This is an old game, but the HD update is nice. The MAC version runs great - it is a nicely packaged WineSkin and runs without issue. Being a frugal laptop user, I keep my selection of games to those with reasonable disk space and compute resource needs. This is a fun game, though the micromanagement of trying to get people to pick up trash or talk to each other is a little odd. I've never played 'the Sims', though I played the Sim City, Sim whatever games quite a bit. There is a good walkthru available on the 'net, for those of you, like me, with very limited time to repeat failed strategies.
Great story. There are several options where what you say is important to a side quest - which way you go, which fight, or such. In any RPG where dice rolls dictate outcomes, there is randomness. Yes, it is possible to miss with an 85% chance to hit. You can miss several times in a row. That it is only the to hit, then a monster can dodge. Sure, sometimes you have to re-play a combat once or twice to win. You may even need to go off and do another quest, get better stuff or skills, and then come back. Pros: Great story, fun game, hours of adventure. If you like games like D&D IceWind Dale or Neverwinter nights, you may like this. Runs great on my laptop. Lots of options for advancement (not really level up, since there aren't class levels). Very few "classes" but lots of options. I give all non-melee characters a bow and skills in bow, yep, even magic casters. Very few options for items. Cons: Large install file (6.3GB download, 19GB on disk) compared to most on GOG, though standard these days. Very few options for items (pro and con). Note: If you are a D&D person, then note the lack of levels and the multiple characteristics that affect skills is different than D&D.
Pros: Runs on my laptop, small install file (100MB), lots of fun, easy to control. This is a tactical RTS not a strategy game. With only a handful of troops this is not Supreme Commander, but it is just as fun. Great single-player episodes. You can build a tower gun, then recycle it for 100% back, and build another further out. This is nice especially since resources are very limited. This makes for a compact game. Cons: If you like single-player, then the mission list has room for expansion (hence the expansion pack). Can't save in the middle of combat, but you can pause. Note: The minigunners are useful, though I find them to be very expensive, and they turn and move very slow, and thus can't do much with enemies in multiple directions. Snipers can take out enemy bug makers and small turrets from out of range. Shotgunners are cheap and effective. Helicopters can bombard targets to soften them up. Different strategies may work best for different people. If you prefer stealth or distance or brute force, each option may work.
This has a little bit more 4x with the magic and explicit need to cast spells and such than TA. If you like RTS, then play this as well. This is the same people and engine as TA and thus the same ahead of it’s time features.
The flexability in commands, setting patrols, continuous contstruction and commander features make this game great. Supreme Commander is the pseudo-sequel and is just as good. Like others gave this 5 starts for good reason, I do as well. This game is years ahead of the curve. The physics, the graphics, the ability to scale - all legeondary. If you like C&C, Starcraft, Warcraft, then this is a must.
Scary, but amazing. Turn the lights down or off, put headphones on, and be prepared for this games does what most 1st person shooters won't - intentionally mess with you just to get your blood going faster.
This is a fun game. It is not as "realistic" as Descent: Freespace, but it is meant to be FUN. There are a multitude of ship upgrades, and you get to pick your path. You have one ship, and it evolves and upgrades. You get different types of weapons. The game is a little linear, but that gives a clear path. Some missions are exceptionally challenging (check out YouTube videos for some hints). One of my favorite games. If your time is limited, this is easy to pick up and play a while. If you like to spend a hundred hours just to learn how to play a game, keep looking. If you want to jump right in and get going, this is for you. And me.
I've played this game more than any other. You don't have to micro-manage everything, you macro-manage. That's the difference. If you want to have to decide what to build on each of your 100 planets every turn, then you can. If you forget to build something on one of your planets, it will build something for you. You can set policies on what planets concentrate on. Want to go to war? Set policies to military. Want to develop tech faster? Set policies to science. A few things are micro-managed. Building ships and functional armadas late game can be a little annoying, so you can just make them all recon class for simplicity. Harvesters are annoying, though mods can remove them. It all comes down to whether you want to micro manage 100's of planets (which you can), or set policies and enjoy the galaxy. Yes, there are a lot of options and menus - don't you need a lot to manage a few hundred planets? You can do several things in many ways. Forget where that Armada went, or what planets are good for you to colonize? There's a menu option for that. I thought the game was awesome for this macro-management ability. Then, the mods came out. Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate and some more. They really make the game a lot better. I like Vanilla and Strawberry mods.
Best space combat sim ever. Some people use the joystick, I use the keyboard and mouse - works great. The scope of the game is immense. Some of the enemy ships are so large it takes a minute to circle around one. Awesome game.
