Master of Orion 3

I worked on this game at Microprose as the test lead. This software feels more like a spreadsheet program than a game. You have scores of screens, most of which have little if any value to the game. However, you have to dig through them to find the ones you DO need. While graphics were stepped up from prior MOO games, that's the only kind thing I can say about it. Seriously, save yourself some money and buy Excel instead. You'll have just as much fun, and it will at least be useful.

This game is something. There I was, trying to make sense of all the different screens and what's going on in the colonies, then suddenly a race decides to declare war on me. Ok, then a few turns later I'm allied to just about everyone except the crazy race, then suddenly there is a revolt in one of my colonies (mind you, I never even build a ship to the war I was supposedly in), then another colony is revolting, then game over. What a mess! I'm sure there is a game deep inside it somewhere, but then again, with so many good games out there... why bother?

This game hurts my soul. I love MoO 1 & 2 and even the newest MoO that a lot of people have a poor opinion of. But MoO 3, it's.... not good. I did revisit this game for balance, but it's just not cohesive or intuitive like the other MoO games. I hope there's someone out there that can find some pleasure in this game, but don't buy it expecting it to be anything like the other MoO games.

I remember loving Master of Orion 1 and then buying Master of Orion 2 on my birthday and spending hours with my buddies in hotseat games. I would do that again in a heartbeat. Contrast that with MOO 3. I heard it announced and could hardly believe it. I watched the development websites eagerly. The art looked awesome and some of the mentioned features sounded great. I bought this game at full price right as it was released. I see my own experience in many of these reviews- I spent hours trying to find the good in this game- trying to like it- trying to love it. Every hour was a waste and it made me want to hold on tight to the wonder that was MOO 2. The ground combat, this ship combat, the research, the exploration all were made worse than before. Props to those who delved into mods and found something to love. I simply cannot recommend this game to anyone.

I bought MOO3 on release day many years ago. I'd lost many, many hours to the first two games - they are among my favorite games of all time. I finished one tortuous game of MOO 3, and somehow managed to convince myself that I just must not have understood the game well enough - surely, I thought, now that I understand the game my next play-through will be far better, and it will start getting fun. Somehow, I managed to stick it through a second, painful full game. It was a combination of disbelief and doggedness. I remember MOO 2 had been kinda hard to get into ... but this? I put something like sixteen hours into this game. And I want those hours back. It's just... bad. Really bad.