I first purchased Freespace and the expansion as a bargain bin jewel case deal for 10 bucks. I was expecting to find a game to amuse me for a few hours on a boring afternoon. Several weeks later, I was craving for more. As a big fan of the X-wing & Tie-Fighter series, this game fits the bill of the space combat simulator. It is (unfortunately) the last of an incredible genre. The graphics on this game are still good for a playthrough. The handling and customization of the ships are both above average. Yet the story, something often ignored in many space sims, is very enticing...addressing you as the classic "unknown" cadet, evoking the old gaming tradition from long ago. This is only matched by it's sequel which only raises the bar. If you have a deep catalog of space sims, you already own this game. If you're looking for something to do for an afternoon, get the WD40 out for your joystick!
While I hold fonder memories of Caesar 3, when it comes to Impression Games' masterpiece of city building, Zeus & Poseidon are alone at the top. While I would argue that Emperor (released after the Acropolis bundle and placed in China) would be the swan song for the company and stands easily with the former, Zeus is where Impression mastered the genre. Much needed fixes in regards to your citizens (or walkers) along with fantastic implimentation of both military, economical, and food engines make this game the most playable of all the past city builders. Unprecendented control is introduced allowing the building to zone and control each aspect of the city minimizing the somewhat idiocy of the computer AI in the past. The game tenor and art work however is where Zeus really shines. It takes a very light and enjoyable view of Greek mythology, making gods and heroes as bombastic and colorful as in any ancient myth. Lots of humor is injected into the gameplay making Zeus a very fun and relaxing game. The art work as well is a bit overblown, relying more on cartoonish fantasy for buildings and characters rather than the dry realism of the past games. Yet this is not to say the visuals are cheap and annoying, rather they accent and flow with the game brilliantly with artwork that is visually stunning. If you enjoy city building, or more specifically Impression's other games, you owe yourself to get this great pack!
Assassin's Creed is noted within the PC Gaming community as one of the worst examples of DRM implimentation. It was tedious, and completely overbearing making the original game barely playable. Now that it is on gog without DRM is actually funny to see. However, Assassin's Creed is a decent game at best. The great graphics, wonderful atmosphere, and mesmorizing setting make way for a rather bland and sadly predictable story. While many people triumph the historicity of the story, there is everything but that. Persons from history are in the game, yet they are loosely connected and oddly 21st centruyized making the notable persons actions extremely anachronistic. The gameplay is fun at first, but becomes extremely repetitive to the end. It may be worth a try, but there is small value for gamers and historians alike.
