No manual is provided. You will have to search online to find one. Author claims it was developed as a historical teaching tool for his students. Game bears a heavy similarity to the old SPI board game "Empires of the Middle Ages". I purchased it for this reason and fans of that old game would likely find value here. Game really does feel it's age. I probably overpaid by getting it on sale at about $3.50 but wanted it because of the similarity to the board game so gave it two stars instead of one.
All time classic. Accept no remakes/substitutes. MOO and MOO2 are almost always on extreme sale at GOG. Endlessly replayable with spectacular turn based fleet battles. Ability to design your own ship types is virtually unparalleled. Managing colonies can take awhile if you get up to a large # of planets but is worth it for those who can get into it. Game is unforgiving on highest difficulty level but that just makes winning at that level all the sweeter. Only serious drawback is that cloaked ships pretty much prevents multiplayer games from working very well. Game is essentially unequaled, to this day, as a 4x. Simply the best.
Version currently available for free givaway on both GOG and Steam does not launch. It will install but any attempt to play the gane will take you to a pop up from Slitherine that wants you to buy the Disciples DLC for an additional 9.99.
