The game mechanics are similar to PG2, with additions and smaller changes. There are the usual semi-branching campaigns. The addition of sea battles and combined army navy battles are a very very nice change in the game. While there was navy since the first PG game, the changes and additions to them and the gameplay are making it almost feel like it was never before. If you haven't played other PG games after the original PG, then the amount of changes and how the affect gameplay will shock you, in a good way. Moving after firing for example is just one of them. The game campaigns are very difficult and perhaps impossible to complete in the first time you play them. Not unfair, just difficult. You get the usual core army units which you can expand and upgrade. Everything feels very PG, and that's a good thing. It's a solid 5-Star game (ie "general series") which feels like a solid and worthy sequel to the games. If you like any other game in the series and you haven't played this, you just "have" to get this one. It's THAT GOOD!
After Europa Universalis 2, I lost interest in the "series" for a long while. That was till I decided to try Rome. Even without the expansion pack (which actually comes with in this bundle), this game is a must for fans of grand strategy games and of the classical/Hellenistic/ancient Rome times. If any of you loves LOVES, the movies such as Cleopatra, The Fall of the Roman Empire and gets excited when you catch them on TV, this is what I first felt when I got my hands on this game. The gameplay (controlling any state you wish in this world) the music and even the graphics style, make me feel the same. I know this will sound weird to most people, but some of you know what I mean and feel the same way. In terms of actual gameplay, it is very similar with other EU titles with some differences here and there. The one thing that I never fully liked is the same thing about the whole EU series, that it is a real time game and not turn based which for me would be better. BUT, even if you think like me about this, I still fully recommend this game. For me it is at the best level of complexity and balance to work better with real time than any other EU game. Get this game, take your favorite empire/kingdom of the ancient times and conquer the whole world (Med Basin)
This is my third attempt to have this go through. This is a turn based, tactical strategy game. The battle presentation and mechanics have similarities to the classics Battle Isle, Panzer General, while it also has similarities to Massive Assault. It is a fun game, but quite hard. It is not for those new to the genre, unless they are very good at other strategy games. If you like your strategy, hard and in a sci-fi setting, this is worth your time and money.
A very hard turn based game. Very similar in feel to the first Battle Isle games. More or less a Battle Isle for the 21st century on hard difficulty. If you like Battle Isle, you are going to like this. As simple as that. Opposing armies, buying of units, turn based movement and fighting and you have to calculate even single sector of movement and firing, if you want to win in this game. Fun? Yes. Well made? Yes. Easy? No.
It's a 4X game with everything that comes with it. The management of the systems etc is ok, a bit lite, but still enjoyable. The space battles are fun well worth playing the game for them. The land battles is the major problem of this game. They become an exercise in how patient you are. They get very grindy. After you play once a ground battle, I propose to automate them and focus in space. If not, make sure you always have long range units or space support before you invade any planet.
A 4X game where you trying to control the galaxy (or meet certain objectives). You are in control of the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire. That includes planets, characters, ships, mercs, armies, drones, etc. The only possible negative thing is that the game runs in real time, it is not turn based. Which means later in the game you are going to find yourself to constantly change speed or even pause the game to manage everything. But, if you are a Star Wars fan and you are a 4X fan, this is a great game. I have played 100's of hours of it in the past and I plan on playing a lot more now. Hint, try to research and build at least one Interdiction Cruiser per fleet. It is worth its mass in gold.
The meat of the game is capturing sectors of a map, very much like you do in later RTS game Company of Heroes. This one is of course a sci-fi setting, and more hectic than CoH. Good: Solid tactics and strategy required. Fast paced. Great cutscenes that are actually funny. Great overall artistic and game design. Sound, music, all very good. Bad: One of the most Stressful games ever. Ever played a multiplayer RTS game for the first time and had this feeling in your stomach that you are fighting a losing battle and the only way to win is by playing at 150% of your skill? Well, with Z you get the same feeling, but in single player. It's unforgiving. It's ruthless. You can't relax for more than a few seconds if that. Conclusion. If you want punishment and stressful feeling in your RTS, it's a solid 4 or 5 stars out of 5. If you like RTS but want a more relaxed feeling, it's at best a 3/5 and it is better avoided. Objectively a great game.
Changing between the two main planes available to you, and changing realism options, make this flight simulator from relative complicated to a notch above more complicated than the first 2 Strike Eagle games. That is, very simple to play. In terms of difficulty, it varies again as to what you choose in the settings, from relatively hard to very easy. It's not the hardest hardcore flight simulator out there even with most options to ON, and that is down to the actual plane(s) you are flying. If you do what you are supposed to, you will not even have to avoid any missiles or guns. That's what the way of flying this plane (F-117A). You avoid radars (you can detect them and their range in one of the HUDs), you make sure to go in silently, release weapons (or take photos), and silenty return back home safe. When done correctly it's BEAUTIFUL. Do not forget, this is not a fighter or a fighter bomber. You are not supposed to fight other planes. In fact you can't even fight them if you are not flying the F-19 (ie the fantasy plane). Lots of procedural generated campaigns, a ton of options and one of the most interesting flight simulator of the 90's. It feels so good when you complete a mission without being detected. Great game.
A fun old school type, shooter. Your mission is to kill all zombies, or to perform certain actions to complete each mission. Most of the time you will have to do both, or want to do both. Why? Because you get to shoot zombies! Make no mistake, while this is definitely a modern game, it is not an easy game. It's a good game to release some steam and have fun without too much thinking. I did a Let's Play of it a couple of years ago, if you want to have a look at the game. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtpqh8ebqvxf030lNsg_egqRvGWt0GGvu I never managed to defeat the final boss, but I still don't blame the game. It's a great game. 100% worth buying, as long as you know what you are getting into. Word of warning. The upgrades are important, plan ahead.
You will just want to play again and again and the game will treat you like its bitch, but you can't do anything about it. You will get better and better and the game will punish you for it and you will want more. You might manage to stay away from it for a while, but its call will echo inside your mind "FTL! FTL! FTL!", you will be back. What is it? You choose one of the several unlockable space crafts, you see them from top and inside. Each room, each major and minor system, and your crew of aliens, humans and drones. You give orders in real time, or paused, after every jump you make to another solar system. You might have a very short (couple of choices) text adventure, or you might have a battle against aliens. You fight, you win some, you run away from some and you die once, sooner or later. The game is both far from perfect but also so well done that you feel the need to play it every so often, even if you dislike it. Is it winnable? Yes, I have won several times on both difficulty settings, but you will bleed, you will sweat and you will curse for every single time you manage to win. Buy this game.
