Dominions 3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Dominion series is a turn-based multi-player fantasy strategy "god" game. The technology is not new (it's a few steps-up from text only) but the sheer depth of this game has to be seen to be believed. If you are a fan of turn based strategy or fantasy, you owe it to yourself to check this game out by downloading the free (and very capable) demo at Sharpnel Games website. Illwinter is obviously most interested in putting out a product that gives players options . . . thousands of options . . . and a compelling reason to play a game again and again and again. Appropriate comparisons for this game include any of the old turn-based map strategies, Master of Magic and the Total War series.
The mechanics of game play are basic. The bulk of play is executed by issuing orders to "hero" units. These heros can be military commanders, mages, priests, scouts, assassins, or even your pretender-god. You can also build armies to assign to your units. After all orders are issued and build queues are filled, you process the turn results (this is when battles are fought) and repeat.
Sounds simple but there are dozens of different hero types, each with a couple score attributes, a few magic item slots, the possibility of magic and other unique abilities, and even different potential order options (assassination, preaching and casting spells are not available to just anyone!) Add to this hundreds of spells, magic items, unit abilities and units, and you begin to see the possibilities.
Combat is unique in this game because you script your starting tactics and battlefield positions beforehand and then let the computer duke it out between forces. The net effect is you can determine how you will start your battle . . . but after that the tide of war determines how it ends (frighteningly similar to actual war in the ancient world.)
Victory conditions can vary as with almost a dozen other game options so it is hard to say what your ultimate goal is. Crushing the other pretender gods can't hurt!
The game background draws heavily from history, mythology and fantasy. Units range from grecian hoplites to hindu-influenced monkies to lovecraftian deep ones to clasic undead to the physical forms of the Pretender Gods themselves (dragons, demi-gods, mages and . . . weirder) Notably absent are the "normal" fantasy races . . . if you are looking for tolkienesque elves you'd better keep looking.
Just to help you wade through this mire of options, Illwinter has included a 300 page game manual. Not only is this a normal manual but it includes tidbits like quick-lookup tables and even a smattering of "standard" play strategies (which are a great starting point when you have this wide of a set of choices.)
Quick list of pros and cons:
Cons:
Graphics and audio (sprite based grahics, surprisingly good music but not much of it, "Cute" sound effects)
some potentially objectionable themes (human sacrifice, demons, raising the dead, magic, claiming godhood)
overwhelming array of options (you'll probably spend more time designing your pretender-god than actually playing the first few games.)
Price (not cheap)
No downloadable game.
Pros:
Options, options, options make for great replayability (which offsets some of the bite in the price)
Spectacular "atmosphere" on top of some very inventive background.
Simple enough to play right away even with the variety of options.
Simple system requirements.
Broad range of OS's.
Dedicated and global multi-player base.
Wonderful demo to try . . . and get hooked on.
So give it a go, you have nothing to lose and a whole lot of exploring ahead of you!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dominions 3

Dominions 3: The Awakening gives you a chance to save your world from the coming chaos -- or take advantage of it to see your god ascend and rule. Awakening from a slumber beyond comprehension to mortals, the gods promise much to their followers -- and to their enemies they will deliver blood, fire, and death. The war for true ascension to godhood begins and a new chapter in the Akashic records is about to be written in the tattered flesh of the fallen...Turn any image into a map -- battle across Faer n or Middle Earth Choose whether you want you chosen god awake or dormant when the game beginsRebalanced rates for income, supply and resources to enable larger conventional armies Streamline play by checking for taxes & unrest automatically, through the Autotax functionNew music from Erik Ask Uppmark and Anna Rynefors, the duo behind Dominion 2's lilting musical score Features 300-page printed manual with a play-along tutorial, spells reference, nations info and so much more

Click here for more information about Dominions 3

Read More...

Panzer General II Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If survival is a measure of quality, then PZG 2 must stand with the greatest computer games ever made. It was a great example of "brilliance in simplicity" when it was released and time has not in any way diminished its laurels. In an age when even thinking-man's games are often judged on bells and whistles rather than user-friendliness and enjoyability, it's refreshing to have one at hand that combines the ease-of-play of an action shooter with all the mental challenges you'd demand from a game of strategy.
Simply described, PANZER GENERAL 2 is a tactical-strategic game set in WW 2, which allows the player to choose either individual, one-and-done scenarios from various points between 1938 - 1945 or fight out whole, multi-scenario campaigns that took place during the war. (Individual units are at the regimental level, which allows the player to fight corps or army-size battles). Gamers may select from any of the five campaigns:
British: Follows a British army in NW Europe from 1943 - 1945, with special emphasis on the Normandy battles. A fairly short campaign, maybe five scenarios.
American: Follows the American army in NW Europe from 1943 - 1945. Another short campaign, beginning at Salerno and ending at Dessau. (Closely mirrors the British campaign.)
Russian: Follows the Soviet Army from winter 1941 to the assault on Berlin in 1945. Five scenarios or so.
German: "Blitzkrieg" - follows the German Wehrmacht from the Spanish Civil War in 1938 through most of its victorious campaigns in Poland, Norway, France, Greece, Russia, Africa, etc. This is by far the most detailed of the campaigns, and can go up to or past 17 different scenarios, including some great "What-Ifs" including the invasions of Malta, England and America (if you do really well). "Defending the Reich", on the other hand, is a defensive campaign which begins at Stalingrad and leads you through battles at Stalingrad, Salerno, Kursk, Normandy, and Hungary. It offers the German player the challenge of saving Hitler's empire for him, against overwhelming odds.
PZG 2 is built primarily as a campaign game, meaning that the player starts out with a corps or "family" of units which follow him from scenario to scenario (assuming they survive), and also allows him to acquire new units as time goes on. A very impressive and well-researched array of aircraft, tanks, armored fighting vehicles, artillery pieces, infantry units, and so on are available for every side to draw upon. In addition, a detailed requisition board synced into the game's play-clock allows you to upgrade your weapons as time goes on, so that units fighting in 1944 don't have to use 1939 weaponry. Tough combat situations add experience to your units, and extraordinary feats on the battlefield produce "leaders" who lend elite qualities to their units such as tenacity on defense, double attack, etc. In addition, a scenario-builder allows you to design your own games using not only the major combatants but also Hungarians, Poles, Finns, etc. Once you have the game down, this can be a hell of a lot of fun (say, America vs. USSR, 1946!).
PZG 2 was designed to be intuitive, and requires very little in the way of brow-furrowing to master. Movement, fighting, supply, etc. are all very fluid and idiot-proof, allowing you to concentrate on your battle tactics. Unlike many "strategy" games which favor mindless use of brute force or crazy speed, this one demands that you pay some homage to Clausewitz - concentrate your forces, stick to your objective, mind your clock and guard your flanks (failure to do so may result in embarrassing side effects, such as a*s-kicking). While the game's AI isn't exactly on the Brianiac level, it is more than clever enough on defense to give you fits, and has an eerie knack for finding your weak spot and driving a few regiments of tanks through it.
A last benefit: the engines used to power PZG 2 are so simple that numerous downloadable campaigns, with upgraded weaponry and sound, are available for free on the Internet, once you've exhausted all the possibilities of the game itself. But since that takes a couple of years, don't feel rushed. This classic has stood the test of more than ten years in a market where most games are forgotten in a month. It can wait.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Panzer General II

From the back of the box: "Panzer General II. More than just a sequel. It's an entire generation beyond anything yet seen in strategy games. And seeing is believing. Witness the LIVING BATTLEFIELD, a new standard for strategy game artwork. Thirty painstakingly created battlefields that are faithful to the real ones of World War II. Of course, this beauty goes beyond skin deep. The phenomenal game play of the second-generation Panzer General game engine is truly awesome. Battles rage through WWII's Eastern and Western Fronts, North Africa, even the Continental USA!"

Click here for more information about Panzer General II

Read More...

Sword of the Stars: Born of Blood (PC Games) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A great add on to what was already a solid space-strategy game. More research, a new race, a small add on to the economy (freighters). The voice overs still leave something to be desired, but otherwise the game's strengths lay in the battles and how you fight them. Just blast away or target a specific enemy component, it's up to you. I bought "Sins Solar Empire", truthfully I like "Sword" better, mostly because of it's game play.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sword of the Stars: Born of Blood (PC Games)

The year is 2445. Over 30 years have passed since the first stellar empires began to expand. Four races once set out to explore and conquer the galaxy, meeting in fiery clashes that spanned the universe. The first wars have passed and a promising age of diplomacy dawns. Now a new alien race emerges shattering the uneasy peace. With new drive systems, ships, technology, and tactics, the Zuul burst onto the scene with a devastating agenda - not only will they conquer, they will control the entire universeunless you put a stop to their destruction. With savage ships and psychic powers, they enslave or annihilate all those who oppose them. As their galley disks descend to harvest slaves from neighboring races, all other empires may be forced to put aside their grudges - if they do not unite against the Zuul, each race will be systematically exterminated. Form alliances and learn to work with your foes as you lead your fleets to victory in a universe at war in Sword of Stars: Born of Blood.

Get 50% OFF

Click here for more information about Sword of the Stars: Born of Blood (PC Games)

Read More...

Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you've ever played and loved Master Of Orion 2, your prayers have been answered. I downloaded the game from GalCiv's site (although you can save $6 by purchasing it from Amazon, but I couldn't wait), and it is a wonderful game. At the time of writing this review, I still haven't slept since downloading it. I haven't done that with a game in years.
Where does this succeed where Master Of Orion 3 and Imperium Galactica failed?
1) The GUI - The interface to the game is very streamlined, simple, and uncluttered. MOO2's greatest feature was how fast you could navigate all of the options. This interface reminds you of the great MOO2 interface with big buttons, a solid feel, and a nice heavy "click" on the buttons. You can control ships with mouse or keypad, and a double-click will access almost anything in the game. Gone are the overly-complex right-click menus and 5-10 layer deep menus of MOO3.
2) The Music - Not overly complex or overdominating. It sets the mood and then stays out of the way.
3) The graphics - You can crank the resolution way up to 1600x1200 if you want to heat up your graphics card, but this is the rare game that looks almost exactly as good at 1024x768. You could have a four year old GeForce2 card and run the game as fast as someone with a brand new 7800. The main reason is that the game uses 3D when necessary to add depth, but otherwise relies on beautifully drawn 2D environments.
4) The mechanics of the gameplay - The game plays fast, but of course, being a turn-based game, you can move as fast or as slow as you like, which is why it is so elegant. A beginner can take his time and enjoy, but as a game goes on and you build a huge empire, you can fly through the screens to manage your empire. The ship design and combat system is truly fun, while maintaining its simplicity.
5) Many ways to win...really! - Most games like this are won through combat or combat+"some minor element that really doesn't matter". In my first game, I cranked up the difficulty and built myself a massive fleet and set out to conquer the universe. Then I noticed my enemies were not fighting each other as much and focusing on me. I had neglected the diplomacy, and I quickly lost the game via diplomacy. You really can win, and get beat, through diplomacy, economy, and many methods other than war. Very cool...
My hats off to the designers of this game. They definitely set out to make an homage to MOO2, and they've succeeded. This little indie publisher really showed up the big guys.
Who knows, maybe in a few years we'll be begging companies to make another GC2:DL!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords

Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords has incredible space-based strategy action, where you fight to defend humanity! The reckless humans have formed an alliance for their mutual defense against the rising power of the evil Drengin Empire. Meanwhile, the Drengins gather an alliance of their own and begin exploring the furthest corners of the galaxy for ancient weapons that may give them the uppher hand. But humans and Drengin alike are about to learn that there's far deadlier things in the universe than each other. Take command of a spacefaring civilization and guide it toward galactic control! All-new map system where players can make strategic use of planets, asteroid fields and other interstellar objects State of the art 3D engine with vastly improved graphics and visual effects than the original

Get 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords

Read More...