Long story short, a brilliant easy-to-learn game that is very satisfying to win. But you don't win that much. :)
A kind of Panzer General on a squad-like scale, Final Liberation has been a lost gem of Warhammer 40k universe. Although the visuals might seem outdated and lacking the charm typical for other SSI titles, the gameplay and genuine atmosphere of planetary conflict are well worth of your time. Reminiscent of a tabletop game, you are participating in turn-based onslaught between infantry, tank, artillery and gigantic robot units, taking advantage of the generated cover and terrain. Leading your Space Marines in ferocious battle against green Ork tide, you follow the storyline through FMV clips between missions, most of them looking as absurd as those from Command and Conquer franchise. The story is forgetful, but somehow manages to stay in your memory long after you finish the game. Probably because of the aforementioned clips. If you are a senior gamer, chances are you will gladly revisit this title, and once again purge the Imperial soil from green monsters. If being of younger age, you should know that this game is a distinctive part of gaming culture's collective memory, especially to those in love with strategy and WH40k universe. The only drawback, besides story, is lack of more races. But that aside, you are still in for hours of WAAAGH-waging combat.
Pax Imperia plays as a typical 4X game in space, tasking you to lead a certain star-faring race through their conquest of the galaxy . Yet, unlike other highlights of the genre, such as Master of Orion or Galactic Civilizations, the whole process in not turn-based but occurs in real time. Want to research a new weapon to deploy on your ships? That will take two about two minutes. But a lot of things can happen in two minutes of this game, including your utter defeat on the battlefields of universe. Construction and fleet movement also share this gaming pattern. Luckily, time can be slowed or even stopped when needed, so you don't have to worry about losing touch with the gameplay itself. Players are welcome to design their own race in addition to those made by designers, and the same goes for vessels. Battles themselves are done in a pattern typical for 90's real-time strategy games. Your simply choose the sprites of your ships, and direct them to their target. Damage they cause or the one they can take depends on the achievements in your research department. The game also has a diplomatic system, allowing you to form treaties and alliances with other races. Spying is also an option, allowing you to do things such as stealing technologies or assassinating planetary leaders. What to add more? GOG was formed to bring games such as Pax Imperia-Eminent Domain back to hard drives of the world. To dedicated lovers of 4X games, as well as those who enjoy original take on strategic gameplay, this title will certainly provide hours of genuine fun.
Had this one in my youth, and enjoyed every moment of it. A full-blooded title of "General" series, this turn-based strategy offers new challenges for hex-conquering generals, as they lead their armies of Germans...pardon, fantasy creatures to victory. The basic gameplay follows the gene code of "Panzer General", putting you in charge of fable armies and testing your strategic wit on several hex-tiled battlefields. Think of Advance Wars, old PC style. Players can choose several heroes, each with its own unique abilities in the warzone. Between skirmishes, one can also upgrade his or her units with gold, adding to army efficiency. The plotline is basic, but thanks to good writing and impressive illustrations, it serves the purpose, so fighting Shadowlord & Company is interesting enough. Did Fantasy General age well? Of course it has. It always wanted to provide players with transparent view of the battlefield, never intending to be the masterpiece of graphics. As all games from "General" series, it has that charm which immediately triggers interest in dedicated strategy players. While lacking the old historical footages of World War II which made the previous games so unique, Fantasy General deserves to be in your gaming library. After two or three played scenarios, one believes that most players will be hooked for hours to come.
Sword of the Samurai is a fantastic mixture of strategy and action elements, which can teach a lot of lessons to modern gaming titles. Basically, you lead a lineage of noble Japanese lords as they ascend from simple local leader to conqueror of entire realm. During this voyage, you will have to preform numerous feats- from leading your armies in combat to sneaking in kidnapper hideouts, wishing to rescue the maiden worhty of your family's name. You will also enter in furious duels, and take part in court intrigues which never cease to threat your position in game. Sword of Samurai is remarkable at giving you the impression of really "being there". Despite old graphics and rudimentary sound, it somehow manages to immerse you in its fascinating world, as you anxiously think of your next move. Also, the game is very unforgiving on higher difficulties, but never frustrating. You always blame yourself for failures, angry that you succumbed to your greed or agression. The drawbacks? Sometimes you build your character to a very high level, only to die in a duel or lose prestige due to a bad choice. Then you are put in position of your character's own son, whose stats might annoy you at first. But luckily, thanks to quick progression the game doesn't bore you too much with this. In any case, I highly suggest this game to everyone, especiallly those who value gameplay and immersion in a title.
