A bug prevents the game from being completed. Patch 1.08 solves the problem but has never been released by Kalypso for the GOG version. The game as is can be played only up to the Georgia Avenue mission.
This game has a game breaking bug that is still not fixed on GOG after 3 months since it was fixed on Steam. It prevents the player from completing the game and breaks the campaign halfway through the story. This is very disappointing. Kalypso itself is confirming its reputation of churning out half finished games and dropping support without fixing the bugs. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME HERE, IT'S PLAIN BROKEN.
Plot is very thin and frankly stupid. The research tree is good, but there is litte difference between your own designed units and the standard ones. Combats are quite messy, and you can finish the first campaign by playing with the hero only. A pretty decent RTS, but not as exceptional as many reviews say. (if you really want a R&D and unit design RTS, try War Inc)
Pro: Huge map, epic fantasy setting, pretty decent graphics, great arsenal of upgradable items and possibility to combine potions and ingredients Cons: Boring storyline, repetitive monsters, most quests are uninspired. I really enjoied playing it, but quit at two thirds since the story was not compelling enough to put more hours in it. I'll come back to it, probably.
Gorgeous graphics (mostly static), an interesting premise and a set of incredibly hard game mechanics... Zafehouse introduces some fresh air beyond the usual flash-game-style zombie survival, such as the relationship between members and the job skills. The best part is the fully configurable map and survivor set, that will let you play with your coworkers in the office building, or with an all-star action hero company in your town, or anything you will want to try.
This is the first and -up to now- only game I regret having bought on GOG. Poor game mechanics, messy interface, unclear goals and repetitive events make the experience less than fun. The parody quotes and the star trek references last for a while, but become boring as soon as repetition kicks in. Graphics are pretty decent, but limited to characters and icons.
The first thing that impress in this game is the quality of the presentation: graphics, cutscenes, scripting is masterfully crafted. As soon as you start playing, you are forced to make some moral and ethical choices: what kind of party do you want? A war-bringing, religious zealots one? A bunch of humanist scholars? Gameplay is in the vein of Heroes of Might&Magic, with just one hero and more fixed quests. The quests are varied, with some moral depth despite most of them inevitably end with a field battle. Levelling up is the best part of the game. Your comrades learn new skills, get promoted and get better at their duties, sometimes they have personal urges or quests that you should address. Ok, now for the shortcomings. Troop management is too watered down: you have generic "equipment", and you assign it for a small increase in attack or defence. Individual equipment pieces would have been better. Healing: the healing system works well, but lacks the option to cure a wounded member while staying in town. Tactical choices have only a small effect on gameplay. Luck plays a great part with hunters. Worst of all, the story is fixed: the main quests will be always the same. I'd have loved an "open world" concept. Overall, the game is great, with all his details, accuracy and depth. Unfortunately the main part of the game -the battles- could use some improvements. Nevertheless, an interesting and thought-provoking game.
A good follow-up to Civilization, but came out one year after Sid Meyer' Alpha Centauri. Pratically all the new features are lifted from SM:AC. AI is improved but still a step below the competitor, who features true difference in races that really change the gameplay.
I played the "Caesar" games as soon as they came out. The first game rated poorly against Sim City, and the following two titles were inferior to Sim City 2000. Once you get the basic mechanics (mostly to manage production and avoid fire) the rest is just a game of placing something somewhere and waiting. Strategic choices are limited and rarely decisive in the gameplay. Pretty decent graphics are still one of its few good points.
Great masterpiece by Sid Meyer, but it didn't age well... Try Freeciv, the open source (and free) spinoff of this game. Same mechanics, improved options and graphic.
