheap from an auction site way back when (good luck doing THAT now. My original copy shattered in my CD drive and I was SHOCKED to see how much an original copy of this game is going for. Microprose would do a lot of business by re-releasing this sucker). The learning curve here was steep as well, but the tutorial and a highly-recommended walkthrough on the Internet written by Cadillace helped me to get the hang of it (if you're interested in this game, look this walkthrough up; it is better than the manual or the so-called "official" strategy guide). After that, I was hooked.

The basic plot of the game is simple. You choose one of 5 Star Trek TNG empires; the Federation, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Ferengi, or the Cardassians, and TRY TO TAKE OVER THE GALAXY! This is easier said than done, since whichever galactic power you choose, the other 4 will be there with the same aims as you. Each galactic power has its own distinct style and game display appearance, special abilities and weaknesses in both technology, intelligence, research, diplomacy and ships. The game parameters are highly variable, and no one game is the same; thus replay value is pretty high. Overall, it is a tossup between the Federation and the Romulans when it comes to picking the best empire to play as, followed by the Klingons, Cardassians and Ferengi (in that order). The Federation have some of the more powerful ships (and the greatest number of ship types to choose from) with strong shields and armor, good diplomacy with most minor races, great research capabilities and decent starting cash. Their negatives include a really liberal and cheese-eating population, so doing what you need to do to win, like subduing and bombing planetary systems, will piss them off. You'll have to be judicious in massaging their moods, and it won't be to your advantage to subjugate minor races. Also, their initial intel setup is attrocious and will need major upgrading once you meet the Cardassians and/or Romulans. However, with time and maybe a few minor races, you'll be able to hold your own with those guys. The Romulans are very good or decent in all categories, but they don't hold the top points in any. They have decent diplomacy and research but not as good as the Feds; they have very good intel but the Cardassians have a slightly better initial setup; all of their warships cloak and thus have a free attack in any fight where they are cloacked from the beginning; however their warships are also the flimsiest in the game and need that cloak in order to survive. It takes a lot of ships to attack a protected system, but at least you can choose between subjugation or diplomacy, your population doesn't care as long as you're not losing. The Klingons are warlike and have really tough ships, some of which cloak. Declare war often and win, you'll be fine. Intel, research and diplomacy are not their fine points...The Cardassians have the toughest ships with the heaviest armor which can fire from pretty much all directions; however they have the smallest set of ships to choose from and their ships are also the slowest. Don't even try to use diplomacy unless you have a whole lot of money; if you want to play as an evil empire then the Cardies are the ones to use. It may come back to haunt you though...And the Ferengi, although they have the most powerful warship in the game, are still very tricky to play and you don't get that warship until you've achieved much research. What you do have is cash, tons of it, and the sooner you learn to handle it, the sooner you can whack those who underestimate you.

Other factors influencing game play include:
A)Minor races with varying special structures that can aid your empire. You can either sweet-talk/bribe these races to join your mighty empire, or you can swoop in and force them to join your mighty empire. You can play the game without them, but it won't be as interesting. Diplomacy relates your empire to both the minor and major empires.
B) Random events. These can be turned on or off. If you're a beginner then start with them turned off, but once you've gotten the hang of the game they can add a bit more excitement to the game. These events can be sometimes good, mostly bad. Good random events include positive planet shifts say from desert to Oceanic(increasing population and allowing construction of various structures). Bad random events include (but are not limited to) negative planet shifts, earthquakes and plagues, warp anamolies, and various alien creatures wandering the galaxy and interacting negatively with your ships and planetary systems. The worst alien creature you may encounter are the dreaded Borg. A Borg cube can assimilate a system in at least 5 turns, and when a system is assimilated a new cube is formed which begins assilating elsewhere, and so on. You better have a huge fleet to blow them away Admiral...

There are two ways you can win and you choose the conditions at the game's beginning. You can either win by domination (control 60% of the galaxy by yourself, or 75% if you are in an alliance with another major power) or by vendetta (where you have to wipe out two of the major empires who are your blood enemies). Whichever you choose, strategy is quite important. Know when to fight, when to make peace, and be ready at all times. Also, when starting the game, you can choose from 5 technology levels to begin at. Level 1 is pre-warp stage with only your home planet developed and all your research tech levels at 1 (out of 10). The other extreme is level 5 where you have all your tech levels at 8 (out of 10), all your home planets developed, and 2 advanced colonies adjacent to your home system. It is best to play from level 5, it gives you the best chance to win against the computer and your aim is to end up with higher levels anyway.


Issues with the game involve memory hogging, slow and jerky motion as the game progresses, frequent crashing, and the cheating of the computer players.

This game got me interested in other turn-based strategy games, and so far I have Star Wars rebellion (a much steeper curve than this game, i still do not know how to play it), MOO2 (seems interesting, still trying to figure it out) Space Empires IV and MOO3 (haven't gotten to play them yet). So far, i still recommend BOTF. Check it out if you can find it.

Tough to get the hang of
I received this game as a second-hand gift from a friend, who told me he was having too much trouble understanding it. I was able to figure it out, but I've played Civs 2 and 3, so I'm used to this game format. Overall, it's a fun game, though I have yet to actually win. Also, some of the technilogical advancements are pretty bland, with level increases being denoted by number (automated farms 6 as opposed to automated farms 5, etc.) Ship level increases are similarly uncreative (increased with the "II" denominator). Not a bad game, but I'm told it's expensive.

Same Game Different Name
This is a good game, don't get me wrong.I think it is an entertaining game.It is just so much like Civilization, Masters Of Orion, and Star Wars Rebellion.

Slash77
In its day this was ok, but graphics are not really state of the art and in retrospect too complex with little action. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Electronic Arts' Alien Crossfire--created by legendary designer Sid Meier, maker of such landmark games as Civilization and Pirates!--is the official add-on pack for a brilliant turn-based strategy game,Alpha Centauri. The pack expands on the original game by adding seven factions, new facilities, additional secret projects, and new branches to the elaborate technology tree. Fans also receive many new enhancements to Alpha Centauri, including play-by-email mutiplayer mode, hotseat multiplayer mode, and numerous tweaks to the interface and unit properties. Alien Crossfire's new factions include cyborgs, drones, pirates, and two sets of alien societies. Factions are balanced by a set of predetermined statistics and characteristics, such as bonuses for particular government and production styles.

Game play means creating and maintaining a flourishing society on a hostile alien world. Players must juggle dozens of civilization settings--such as government style, unit production, and pollution prevention--and discover the best means of conquering enemies through a powerful economy, research and development, or military conquest. Alternatively, players and computer-controlled factions can become allies instead of enemies and trade technologies and unit designs to further bolster scientific advancements and economy.

With an exciting new story line, dozens of enhancements, and tried-and-true game play that adds hours of life to the original game, Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire is a must-have expansion pack for Alpha Centauri fans. Remember that you'll need Alpha Centauri in order to play and enjoy Alien Crossfire. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Still fun after all these years!
I was one of the beta testers on SMAC and SMACX and sank far more hours into it than I'd ever want to admit to. Burned out, immediately after the retail release I set it aside for a couple months but came back to it and never left. I've probably spent more time with SMAC/SMACX than any other game and I'm still playing. Why? Because it's truly a classic piece of work--a story within a game and a game within a story. I know of no other game in the genre that is quite like it. And guessing at the amount time, effort and money that went it making SMAC, I don't expect to see another one like it either. If you're a fan of the TBS genre, then for that reason alone you should have a copy of this--its a reminder of just what can be done by a talented, dedicated crew of artists working in pixels and code.

If you've not experiened this game, then there is really only onequestion you need to answer to know if you should get it: do you like turn-based strategy games? If so, then you need to try this one. A few people are put off by the Science Fiction setting but unless that's a fatal flaw for you then find a copy of this and enjoy. Some things you need to know:

* This game isn't new so don't expect state-of-the art graphics and eye-candy. However, the graphics hold up pretty well tho' and they serve the purpose extremely well.

* Yes, it will play on the latest machines running WinXP. At least it does on machines I've tried running P4 processors and Win2000, WinXp Home and WinXP Pro. There are a couple of tweaks you may or may not need available to make it fully compatible and with a P4 processor the game will warn you that 'your CPU isn't supported' but it plays just fine.

* Don't rush through this one. Play the game like you're reading a really good novel--read everything, look at stuff, watch the cut scene videos, etc. There's an incredible amount of 'back story' for the game and its easy to miss just how rich it is.

There aren't many things, much less games, that can be called unique but I think SMAC/SMACX is one of them.

Even with it's flaws it's a great expansion!
Alpha Centauri is such an absorbing game that completely outpaces anything similar that has come out over the last 12 years.The Alien Crossfire expansion adds enough to the game that it surely is worth owning and using.Be sure to get the patch though as the game has a lot of bugs!

The new human factions (Pirates, Drones, Consciousness, Planet Cult, and Datatechs) are fantastic fun!The alien factions are overpowered, irritating, and suck the life out of the game in my opinion.Fortunately you can play without them. Too bad you can only have seven factions max in a game as playing with the 12 human factions would be incredible fun!

The new planetary features are worth having for sure. The Manifold Nexus is mysterious and worth fighting over.The crash site of the Unity spaceship has lots of goodies to dig up, and the borehole fields are nice to build near.

The new technologies add a lot of excitement to the game along with new base installations like the Aquafarm which gives you more food from kelp farms or the Flechette missile defense which gives you better defense from missile attacks.Brood pits make even bigger and more dangerous mind worms, spore launchers, sealurks, and isles of the deep.New Technologies like marine detatchments can be added to ships so you can board and capture enemy ships!Four new secret projects are also made available:Planetary Energy Grid (energy bank in every base - nice!), Cloudbase Academy (air complex in every base - definitely the most valuable secret project!), the Nethack Terminus (probe team bonus - yawn!), and the Manifold Harmonics (nice for extra food and energy but the game is almost over!).

Once you play with the new factions and buildings, it's doubtful you'd go back to playing just the original as much if at all.

It took me forever to find this
This is one of those, 'don't ask us about' it addons.Seems the owner and a head developer when seperate ways.If you really only want to play the game and are not stuck on collecting it, or the box artwork, do a search for 'The Laptop Collection', and just buy the thing for 19.99 along with Alpha Centauri and like 2 other games.If you need to show the box to your friends, or want to resell it on e-bay, you'd better buy it used for like $75 to $125 here.Whatever you need.Cool game.Next time I won't wait so long to get what I wanted.Collectors glut just about ruined getting a hold of this one.Barely made it.Notice, I don't need the pretty box. :)

Great!
If you manage to get your hands on a copy of this, hold onto it as strong as you can!It was discontinued maybe five years back, but it still holds strong with nowadays games.Alien Crossfire gives you a larger diversity in factions, along with the ability to make your own.The only downside is it sells for $$ or more.The new units and technologies, not to mention factions, are great!

A great expansion to a great game
So you thought Alpha Centauri is all there was?Well, get ready for an even bigger game experience.

Most companies just add a few frills to a computer game with an expansion.But the Alien Crossfire expansion not only adds the frills, it adds totally new thrills.In addition to the new human factions and their units, it adds two Alien races to the mix - making this one of the most original colonization / civilization games available.

There are new secret projects to build.There are new units to add to your already full arsenal.There are some new features on Planet that make exploration more interesting.Add to that the alien races - one which is bent on recovering "their" world at all costs, and one that is more interested in working with the humans that have colonized this new world.

My favorite new faction is the Nautilus Pirates.They start with a unique advantage - they build their first city in the sea, and they can very quickly achieve dominance of Planet's oceans.

If you liked Alpha Centauri, it might be worth your effort to try to find a copy of Alien Crossfire.My only dream is that both discs will be released as a single package someday. Still one of my most played discs.One of my very highest recommendations. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Borg have returned! A starship from the future has materialized to warn of the latest Borg threat. You are in charge of the fleets on Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Borg ships that will wage this epic battle. Build starships, construct space stations, and research special weapons to lead your side to victory. Along the way, you will survive a Klingon civil war, Romulan subterfuge, and the Borg's search for perfection. The future is in your command.

Star Trek: Armada is the first real-time 3-D strategy game set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe. In various campaigns, the player assumes command of the fleets of the Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Borg, using up to 30 starships in dynamic ship-to-ship combat as well as overseeing the construction, repair, and staffing of the ships. ... Read more

Reviews (117)

The Best Game Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Star Trek Armada is the greatest game ever.Once you learn how to build and command your troops (I reccomend multiplayer for this) this game just keeps on getting better.In the first mission you just have to distroy a few Jem'Hadar strike crusers,but you have the Enterprise and two akira class ships so it's real easy.Then I was hooked wen the Premonition appeared and told Picard that the Borg were about to return and wipe out the Federation.The you had to sve it from two borg spheres.After you do so you have to hurry off to stop the Borg.Throughout the campaign you will get to play as the Federation,the Klingons,the Romulans,and the Borg.After you beat each race's campaign you unlock the final mission.In multiplayer you can play on the internet or LAN.You can play with all four races in a bevy of maps.Combine all this, great controls ,and a wonderful story to make what I call the best game ever!

Best of the last of Activision
If you are a star trek fan, and like strat. games, and just get a kick out of watching a dozen starships going at it, then get this game.Then get on the intenet and download an even better version of the game made by the fans.I dropped my PS2 infavor of star trek armada modifications.GO MILLENNIUM PROJECT!!!

Star Trek Armada I
When I first started playing this game, it was challenging and I found it quite interesting. I've played this game for about 3 years on and off, and I love it. However, it gets easy after a while, but dont let that keep you from enjoying this game. It's a lot more fun playing it with friends over an internet or Local Area Network connection. Have Fun!!!

Star Trek - Armada
I thought the game was very fun and good. You have the Federation,Borg,Romulans, and Klingons. The Ferengi, Dominion, Breen and Cardassians also make appearances.It has the habit of sometimes crashing but that doesn't happen a lot. One thing I was disappointed with is how short and easy the missions were, even with the setting on hard they were easy. The graphics were good. It has a good multiplayer connection and instant action against the computer. If you are a trekkie it wouldn't hurt you to buy it! Also the game I have does work on Windows XP.

Happily Ever After
I'm a first time buyer from here.I forgot I ordered the game, but was happy when I got.I can't wait til I get off work tonight to play it again.It was exactly as advertised. I'd order from the seller again, no doubts about it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on Douglas Adams's legendary Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Starship Titanic series puts you on board the greatest spacecraft ever built. Unfortunately, it has disappeared mysteriously in hyperspace. Once on board, you must discover what caused the disappearance, reveal the conspiracy that lies behind the catastrophe, and then repair the ship's intelligence and guide it back home. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I expected a very complex and fun game
That was what I expected.I feel that the game was a let down overall because I kept expecting something really cool to happen, but it pretty much never did.It was kind of interesting at best.I gave two stars because three would indicate that I found it worth while.Most of the puzzles where either easy, or lacking in the ability to be solved without hints. I don't think I could have done it without the strategy guide that came with it. Also, I found that one of the puzzles didn't work in the way the manufacturer probably intended.To be fair, the humor was funny and very PYTHON which I liked. Additionally, I thought the whole concept was very good and I kept expecting some cool things to happen, but ultimately it did not pan out.Good Try.

And now, for something completely titanic...
Starship Titanic is not based on Hitchhiker's Guide, but is very similiar in style.The game is very good, but can be difficult at times.However, unlike most games where dialogue is just something to proceed the plot, inthis game it is actually a funny and entertaining diversion thanks to thegreat dialogue engine and voice acting.Between the funny, but annoyingparrot and the Elevator attendant who constantly talks about his wartimeexploits (what war, we don't know).Buy this game if you want a funny andinteresting ride.Also, buy the book to learn about the story.

Well, he knows how to write good books
The game was quite a bit of a letdown, as I am a big fan of Douglas Adams.Unfortunately, the game is not all that fun as a game.I felt even let down in the humor (or should I say humour) department as well.It did notseem as though Mr. Adams had full control over the project, as bits andpieces seemed to be his sense of humor, and other bits seemed to be awatered down Monty Python attempt.The bits that are funny are definitelyfunny, especially the talking message delivery system things.The look ofthe environs were astoundingly beautiful, but I feel that it lacked a soulbehind it.The game puzzles were at times very easy, and other timesastoundingly non-intuitive and difficult.For instance, there is onepuzzle that simply does not give you a clue that you are doing the rightthing, and you have to do it repeatedly for the game to finally give in andlet you have the victory.I won't say what it is, but it involvessomeone's butt.Overall, the humor was what kept this from getting a onestar review, but even that was a disappointment.

The fun wasn't in the puzzles...
Usually when people play adventure games they do it partially because they enjoy solving puzzles.In this game the puzzles seemed to only be a small part of the enjoyment.It was more fun to play with the message delivery system, tease the parrot, and vandalize the ship... the puzzles were simplya means to do more of this.

If you are a fan of both Douglas Adams andMonty Pyton you will love this game, otherwise some of the jokes might belost upon you.The novel that comes with the game is a big plus, as itexplains things a bit better.

Game play wise the interface is clean andhas a unique feature that allows you to actually type in dialogue thatyou'd like to 'say' to the other characters instead of selecting phraseslike to many other adventure games.There were times when it was somewhattedious to run from one end of the ship to another, but that tends to be agiven for any adventure game these days.

If I were to voice any greatcomplaint, it was that in the end I didn't feel as though I'd accomplishedall that much and kept wondering where the rest of the game had gone.Ithink more time was spent on making the game LOOK neat instead of making ita deep and interesting adventure.It has some really hilarious moments(the parrot is great!) but not all that much more. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This action-packed, laugh-filled game takes the popular Worms 2 to the next level. You lead a pack of heavily armed worms into action. Sheep explode, mad cows fall from the sky, old ladies detonate spontaneously--you get the general idea. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Strategy Fighting at it's Best
This game has everything any gamer would ever want.I don't have the game yet, (it's coming in the mail) but I've played at me cousins house a countless number of times.Worms Armageddon is so customizable you can pick the voices, names, and flag of your team.You can create a seemingly endless amount of teams.The only problem is that the 1-player missions may be a bit to hard for an unexperianced player, but overall this game may be old but is certainly one of the greatest games out there, you have to have it.

really fun
whoa, this game is so fun.sometimes the sound effects get a lil annoying but who cares you should provide your own soundtrack anyway with a 8 track.

Great Game - Beware XP Compatibility
As the other reviewers point out, this is an hillariously addicting little game.The game works find in the Windows 95/98/ME environment, but I've yet to get it to work in XP (I just use a dual boot system to play this game).

True Classic
It isn't every day that one stumbles across an umbeatable idea for a game. But that is exactly what the folks at Team 17 did with Worms. The creators of this game took the ancient artillery style of video game (a style older than pack-man!) and added an attitude that just couldn't fit on any other game. Its great fun to watch the worms kill each other with all the weapons of the game. Plus, it is easily one of the most custumizable games I have ever seen. You edit almost every feature of the game, from weapon detailes to player hitpoints and more. Given the artillery style of gameplay, however, which is what makes all the action possible, I believe that Worms is one of those games that can only be ruined by a 3D engine.

This game is a gem, and unbeatable within its realm.

I'm gonna get this soon
I've played this on my friends Playstation, and it is one of the most fun games we've played.Sure the graphics aren't great, but that adds to the style.The gameplay is super fun, and the weapons are FUNNY!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In Worms World Party, players control each of the four worms individually as they lead them into battles across a variety of missions and a number of dedicated online locations. You can use whatever weapons come to hand to eradicate the rival worms. A wealth of weaponry--including bazookas,grenades, and a sheep launcher--are available. Adverse weather conditions canaffect the trajectories of projectile weapons, creating a game of genuineskill.

Worms World Party features a new editor to create and edit your own missions. You can place them on the Internet for others to download. With20 new multiplayer missions, players can now team up with a buddy oncooperative missions. Plus, there are 45 amazing single-playermissions--from puzzle style to real-time action. The Wormopaedia gives youan extensive catalog of weapons, tips, and mythology. Additional newspecial effects round out this fun and addictive game. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

ALL HAIL THE WORMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game rocks!It's like every war game mixed together!So buy it!

funny fun
once tim dunn wrote a poem that was subsequently published in gold and blue and creative too.it went something like this.

books are fun.
books are funny.
books are fun and lots of funny.

Play this game with a friend!
Worms World Party is a game with an moderately steep learning curve. It's control scheme indicates it's clearly aimed at the game platform crowd, but it works very well on the PC platform. My work colleagues and I play this game on a regular basis - once you can master the basic controls, it's a tremendous amount of fun.

Don't let the cartoon-like 2D animation fool you - this is a game that requires considerable strategic planning several moves in advance. The number of powerful weapons only adds to the strategic choices. Shall I use the Ninja rope,swing over a cliff, and drop a Holy-hand grenade? Shall I release an exploding sheep over a deep chasm to destroy an opponents worm? Should I fire Patsy's Magic bullet instead, eliminating a worm half-the-map away. The strategic possiblilites are endless.

The Ninja rope is particularly useful, as it allows you to swing over cliffs, or into crevices, and plant explosive weapons in places you wouldn't be able to otherwise.

You can choose to play the single-player campaign, but the multiplayer is the very best reason to buy this game. Play this game with friends! And don't forget to bring your exploding sheep to this party!

Finnaly a good game I could play with others!
I had this game for about 2 years, and I thought "Maby I should right I reviw about this game", and here Im righting it.
Really I dont like playing with the computer cause its boring, so uselly I dont play against the computer.
I have Windows 98, Pentium 3, and it runs great.(well not realy anymore since I scratched very badly).
Well I love playing this game with my freinds, and they love playing it too.
I always beat them.
The best thing in this game is the wepons like, Supersheep, Armagedon, Sheepstrike, Donky, and more.
WWP, is defently better then the first one.
Some people say its the same, and im going to say they are right exept there is more weapons, levels, and options.
This is what you can do in Worms World Party: You can create youre own level, make unlimited weapons (when playing wih friends), make youre own team.
Well the game is kind of the same as the first one, but I like Worms World Party more then the first one. :-)

Worms World Party
Many of you reviewers have obviously had trouble installing your game but my copy just had no trouble at all! I inserted the disk, it began to spin and that screen came up, i selected install and went thorough all that stuff yes put a shortcut blah blah blah and the game was fine! It ran just as good as any other game i have! But about the actual game, it is incredible. You can crete computer controlled teams such as mine which i named Punching Bags and wage wars against them with your own made teams. Overall its a great game for PC but dont buy i on GBA. Not that its bad on GBA but i still need to get my own copy!
Hahahahahaha. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Battlezone places you in the midst of the cold war--as it's being fought in outer space. Play either the Soviet or American side; command and create over 30 units, such as antigravity tanks, walkers, guntowers, barracks, and recyclers--all while fighting from inside your own vehicle in single-player or multiplayer skirmishes. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Battlezone "First Edition"
Battlezone is one of the first and most outstanding online multiplayer games ever developed.Released in 1998 on the ANET server platform for PC Windows with over 90% of players accessing the game through 56k modems, Battlezone supported instant action, strategy and deathmatch games.In 1998, only a few Activision, Inc., a few visionaries understood the coming importance of online multiplayer gaming for the genre, deathmatch, strategy and team play. This online game, developed in 1998, is it still actively played and supported by a group called the Battlezone Club (http://www.battlezoneclub.org).This game incorporates the longest development for online battle design and action as well as strategy of any game ever developed, which includes, in my humble opinion, "Full Spectrum Warrior" and many other "followers."The original is still in being developed by this non-profit organization for its community of players.

Maybe one day...
There is only one game out there older than 5 years that I still feel the obsession to play to this day.The single player mode is enthralling, but the multiplayer is where this game shines.The factor that you had the ability to build your own maps to battle on was such a dominating factor.Now that the game is slowly dying, I am afraid that there will no longer be a game that has the amount of creativity at this level.

A game to be remembered
A fine-tuned mix of action/strategy.
After it snapped up the rights to Atari�s classic coin-op Battlezone, there was a concern by some gamers that Activision would take the quick-and-easy route by dressing up an old favorite and shoveling it out the door in the hope that nostalgic name recognition would see it through. Activision had much bigger plans in store. Mixing elements of action and strategy along with sharp graphics and an entertaining story line, this new Battlezone emerges as the most addictive, ingenious and approachable game to appear in a long while.

While there is a nice tie-in to the original -- you still drive a tank (a hover tank to be exact) -- this is not the Battlezone you remember from the arcades. Set during the space-race of the late sixties, Battlezone kicks off with a good old fashioned "Us versus Them" conspiracy tale that pits the USA against the Soviet Union in the dark reaches of space.

It seems that during the early days of the space program an alien alloy (referred to as bio-metal) was discovered on the moon that allowed researchers to make amazing advances in technology. Unfortunately, competition for this mysterious metal became fierce as both superpowers (U.S. and USSR) began amassing forces on the surface of the moon. The Soviets launched covert operations under the guise of its space program; while NASA�s highly-publicized lunar mission became the cover story for the USA�s secret military build-up on the moon.

While the story is a bit far-fetched, it�s extremely well done and very entertaining. More importantly, the story translates into a solid premise for both the action and strategy portions of the game. The single-player mode can be played from either the U.S. or Soviet sides, but the game is designed to be played from the U.S. side first. During the first few missions on the U.S. side, players are gradually eased into Battlezone�s seamless mix of real-time strategy and action, and from there, chances are you�ll be hooked.

Starting with a bio-metal recycler (the most basic construction unit), you�ll construct vehicles to scavenge scraps of bio-metal, build base defenses, and construct new base vehicles capable of building more advanced structures and vehicles. You command all the action from the cockpit of your hover tank, one of several specially-designed attack craft capable of negotiating the harsh environments of alien worlds.

Controlling the action should be second nature to most action fans, with a combination of mouse and keyboard controls (joysticks are also supported) similar to those in Quake. But unlike the easy key re-mapping of Quake and its ilk, customizing the controls to your liking in Battlezone can tricky, and occasionally impossible. My preferred mouse/keyboard configuration -- A for forward, Z for back, Left shift for left strafe, and X for right strafe -- can�t be duplicated in Battlezone simply because the Left shift key can�t be remapped. Additionally, getting a customized setup in place is a pain if you want to re-map a key that�s already in use, since you�ll have to change that key first, then re-map the desired key.

The rest of the interface however, is a textbook example in efficiency. By using just a few number keys on the keyboard, you can easily manage all aspects of command; whether it�s building tanks, defenses, or ordering an attack, you�ll hardly ever need to take your eyes off the action. About the only time you need to divide your attention between action and management is when you have to designate construction areas for your constructor, or specify locations for turrets and howitzers. Other than these few instances, you�re free to be a mobile and active part of the fight while still commanding the bigger picture.

Under your command is a range of offensive vehicles made up of fast scout craft, well-armored tanks, deadly bombers, and mobile artillery; the opposition has the same. Using the same simple control interface used to build your base, you�ll order your forces to defend a building, attack a target, hunt for enemies, or follow you. But unlike most games, where you send wave after wave of expendable units at an enemy�s defenses, the catch is that you�ll only be able to have ten offensive and defensive vehicles at any one time -- and every vehicle needs a pilot. When a tank or vehicle is destroyed, these pilots are ejected and must make their way back to the base on foot. Unfortunately they also make tempting targets for passing vehicles. Even if you�ve got enough resources on hand, you won�t be able to build a new tank until there is a pilot to take the wheel.

This last bit plays a large part in how you�ll fight in Battlezone. You�ve got to pick your fights with care, hitting vulnerable targets in swift aggressive strikes to avoid taking losses, and you�ve also got to know when to retreat behind your defenses.

This continuing process of fast attack and constant defense gives the battles in Battlezone a constantly evolving and dynamic feel and throughout each of the single-player missions, chances are you�ll learn something new. And when the single-player game is exhausted, Battlezone�s support for up to eight players is certain to extend its life for some time to come. Standard deathmatching is available, as is the full strategic game. While the deathmatch option is a fun no-brainer, most players will gravitate to the chaos and conflict of the multi-player strategy games. This is some of the most intense multi-player action you�ll find as fierce battles erupt for control of sparse scrap fields, friendly pilots get squashed, and defenses are laid to waste. It�s fast, furious, and incredible amounts of fun.

With its raucous multi-player action, flawless presentation, and effortless interface, it�s hard to find much to complain about in Battlezone. If you ever thought that action and strategy was an unholy alliance, sit back and let Battlezone re-write the rule book for you.

Action-Strategy that keeps you coming back for more!!
Battlezone is by far the most fun and entertaining game of all time. It excels in every aspect!

The story is based on the (fictional) discovery of an alien "bio-metal" that has landed on Earth in a meteor showing in the Berring Straight. This bio-metal can be shaped and trasformed into powerful fighting machines. The Americans feel this is the key to controlling space. But they have miscalculated one possibility: the Red Soviets have found the metal too, and the countries are then pitted against each other in a war to end all wars...

As far as gameplay goes, Battlezone brings a new perspective to gaming; the action/strategy combo. While you still control vehicles and resources, you are also a formidable combat unit, capable handling things like enemy attacks and mission objectives all by yourself. The AI for units in this game sadly falls short of spectacular. They have trouble navigating tough terrain and do not take full advantage of their fighting abilities during combat. However, they do make powerful wingmen to have on attacks or for defending targets such as your base.

Battlezone provides endless hours of intense excitement for experienced or novice gamers. It is most assuredly a must-have!

A LOST GEM IN A SEA OF GAMES
This game is truly a Masterpiece of Stategy mixed with a First Person shooter.A lost gem and one worth finding. The ONLY drawbacks were you must keep video and sound card drivers up to date!It had some minor glitches with some drivers I had.I am running Battlezone on an AMD Thunderbird 1.2GHz with 512mb ram and a 3Dfx Voodoo5 video card and it looks AWESOME!! So for a game that is over 2-3 years old it still shines with the BIG boys!! ... 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

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

Worms2 is a turn-based game in which up to 8 players can participate. You command a platoon of worms that inhabit a randomly generated terrain, and you must destroy the other worms with an assortment of devastating weapons. Each turn is limited to a set number of seconds. The time limit allows you to position your worm in a nearby safe place, collect one of the bonus items sprinkled around, or go to attack a neighboring worm. Battle continues until only one team of worms remains; otherwise, after 30 minutes of mayhem, death, and destruction, a draw occurs.

Each platoon of worms is given an assortment of weapons, tools, and utilities with which to dispose of the enemy in any way necessary. Players can reconfigure platoon weapons for each game to create war zones.

Use the Internet to challenge players in the next town, country, or continent. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

nice game to play with a friend
This is quite a nice game to play with one or more friends...
Its really humoristic and quite exciting to play if you and your friend are equally skilled. And its easy to learn: in about an hour you can learn the basics.
But worms 1 was far better... I gave away my worms 2 cd to a friend, but no-one touches worms 1 !

The best game ever!
This is a game that you can play over and over again without getting sick of it!You can play against the computer, against a friend over the internet, or be in the hotseat! You can also choose the map you want to play on.And you can choose the style of the map.Like hell, melted clock, and a few others. The graphics are good, and the sound is great.You play as worms, andcan use different weapons to kill the enemy worms.Like a bazooka, dynamite, an explosive lamb, a kamakazi, and more!It also has some humor in it.For example, in the game, the worms say different things at different times.So you can choose your worms accent!Like Australian, Scottish, and more!The original accent is a voice that sounds like someone who just inhaled helium!It's pretty funny. So if you like humor, and war games, then this cartoon game is right for you.In other words, I highly recommend this game!

worms 2
I like this game because it's funny yet challenging. For those who like a god laugh, a lot of action and hardcore army fighting this is your game.

Fun, Entertainment for hours on end
Worms 2 is a very addictive game. I learned about it when I played it at my friend's house. When she tried to explain what exactly happens, I thought it was really strange and sounded like the typical army game (nofun at all), but playing with worms and using wacky weapons. I was totallywrong. Worms 2 is fun to play, uses strategy and luck combined, and createslots of laughs. The worms actually look really cute too. It's worth themoney.

Best accident in a long time
My 7-year-old son picked out one of those bundled 4-packs of softwareat Costco recently. His decision was based on cool pictures on thebox, but no knowledge of the actual games. I was inclined to say "no", but. . . at that price I figured if even one of the four was halfway decent, it would be worth it.

Boy, did we score! The one of the four was Worms 2. My son and especially I are now hopelessly hooked, and I haven't been hooked on a computer game in years. It's imaginative, challenging, fun, and funny. My 10-year-old daughter is starting to get into the act. My wife thinks we're all nuts. Now I'm ready to go buy Worms: Armageddon (the sequel) even though it doesn't come with three other games. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Bruce Campbell, star of Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, and Xena: Warrior Princess, lends his superb voice-over talent to space fighter jock Jake Logan in Tachyon: The Fringe. As Jake, players assume the role of a badass pilot for hire in the 26th century.

The plot and setting of the game are perfect for a gritty sci-fi tale. Tachyon jump gates connect distant planets, enabling interstellar trade. Megacorporations hire contract pilots to protect space convoys and valuable cargo from pirates. Jake Logan, a veteran pilot battle tested from age 14, has built a reputation of skilled combat and quick decision making. Advance Ganymede Technologies, a starship design firm, takes notice and hires Jake for contract work.

For the most part, Tachyon: The Fringe eschews standard space combat simulation conventions by eliminating linear mission structure. Tachyon typically provides several missions, called "jobs" in the game, which the player can select in any order. Rewards for completing jobs include gaining the use of new technology, obtaining cash for purchasing new ships, weapons, and equipment, and advancing the main story line. Players decide how to equip their ships and spend their mission bounty. This freedom gives each new mission a fresh feel.

Bruce Campbell's infectious sarcasm and undeniable cool factor fit the grizzled space cowboy perfectly; often you'll want to complete missions or destroy enemy ships just to hear which one-liners Bruce says next. Missions jam packed with dialogue create short, exciting stories; soon, though, Jake finds himself embroiled in a larger plot involving a renegade colony fortifying its territory in an area of space known as the Fringe.

Tachyon's graphics look sharp, though inconsistent in areas. Star bases and fighters exude size and detail; however, bland hanger bays and the multicolored ship interface strike a contrast against the beauty of deep space and immense capital ships. Sound effects fare better with stellar voice acting, crisp weapon effects, and menacing deep bass as ships rush through space.

A solid entry into the space combat genre, NovaLogic's Tachyon: The Fringe dares to be different and succeeds. Free multiplayer action over NovaLogic's online gaming service NovaWorld extends enjoyment; compete with dozens of players online in deathmatch-style Arena Match or the team-based Base Wars. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Two words--Bruce Campbell
• Nonlinear mission style gives the player numerous choices on how to shape the story line
• Highly customizable ships permit weapon and equipment combinations to suit a player's specific combat style
• Free multiplayer component provides hours of additional gameplay

• The graphics, though good, aren't quite as impressive as in FreeSpace 2 or StarLancer

Reviews (30)

It's Great
I wish i had the full version of it..
I got the game demo as a demo bundle to the Video Card that i had bought a E-TNT2 64 AGPcard...

But the game is fun... the controls are pretty easy.. you gotta play around with it a little bit buts its really fun~
great story line and even better plot.
Good Graphics too

wanna buy me the game? lol

WOW 100,000,000% BEST SPACE SIM EVER!
This is the best game ever there are so many variables to adjust and so many options to change it is great. Not to mention the different; weapons, missions, regions, space sations, i could go on... Overall a good game and good weapons also the difficulty can ber changed any time in the game if you get boartd with the toughness of your apponetts also there is a battle between two rival factions and you get to choose sides and weapons (SUGGEST GALSPAN CORAPORATION GOOD TECH'S) GET THIS GREAT GAME!
JUST LIKE REAL LIFE DECISIONS.

Talk About Space Flight..........
This game has you thinking you're really there, flying and fighting in space.You control your role as the mercenary indepedent star pilot Jake Logan.Awesome weapons upgrades and powerful CPU updates keep you giving the enemy what they have to except.Search asteroid belts for cargo and beam valuable crates aboard your ship.Once you finish the game you'll be eager to play again, it is very addicting.It will keep you busy for quite a while.This just isn't a game, it's an adventure.Who ever designed this game was a total guenius.

huh
the game was cool, annd fun, and neat, and great, and CHEAP!!!!!

Things that make you go, Huh!
Tachyon is one of those games that intrigues from the mini-movie intro. The graphics and colour schemes are so dazzling that you will instantly get an adrenaline rush. This has to be one of the best rendered games I have come across. The gameplay is simple enough to grasp, there is not much of a learning curve here. Sound,despite the odd shrill female voiceover, is very well done. So why do I rate a mere three stars? I have one rule to playing games. I play for fun and not to be aggravated. Unfortunately Tachyon has a few elements that are sure to tick some (certainly me) off. The game is played out on the "Job Board" where you will be hired to complete contracts ranging from deliveries to disabling "Capital Ships". Some of these quests require the player to repeat multiple times before figuring out how to find the proverbial chink in the armour.Try disabling a Battle Cruiser that outguns you 20-1. Good Luck. That (repetition) gets boring real quick. Each time one has to return to base, rearm and take off again, usually passing through multiple gates before reaching the target. That is a whole lot of lost gaming time. The thrill of the chase and intensity of combat (assisted by the A1 graphics) makes up for the lag. But my biggest complaint is that I have encountered difficulties with the docking controls. On a few occasions I have had to spend up to an hour just trying to dock (despite the autodock feature) because the AI wouldn't acknowledge that I was there. Indeed I had to abandon one quest (Rescue the Persephone) because the auto dock didn't work. It's not just a thing that makes you go ,HUh! but is also very annoying. The quests simply lack the depth and sophistication (lasting little more than 10 min. on average) to overcome the deficiencies. Don't get me wrong I still think this is a great game, graphically speaking, but the repetition and bugs really spoil the fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

CogniToy's first game, MindRover, takes gamers to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, in an intriguing new adventure designed to bring intellectual challenges back to competitive gaming. With an immersing 3-D environment, a compelling soundtrack, and its innovative graphical wiring system, MindRover asks the gamer to think more and twitch less. MindRover players find themselves in a research station perched on the ice-covered moon as Jupiter dominates the sky overhead. Your task is to construct small robotic rovers that compete with one another in a variety of challenges. What's particularly new and unusual is that it's not just a matter of choosing weapons. The player actually gets to control how the robots react through a visual programming metaphor that CogniToy calls "wiring." In the construction lab, players choose bodies, drive trains, sensors, weapons, and manipulators for their robots from a large array of possibilities, then visually wire the sensors to the controls to give each rover a unique set of behaviors. The rover is then moved to the competitive arena and set free to take on all competitors. In one arena, the competition may be a race, and players would likely choose small, fast vehicles with sensors tuned for staying on the course and avoiding obstacles. But in the very next room, the goal may be simply to be the last robot standing, in which case it might be a good idea to festoon a tank with a whole array of weapons, along with radar units to guide them. The game includes puzzles, mazes, treasure hunts, and other unique problem-solving tasks. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

In the beginning, FASA created a miniatures game that featured humansinthe far future piloting 30-foot giant robot tanks called BattleMechs. The gamewas called BattleTech, and it was good. Then Activision assaulted ourPCswith MechWarrior, a sequel, a handful of add-on packs, andMechWarrior: Mercenaries, and it was great! Then, MicroProse got thecomputer game license and gave us MechWarrior 3, and it was OK--notquitegood, but also not bad at all. Now, Microsoft has bought FASA Interactive andthe BattleTech license. So FASA gives us MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, andfolks, it's awesome.

MechWarrior 4 casts you as Ian Drusari, the nephew of a powerful duke,who returns to his home world from the Clan Wars to find it occupied by arivalnoble family: House Steiner. You must launch a civil war and reclaim yourbirthright as you command a ragtag army of awesomely armed, 40-foot-tall, 80- ton, 90-mile-per-hour BattleMechs across the remote battlefields of yourhostileworld.

Not a bad tale to tell and Microsoft made sure the telling would play as wellasit looks. The graphics are flat-out amazing. Lighting effects, smoke trails,smoldering Mech armor, laser discharges, and missiles all look incredible. Youcan fight in deserts, arctic regions, forests, and even on the moon: all looksci-fi-movie perfect. Mechs have more animations than ever before as well.Theystomp across the battlefield and reel from weapons fire convincingly, and whenthe cannon fire finally punches through their armor, they light up likeChristmas trees. Thermonuclear Christmas trees, that is.

The Mechs are faster than in previous games yet you still feel like you'repiloting a lumbering, walking tank--this is a Mech combat simulator, notQuake III in power armor. The controls have been simplified, but thisisa good thing. It used to take a long time to learn how to pilot 100 tons ofarmored death, but now the controls are much more intuitive. No longer willplayers have to cycle through weapons lists; now, each weapons group iscontrolled by its own button on the joystick. We recommend Microsoft's Sidewinder joystick, as thegame'scontrols were written with that stick in mind.

The enemy Mechs in the single-player game play well. Both your allies and theenemy use their Mechs' capabilities wisely and provide a challenge throughoutthe game's long and entertaining campaign. Multiplayer is offered viaMicrosoft's easy-to-use Gaming Zone and there is also an Instant Action modethat'll keep you playing long after the campaign is over. MechWarriorisback and looming large over the gaming scene. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Immersing techno-feudal storyline
• Excellent balance between simulation and action
• Challenging, yet easy to learn.

• High system requirements
• Sometimes cheesy voice acting

Reviews (107)

Pretty Good
I've played Mech Warrior 2,3 and now 4. And I would have to say of all of them Mech Warrior 3 was over all the best. In Mech 4 my biggest complaint is that the mech's movement is not all together realistic. They move to fast. In Mech 3 they seemed much more realistic in their movement. They were the lumbering giants that they were supposed to be, not running around like little toys. The missile firings and weapons firing are better in Mech 3 as well, more realistic. I do like Mech 4's Mech Lab as it makes weapons loading more realistic to each mech. I still do enjoy Mech 4 though ,and it is fun to play, but it seems to me that with some small improvements in certain areas, they should have stuck to a good thing with Mech Warrior 3 and just made some more senarios like Pirates Moon.

good game, bad balancing
Like all mechwarrior games, this one has too many controls to memorize.Aside from that, the graphics are stunning (the exception being the badly acted movies) the mechs are badass and the overall game pretty good.Unfortunately, most of the enemies in this game seem to require ungodly amounts of damage to take down making it nearly impossible to take on more than two or three enemy mechs before your own chassis is a smoldering ruin.I miss the good old days when a single alpha strike from a 100 ton atlas pretty much busted up anything that moved.

this came ROCKS!
walking around, knowing your in a monster robot that can crush a military tank like it's made of plastic, including awesome weapons and graphics, makes this game AWESOME!you can pilot small Mechs, such as the Shadow Cat, which aren't very powerful but are fast, or you can pilot huge, lumbering, powerful Mechs, such as the Atlas and Daishi, with awesome firepower.However, the characters in the main story ARE a little bit annoying.The main character talks like a senseless weirdo."Please.Go ahead.""Yes, of course." Duuhhhhhhhh.Not as annoying is the computer voice that always says, "Target destroyed."You get used to him after awhile.
The weapons totally rock.There's long range missiles, long tom artillery, lasers, LBX's,(which are like a series of shells),gauss rifles, ppc's, (my favorite beam weapons), which are lightning bolts that make your screen all wobbly and shaky when you get hit by them, and lots of others.one of the best primary weapons is when you combine clan machine guns and pulse lasers into one weapon.
some weapons, like the NARC beacon, flare, autocannon, flamer, and short range missile, kind of stink
well, anyway, all this to say........Mech Warrior 4 ROCKS!!!

Where did all the features go?
Truthfully, I'd rather play Mech 2 than this one.No external views, no screenshot or movie/mission replay feature, HUD display is different than previous Mech games, and music just seemed bereft of imagination.And I have to use the spacebar quite often just to skip the horribly 'campy' dialog and transitions. I mean, there must be too many bad writers for TV that are out of work because of all these even more stupid reality shows - they end up writing this campy dialog for software games just to eat.Graphics and gameplay alone are very good, but I was disappointed to find it is missing a lot of the features that Mech 2 has - and Mech 2 is more than 8 years old...

Totally Awesome!!!!
If you like the Mech games, and want to get one that has the best graphics, best play and awesome mechs..this is the game for you. I run it on Windows XP and it works just fine. So, just because the requirements stop at Win ME, dont pass this up, but do make sure that you have a good graphics card to enjoy them better. Also make sure that your video and sound card drivers are the MOST up to date. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Reach for the Stars is a turn-based strategy game of epic galactic exploration, colonization, and conquest. The original RFTS released in the mid-1980s was wildly popular in its day, and maintains a loyal following. Reach for the Stars is considered to be one of the original 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) games. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Review of the patched version of RFTS
Reach for the Stars (RTFS) is an excellent strategy game. Unfortunately it has suffered from the sale of its publisher - Mattel Interactive (MI) - just after its release. It has been very difficult to get hold of outside of North America and the new owners of MI have obviously had more important things to do then quickly address various bugs. Nevertheless SSG et al produced a patch fairly quickly to address the more serious crashing problems and I can report that the 1.1 version of the game is stable on my 350Mhz AMD powered machine with a NVidea TNT2 Pro video card. The 1.1 version patch is available at either www.ssg.com.au or www.ssionline.com. Through the Club SSI (www.clubssi.com) discussion forum SSG have announced another patch due soon to fix the remaining gripes mentioned in other reviews.

So why is RFTS an excellent game? Firstly it automates, simplifies and rationalises all of the empire building housekeeping work. The interface is easily navigated with your mouse and there are some excellent hot keys available. This is a major plus, having to individually manage each colony/city each turn used to drive me insane when playing other games.

RTFS deals with this easily with a long easily managed build queue mated with a visual summary of colony attributes. Similarly shipbuilding and research are taken care of in this manner leaving the player to concentrate on strategy.

Unfortunately this subtle approach hides the depth of the game and it does feel strange not having to actively give orders every turn in order to keep your empire going. Depending on which of the sixteen species you play this can be dangerous - you will need to tweak various research or build queues as empires begin to collide. Each species presents a different strategic problem and because each star system has multiple planets each rated for their habitat, it is possible to have several species in one star system. This is where diplomacy comes in.

The object of the game is to build your empire to the point where you can frag the other players. Thus space-fleet combat strategy is fairly important. Here is another misunderstood aspect of the game. If you believe space combat should consist of each sides heroes colliding in a melee of individual dogfights across the battlefield you will be disappointed with RFTS. SSG have decided to treat tactical space-fleet combat from the naval combat (rather than aerial combat) point of view.

Winning fleet battles begins in the ship design screen. Each technology era brings new hulls and weapons to equip them. You must decide which weapons you load onto those hulls. Thus you can optimise your ships for long range missile/beam attack with moderate defensive capabilities or if your hulls are robust enough, you can concentrate on short-range weapons. There are for basic combat ship classes: destroyers, cruisers, dreadnoughts and super dreadnoughts. To win you must build a balanced fleet with all four classes of ships present. Dreadnoughts alone will be destroyed by a smaller balanced force - depending on the relative technologies present.

Finally during the engagement you must select the range and basic fleet formation the fleet will fight in. These decisions will depend on your fleet composition and the weapons they carry, balanced against who and what you are facing.

Yes the combat screen does look like ping-pong, but unless you put some serious thought into it you will get thrashed. I suppose SSG could have put more bells and whistles into this area, except in games lasting only 30 minutes you can end up resolving 10 minor/major engagements in a single turn, with residual clashes to follow as retreating fleets collide in following turns. The stated object of this game is to defeat the opposing empire and rule the universe. Placing emphasis on individual engagements would not only detract from the strategy aspect, but would become monotonous as single turns took longer and longer to finish. I believe SSG have got the balance right.

SSG have also included the editor they used to create the scenarios and campaign. Tech-trees, species, maps, ships, planets, and scripts can all be edited, but the artwork cannot.

However there are a couple of caveats:

Firstly a warning. The game requires the computer to track every fleet and maintain a database of every ship and its weapon load out and damage status within those fleets. As the games become bigger you will find the number crunching required may slow the game down quite a bit. A 350Mhz computer will keep things ticking along fairly well with 3-4 empires and a medium sized map. Any larger and you will find the time lag between hitting a key and getting a response will be annoying.

Secondly, the invasion problem mentioned elsewhere wasn't fixed in the first patch. It will be in the second patch out soon. SSG are a small company and are fairly quick at patching things, but it is an annoying oversight.

Thirdly, there is no espionage or alien artefact research feature in the game mechanics. This is disappointing because skulduggery is bloody good fun and would have added another twist to the game.

Lastly, I would have liked to control planetary invasions the same way you controlled space combat. Designing and equipping armies and then directing their campaign in the same way you direct tactical space combat would have been nice. Alas not in this edition of RFTS - maybe the next one.

Even with these gripes the RFTS ver 1.1 is an absorbing strategy game, the sort of game that grows on you - well worth the money.

Comprehensive Review!
This game had A LOT of potential which seems to have been almost completely wasted.

I'll start with what this game does right.The overal concept, built in the fashion of a 4X game, was done very well.Essentially the point is to eXplore the galaxy, eXpand your empire, eXterminate and eXploit your enemies.The galaxy size is customizable and can become fairly large.Combine this feature with up to 8 other empires in play and the game can become an epic space opera.The races have their own "living" requirements which allows for a nice diversity of colonization restrictions.Stars which are the primary "dots" you see on the map screen allow for a random number of planets that can potentially be colonizable for your race.This ability and random star placement allows for better replay value.Empire management is extremely easy and it is evident that a lot of thought went in it's design.Most colonies can have their entire build tree set with a simple click of the mouse thanks to the game's well developed "default" build button.This saves a person's sanity in that you are not constantly bothered with having to remember what colonies are building what items especially when you have 20+ colonies.Ship building allows for the setting of a waypoint which allows for ships to "cluster" at a given star.They will move to that waypoint immediately after they are built.The autosave function is a wonderful feature that is unfortunately mandatory if you want to play a full game.The game comes with a VERY comprehensive editor which at first glance looks pretty nice.It allows for complete control over ALL aspects of an empire.It even allows you to completely re-write the technology trees to your liking.Scenarios can be built and linked together to form a custom campaign.

Now what this game does wrong.Probably the most glaring example of this is in the games NUMEROUS bugs.The game crashes constantly!It has at least one major memory leak and some major graphic glitches.It is almost impossible to play a complete game without using the autosave feature.Even when using the autosave it can be difficult to continue as more often than not your game will crash again after restoring to your previous turn.The one way around this I found was to restore a couple turns back and hope that it will progress through the problematic turn.The game also cannot seem to handle it's own complexity without bombing.If you attempt to play the game with more than 3 other empires the game will crash very early and much more frequently than usual.Marine functionality is completely broken.You are supposed to be able to capture enemy colonies with your marines.However when you attempt to do this it just destroys the colony instead.Space combat is akin to playing pong back in the 70's.This is the stupidest, most boring thing I have EVER done in my life.There is absolutely NO thinking or strategy invovled here.You have the option of setting 4 formation choices and 3 range settings then you sit back and watch the computer fight for you.To make matters worse the formations do very little to influence the outcome of the fight.There is no ability to target a specific set of ships and the only thing you need to know before going into combat is to build a bunch of small ships to act as cannon fodder for enemy weapons and take some of the pressure off your big ships.Diplomacy is so oversimplified that it is useless.The one advantage of allying with the other empires is for trade which brings in extra resources for your empire.Another annoying feature is that the galaxy wraps around!What?!?I see absolutely no point in this as it adds nothing but confusion to the game when you expect to see your ship on one half of the galaxy when its really on the other.When you start a new game you're always placed at the center of the map.Some random placement would have been nice but then again maybe random placement is irrelevant since the galaxy wraps around and allows for a constant center position.The game unfortunately just does not have the depth of Master of Orion 2 and combined with the overwhelming number of bugs it very difficult to even play.

This game just doesn't have enough positive features to outweigh the negative.My advice is save the money and buy something else.Major disappointment here!

half a review
Ok so the game has not been released, however you can download a 60 turn demo from mindscapes website. It looks like this could be a nice game.

The game takes much of the tedium of controlling a large empire away by pooling all resources, and allowing entire colony build profiles to be created with a single click. there appears to be a large tech list to research, and the presentation and interface a very polished.

the downsides:

the space battle look fairly simplistic, and uninvolved: you get to pick tactics - which seems to play like a more advanced paper, scissor, stones game. Its a shame they did not take the master of Orion route with combat. Also despite being able to design your own ships, it is hard to determine the affects of different configurations because you are so removed from the action

Still All said i am looking forward to seeing what it is like, and hope that some of these failing have been delt with for the release version.

James Tory

Buggy and boring
I was really looking forward to this game.I remember the first Reach for the Stars and how much I love the game, and I find it truly depressing that it's image has been tarnished with this title.The game crashes repeatedly, has image glitches, and scratchy sound.The technology tree is almost pointless since the technologies of the latest "era" completely supplant the previously researched technologies.There is so little variety or options for error in this area that you can rely entirely on the production and technolgy queues...which basically means that you spend the game moving fleets around and fighting battles.Since the battles are essentially just a series of choosing the formation and hitting end turn...it gets boring extremely quickly.If you want a good space strategy game, go buy a copy of Master of Orion II...this one wasn't worth the wait.

Good graphics and great AI!
It is a fun a game to play.Ijust recently got the game and it is awsome. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Machines is a real-time strategy game, where you control a race of silicon-based life forms on a mission to seed and dominate new worlds. The game lets you command your forces from both an isometric third-person perspective and a free-roaming, ground-level view, but it will also let you jump into any of your units to steer it, aim it, and fire it. This feature will let you guide vital units deep into enemy bases--dodging defensive fire--and actually enter enemy facilities to steal or sabotage technology. All of this will be delivered in 3-D, with hardware acceleration required for the game's 3-D terrain, the fully polygonal units, and the dynamic lighting and environment effects. Machines offers everything you've been waiting for in a 3-D RTS game. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Nice game!
I wrote a FAQ/Walkthrough on GameFAQs for this game, and I have to say, it is one of the best I have ever played. I am playing it on XP, because I have a patch. If anyone needs it, contact me at Aquarillis@gmail.com.

Be sure to check out my FAQ/walkthrough at gamefaqs.com! I can answer any questions if you post on the message boards or E-mail me!

Don't listen to that Gamespot review
When this game came out, slower PCs would indeed cause delayed pathfinding. On a modern PC it runs very quickly indeed. Also, that reviewer doesn't know his terminology. While some of the STRATEGIC intelligence is a little unimpressive, much of the UNIT intelligence is excellent. Units run to help each other out, non-combat units retreat from danger toward areas of relative safety etc. And unlike most RTSs of the period, you actually have to come up with decent tactical dispersals to fight the enemy well; dumb tank rushes won't necessarily achieve your goal. And lastly, the first person perspective is VERY useful if used judiciously. You just have to use it well; set a bunch of machines to follow a certain unit, then hop into that unit, and drive it around, with a group of AI-controlled minders in tow. This isn't a perfect game, but it's a very fun one.

Doesn't work on Xp
I've played this game on Windows 98 and it was very fun. But I upgraded to Windows Xp and I can't play it at all. Acclaim is too lazy to make a Windows Xp patch. I gave it a four because when i had Win 98 it was so cool. Acclaim must make a patch!

AWESOME
This game is the bomb! You get to sabotage enemy researchers and bases. You can play a battle, special, or full leanth game! When you choose battle, a group of machines are already waiting for your commands to destroy the enemy race(s). If you choose a full leanth (normal) game you start out with a few machines, and you start building defences, buildings, defenders, constructors, spys (they steal enemy research and lay mines), locators (to find mineral deposits), and other cool stuff! If you choose special, you get a huge battle!

Machines
I feel that it is an amazing game twisting the reality of war with an action packed stradegy game. It brings an incredible 3D enviroment inside your computer to the center of your mind. It is so realistic that it wouldalmost be posible to touch the machines like you would hamsters. Combiningfuture and fantasy together makes this master peice of a game a brilliant. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Star Trek: Starfleet Command Gold Edition has 26 new missions, featuring three Federation missions, three Klingon missions, 10 Hydran missions, seven Gorn Missions, and three Romulan missions. Similar to the original Star Trek: Starfleet Command, the Gold Edition offers you the starring role as a captain in any one of six star empires. You start out with command of a frigate, then take on missions, such as Convoy Escort and Courier. Depending on your success with the missions, you gain prestige. With prestige comes rank, larger ships, multiple ships, and more experienced officers. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Awesome, but lacking
I have played Starfleet Battles, D&D, and many other of these types of RPG games, and this is an execellent adaptation of the genre.I must say however, I do not understand why it's limited to two dimensions.

There is a bit more to playing the game than just point and shoot.You will have to learn to operate your ship in the Academy missions. It requires more than your average player is willing to invest.

All-in-all, an execellent game and worth the money.

Pleased so far....
As a Starfleet Battles player 12-15 years ago, this game was not hard to master.I do feel sorry for people who never played the original game because they get all the complexity at once (even the original game started out simple and grew).Here are some simple tactical tips that still seem to work -1)Don't be in a hurry to close with other ships until your weapons are fully charged and overloaded, if applicable.This is esp true for Romulans, Gorns, and Feds. 2)If you don't have any charged weapons, keep away from the enemy ships until you do (this was easier in the board game). Use mines to discourage following. 3)Try to deliver as much fire power at once as you can so that you have a chance to knock down a shield.There are lots of tricks like following missiles/drones into the target to add more, etc. 4) Don't forget the extra things like the suicide shuttles, admin shuttles, scatter pack shuttles, mines, etc.

Complex, but overall a good simulation
While I have not actually played Star Fleet Battles, I'm now interested in getting a look at the board game.I received this software as a gift and have been pleasantly surprised.The graphics are detailed and amazing.Gameplay, while it does take some time to master, is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it.

Just as you would imagine on a starship, there are many different things to do - and yes, it does take time for weapons to recharge in battle!However, the game does offer a series of tutorials at the Academy that walk you through everything you need.If you head straight for your opponent head-on and try to overpower them, you will get hurt.You need to know your opponent and their weaknesses.

Best part: the sense that these (or real naval battles) don't happen in lightning fast time.You don't need fast fingers to run this simulation; it helps to be able to think strategically about ship positions, which shields should be facing your opponent, which weapons will be ready to fire next, etc.This is an elegant waltz, not a blitzkrieg.

Worst part: the battlefield is 2-D.I assume this is due to the basis in the Star Fleet Battle board game, but it is frustrating to be limited to two dimensions in space.

Bottom line: if you approach this as a fast-fingered shoot-em-up, you will likely be frustrated.If you take the time to learn the game, you will likely enjoy the experience.

Very Dissapointing
I have been a fan of Star Trek since the beginning of it all, and bought this game after reading the stellar write ups and reviews. Had extremely high hopes for it, especially since it takes place in the "classic" universe. Upon playing it I found that the interface is so complex that to do anything requires clicking at least three different things. Each mission boiled down to this, aliens pounding me while I fire off one shot and stay still waiting for my energy to recharge. 5 minutes later if I'm still alive I might be able to fire again after my engines have been destroyed. And the navigation, how could they have a space combat sim with only two dimensions? Overall a big waste of time and money. Play Elite Force instead.

Now you don't need an opponent
One of the hardest things about Starfleet Battles (The game this videogame is based on) was finding opponents and remembering all of the rules. Now the computer does it for you.As the former commander of theFederation Klingon Border Fleet I applaud this game.My only problem isthe fact that it stutters while accessing on my system once in a while andthe interface is a little difficult in the heat of battle.Otherwise thegraphics are great and game play is fast.The special effects are verygood too. As the Starfleet battles game is out of print this is a very goodsubstitute for those who wish to command a "Real Starship" intobattle. ... Read more