Space Empires IV isn't per say broken, but for starters you'll have poor AI, a dated interface, a few bugs, and balance issues--with some weapons and techs being way OP. However, the DevNULL mod, my preferred way to play, fixes most of these issues. And you know what? Once you do this, this game is excellent. So GalCiv II has the whole economy thing down, Endless Space has the smooth interface, MOO II is the jack-of-all trades, but this is the ultimate space/ship building and planetary custom conquest experience! You can make any fleet you dream of, with thousands of weapons and techs! Its not like Gal Civ or ES, where you got like three specific weapon types, and that cartoony RPS method of combat--no, you got realistic lasers, and rail guns, boarding parties, hangers for fighters, self-destruct systems, planetary bombardment, space stations, etc, It's nearly a simulation, if such a thing existed. And it's all commanded in open space, and turn based. And the system map takes the best of MOO II and GalCiv II, you've got the open space element of Gal Civ, but also the planet solar systems connected by wormholes; so you get the classic MOO II choke points for large battles, but also the freedom of movement in Gal Civ. This game also has the LARGEST and most intuitive tech tree ever. Compared to MOOII, GalCiv II, and Endless Space, my other fav Space 4xers, this game is the most "simulation-like"!
Adventure games are very weird, especially in our current computer age. Many of them had almost no actual game-play, but the most groundbreaking stories and narratives in video games, in their time. Patience was the secret, these games hooked you for hours in the days before downloading mods and multiplayer was used to extend the play-time of games. But they did this often with sheer annoyance, something you could not get away with today. Although, GK holds a special place in my heart, because despite it's atrocious gameplay (rub items on everything), it had exceptionally voice acting (Tim Curry), and a literary level story to spin. Voodoo, magic, noir, New Orleans--it was all damn mysterious and exciting, in a simpler age of games. GK makes up for its point and click simplicity with spunk and genius. Take solace in the fact that their are walkthroughs on these games in present day. You just might need it on this one, and it makes these classics way less frustrating at times, even if they are more story then game. But man what a story this one was!
MOO1 is so very dated at this point, and is so vastly overshadowed by the much more refined and charming MOO2, that you, for the most part, probably will ignore it in this combo pack. MOO2 is just superior in nearly every way. In fact, MOO2 is often hailed as the ultimate 4X experience. But I think that is a stretch by today's standards. Once upon a time it was the best thing out there, but even then it lacked refinement and balance. Today, it is still great--it's just there are better 4Xers on the market now. It still receives lots of nostalgic tongue bathing though (hence the glowing reviews everywhere). MOO2 helped define the genre, but it didn't quite perfect it. You'll find some races and abilities in this game that are laughable overpowered. Some parts of the UI will be tedious. Some strange luck factors are involved. And (although rarely) some inconstant AI. But for the time, this was all revolutionary. But other games have evolved beyond these nigglingly issues--so at this point MOO2 shows its age a little.
Although it is a funny joke, this game is much more than simply Civ 2 in space! Their is certain freedom that the Civilization could not embrace, and that is where Alpha Centauri exists. The developers of Civ (same guys) where confined to history, to certain hallmark aspects of the franchise, that this really represents what they did once unleashed from such constrictions. Races are unique, water bases are possible, the altercation of weather and terraforming play a huge role, and oddly enough environmental impacts are very significant. Yes, over mining, or deforesting the planet can make bad things happen you red-neck! It is the pinnacle of 4X gaming on the ground. Only Civ 5 with all expansion packs comes close.
Maybe. This game certainly is a contender for the best. Right up there with Half-Life. But really, whichever game you choose for the best story based shooter of all time kind of depends on what type of person you are. Half-Life is a refined, logical, very neat and tidy shooter; that's straight forward, but exceptionally polished. Deus Ex is the opposite, it's whacky, open, experimental, and makes up for refinement with variety in content, game lore, and player choice. And the same goes for their narratives: Half-Life is a lean, and simple trip. Deus Ex has so many interlocking plots, it can get messy. For me, personally, the crown goes to Deus Ex! It's achievements seem more grandiose in vision, even if it feels like it's panting to keep up with itself. But, then again I am a shoes off kind of guy.
