Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri™ Planetary Pack

Even though it doesn't hold up graphically on modern systems, Alpha Centauri is still an incredible game. It's like Civilization, on an Alien Planet with hostile alien life forms, where you control one of many very unique factions, with custom units.

I loved SMAC when it came out originally and it remains the one game in the Civ family that I've played the most. Since I've lost my CDs I had to get in on GOG when it finally showed up. Although it technically isn't a Civilization game, it was headed by Sid Meier himself when he disagreed with MicroProse on what direction the Civilization games should go after Civ II. SMAC represents a unique take on the 4X genre with a great story, customizable units, and an overall feel of everything working perfectly the way it should. Unlike the failed and boring approach that is Beyond Earth, SMAC has interesting factions, a fairly belivable tech tree and environment, a planet that reacts to your actions. and it all combines to make an engaging game that truly stands out as being done right. Although it's not really intended that way, AC basically answers the question of what happens after you win the space victory in Civilization. SMAC remains a must-have and must-play for all 4X fans. Even if it doesn't have the many diplomacy and trade layers that were added with Civ 4 and 5, it still has many features (and a lot of charm) that are sorely missed from the "real" Civ games or any of the many clones that have sprouted. It also shows just how well a game can be made when it's done for love of the game, and not for love of money.

4x at its best. Not much to say beyond that. This is the 4x game all 4x games aspire to be. Nothing has come close to it, since. That's what makes it spiritual successor, Beyond Earth, so disappointing. Sid had the best reference material in his own creation and seemed to ignore it.

I had already discovered this game ages ago thanks to a rare Linux port by Loki and, although I'm not really into strategy games, it quickly became one of the best games I had ever played, and I have to say it still is surprisingly. It was great to find out that the Alien Crossfire expansion is included too. So if you want to get yourself a memorable masterpiece, just save a little money and put it on this game here, you won't regret it.

This game ruined me. Every 4X strategy game I play is compared to it and they all come up short. The story! The atmosphere and the factions. The gameplay! So awesome! So cool! So..... Why, why why did I ever play this?