Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri™ Planetary Pack

It's not officially a sequel, but the story continues where a typical Civilization game ends. The settlers that are sent into space by the Civilization player, makes landfall on a planet in the Alpha Centauri system. At this point the player is put in charge of eXploring, eXpanding, eXhausting and eXterminating this barren land. Alpha Centauri features all the familiar aspects of a good 4X game, but brings the genre a bit further by making it story driven. The story is paced forward with the use of audio and video clips that plays when a wonder is built, or new technology is discovered. In this way the game manages to create a non-linear narrative that will twist and bend slightly depending on the flow of the game. The narrative aspect is where the game really shines. It manages to establish a subdued suspense, at times almost horror, through the use of subtle suggestive storytelling techniques. As a strategic 4X game the gameplay is solid, but not without some flaws. The new planet is mostly a barren rock covered in fungus. This setting makes the terrain less interesting than the fertile fields of Earth, although not without its own unique challenges. Another issue lies in concept of making customizable units. I feel that giving the player this much power, takes away the carefully crafted balance of the Civilization games. The interface for designing units is not the best, and the player is faced with some busywork organizing old and new equipment. Despite its flaws Alpha Centauri brings enough innovations to create a unique and enjoyable experience. It does not topple giants like Civilization or Master of Magic, but rather fills out a small lovable niche. A diamond in the rough that truly deserves to be experienced.

I bought this one when it came out a long time ago. Very addictive. When I saw it on GOG I wanted to play it again. And for your information: Good news! Alien Crossfire is included! Some people seem to think it is not, but it is!

This is essentially the answer to every gripe I've ever had with 4x games in one great package. It has a story, it has gameplay depth, and none of its weaknessess overcome its strengths. It's old, and the graphics are vague representations of a sci-fi world, but it's full to the brim with flavor. It has great automation that creates a seamless gameplay experience. If you want to focus on war, you can place governers to manage your cities, and visa versa. While it is fairly clunky it has some progressive ideas that modern 4x games have yet to latch on to. I love it.

This has to go down as the 4X game I spent most of my child-hood playing, and was also the first Sid Meier game I played (though, in fairness, Bryan Reynolds is responsible for much of what makes this game work). The hard sci-fi setting is fantastic, drawing inspiration from Frank Herbert's Pandora Sequence among others. Each of the factions and leaders oozes personality that's sorely lacking in Civilization: Beyond Earth, a more recent foray into spaceby the series. Exploring Planet and uncovering tis mysteries while shaping the direction your society grows is a wonder to behold. The only critique I'd level would be towards the unit creator, which can quickly feel overwhelming if you're first trying out this game. While not as deep as many of the Paradox grand strategy titles, this is a perfect sci-fi 4X gem that deserves to be available here.

19 years after release smac is still unsurpassed. The ai isn't quite up to some of its successors, but the flexibility of paths to victory, superb combat system and flawless immersive theme remain the pinnacle of 4x gaming. Each of the factions in the game has its own colorful well realized personality and the quotes with each new technology are masterfully chosen, written, and voiced. Eternity lies ahead of us, and behind. Have you drunk your fill?