| » Pros | |  |
A rare turn based strategy game in a sea of real-time sameness.
| » Cons | | |
AI isn't all that.
Seems very similar to Civ3.
| » Review | | |
Galactic Civilization is an OK game, and those who like the genre will enjoy playing it, for a while.
I found the game to be very much like Civ3, except that it takes place in outer space instead of on a single planet.
Civ3, I should add, is not my favorite game in the genre. My favorite was Sid Meier's Alpha Centuri. GalCiv is more like Civ3 because combat is de-emphasized, and like in Civ3 there are resources and trade goods.
GalCiv adds some unique elements to the genre, such as starbases and... well starbases are primarily where GalCiv has a new twist.
I take exception to all the praises that the AI gets. Just like EVERY OTHER GAME in the genre that I've ever played, when I first started playing, the AI seems really smart and unbeatable. After familiarization with the game, you learn the strategies, and then the AI doesn't seem so smart any more.
This is exacty the case with GalCiv. After you learn the tricks to getting an early start, you realize that the AI is a complety inept military tactician, and has no clue what to due with starbases.
SMAC was my favorite game in the genre because it gave you a lot of military options, and there was really no way to win the game without going on the military offensive early--not a bad problem at all, it made the game very exciting and fast moving.
GalCiv seems to encourage a static defensive play which is a lot more boring. Combined with the inability of the AI to mount an effective military strategy, this sinks the game.
But the game if you like turn based strategy, there isn't too many other good choices out there. But if you've never played SMAC, then I say forget about GalCiv, buy SMAC (which you can now buy for practically nothing because it's an old game) and you will have a lot more fun. |
87%
