There is, undeniably, a large element of this game which encourages the user to try and have sex with as many different women as possible, getting sent images of them in various states of undress along the way - all by showing your prowess at match-3. The match-3 on its own, though, is one of the most competent, well-balanced match-3 games you will play: instead of swapping adjacent gems a la Zookeeper/Bejewelled, you can move a gem anywhere along either its horizontal or vertical axis. You can take bonus items with you into each level, and you have limited moves in which to reach a score total. Different girls have different preferences for colours; and you can upgrade different colours before each match-3 session based on how well conversations with the girls have gone, and which gifts you have spent the money on and given the girls. In isolation, the game itself is a very, very solid puzzler requiring tactics and load-out management. There are some pretty easy clichés within the girls themselves - and even the game calls itself out for casual racism at several points. The game's scripts is far from charming or nuanced, and once you have taken a woman to bed, the way the game is set up means that talking to that woman again gets you no further reward: but I feel that I am offering up more sophisticated criticism of the wrapping of the game itself than it warrants - this is Strip Poker for the 64-pit generation, nothing more, nothing less: except it is a very, very good puzzler.
Colonization is a great game: requiring stealth of thought, micromanagement, and the ability to think several moves ahead before acting. Difficult to start with, even more difficult to master, but so, so satisfying when you get it right, and start getting your colonies self-sufficient and edge ever closer to revolution. Wholly recommended. Woo-hoo! Got all the way through without mentioning Civilization. *DOH*.
Why no Alien Crossfire, GOG? As awesome as the first is, the expansion pack made it even more awesomerer. Still: instapurchase. You should do the same, and rue the loss of your free time.
