Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri™ Planetary Pack

I bought this on CD in the early 2000s. The game holds up well. The combinations of weapons and vehicles makes the game very customizable. It also has many paths to victory too. I will always circle back to this treasure.

I have play this since it came out years ago, and still enjoy it.

I'll be brief here; this is one of the greatest (possibly THE greatest) 4x strategy games ever made. It still holds up remarkably well 25 years on and no, I don't believe that's just the nostalgia talking in this case.

It's a shame that there hasn't been a remaster of this game.

This game is a masterpiece like none other. It was way ahead of its time and in some aspects still is. It is kind of a sequel to Civilization 2 and it clearly shows in the game mechanics. But what makes this so praise worthy, you may ask? Where to begin? The setting: The game has a very unique and philosophical lore. I loved the idea of a self sentient planet with fungal networks acting as giant brain where humans try to merge with technology to become transcendent beings. The factions being devided by ideologies with each having rich lore and well tought justifications for their point of view for the world. The economy and city building: Game allows players to build their factions economy and might suited on their preferences and faction. To be a tree(fungal) hugging hippie with army of mind controlled worms to cold scientific research nations armed with fusion planet busters weapons of mass destruction. Conquer, trade, spy and so forth making each playthrough different. The combat: The unique part in this genre is the unit designing. Players can use ready designed units or complitely design their own. Any weapon or module can be put to any platform. Player can have spying submarines to hovering anti air platforms. The base is simple and easy to learn but it has incredible depth and complexity under the surface making complitely different strategies viable.