Deadlock: Planetary Conquest

I love this game. How much? I bought it originally in the store sometime back in the 90's.... and still own the CD. I've also passed it on to my 8yo son by installing it on his desktop (I don't allow him internet access yet). Great introduction to strategy and empire building. Again. I absolutely love this game, fun to play and never gets old.

i always play with the same opening settings: max [7] players, max [10] cities, and giving the computer opponents supercharged abilities. they all still tend to come after you much more, as opposed to each other. you have to be aggressive in advancing your own technology, as well as defending your perimeter to keep up with the enemies'.

Oh man, it plays just like it did back in the 90s! The looks, the sounds, the voice acting, it's all there. This is a fun strategy game with an awesome look and feel to it. It's worth a try, especially if it's on sale!

Deadlock is not best of it's kind. But it's pretty playable. It's an proto-4x turnbased strategy game with huge emphasis on war. There all things that make Deadlock Planetary Conquest one of good or sorta "Not so bad" games. Graphics is nice - small sprites, compacted sites, and "talking heads" of advisors reminiscent those days of dawn of 3d fx era. It's not bad, not bad at all. Sounds and music score is bit eerie. I really like soundscape of cities and wilderness is good. I could use em for some background for my workplace. Gameplay is...well..it lack something. I dunno exacly what - at first glance Deadlock looks good - it have good array of research, nice roster of units and some cool "racical specials" for each of playable race but lack of control in battle, not-so-essential racial "Skills" for some units and some really "awesome but impractical" use of end-game rocket military is kinda small flint in good picture. Also lack of diplomacy or well developed espionage is something that darken picture of "possibly good 4x game" . Espionage is pretty limited, and in diplomacy you can only send messages to opponents or in a friendly note gift em units. No allied victory, no espionage or trade-exchange opportunities composing with kinda uncontrollable combat is making a shot in a knee but Deadlock still stands. Verdict? If you missed game in days of old - try it now. It's pretty simple and good. Sometimes Deadlock show off his nice colors, make some cool moments and make itself enjoyable. I put only 4 stars cause this game really need Multiplayer. AI combatants don't give much of challenge. But due it's age multiplayer been cut sadly from this release.

The AI is shockingly great for a game this old. Also the insult/taunts from other nations are legendary. If you are playing with friends you can also customise these insults which can result in an angry lizard man calling you slurs. Overall a very fun time killer that plays more like a complex board game than a video game.