Master of Magic is the deepest, longest lasting and most challenging 4X game made. At the risk of sounding heretic I also believe it is the best 4X game ever made. Yes it is better than Civilization. MoM rocks the familiar formula with a touch of magic, creating a tasteful dissonance between structured economic advance and unbridled chaos. This is exactly what the 4X genre needed to reach perfection. Unfortunately the graphics are very ugly, even by the standards at the time it was released. But beneath the torn wrapping is a gift of beauty. I still hope for a remake with better graphics. Until then I will play this game over and over again. To the portal my minions.
It's not officially a sequel, but the story continues where a typical Civilization game ends. The settlers that are sent into space by the Civilization player, makes landfall on a planet in the Alpha Centauri system. At this point the player is put in charge of eXploring, eXpanding, eXhausting and eXterminating this barren land. Alpha Centauri features all the familiar aspects of a good 4X game, but brings the genre a bit further by making it story driven. The story is paced forward with the use of audio and video clips that plays when a wonder is built, or new technology is discovered. In this way the game manages to create a non-linear narrative that will twist and bend slightly depending on the flow of the game. The narrative aspect is where the game really shines. It manages to establish a subdued suspense, at times almost horror, through the use of subtle suggestive storytelling techniques. As a strategic 4X game the gameplay is solid, but not without some flaws. The new planet is mostly a barren rock covered in fungus. This setting makes the terrain less interesting than the fertile fields of Earth, although not without its own unique challenges. Another issue lies in concept of making customizable units. I feel that giving the player this much power, takes away the carefully crafted balance of the Civilization games. The interface for designing units is not the best, and the player is faced with some busywork organizing old and new equipment. Despite its flaws Alpha Centauri brings enough innovations to create a unique and enjoyable experience. It does not topple giants like Civilization or Master of Magic, but rather fills out a small lovable niche. A diamond in the rough that truly deserves to be experienced.
