Customer Reviews

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a long-time fan of Civilization, and Sid Meier games in general, I admit I felt a certain trepidation when first playing the game. The interface and style of play were so reminiscent of Civilization I&II that I thought Alpha would be just another clone in a a long line of them.(Call to Power comes to mind...) But Alpa Centauri surprised me. It has a depth in story that was lacking in previous games, and the characters are all fully fleshed out in their beliefs and speech patterns. From Deirdre the Planer-friendly enviromentalist to Morgan Freeman the ruthless profit-driven marketeer, they all have their own definite agenda. And unlike previous games, your enemies can think. Diplomacy and war go hand in hand, with the computer working together behind your back or deciding to make war on your allies so another force can strike in your blind spot, the AI is sophisticated enough to provide a challenge to the most jaded player. Difficulty settings are easily adjusted, with easy being, well, easy, and the hard setting can make you weep to see it all crumble around you. Alpha Centauri continues to astound me, even after multiple games it still feels new and engaging. So go buy it already.

Why compare this game to Mozart? They are the same: Genius in Simplicity.

I loved this game. I am actually surprised that even more people have not played it. It has the highest rating ever from PC Gamer (98%). Think about that: Alpha Centauri is 2% away from being considered The Perfect Game.

Why? Strategy that is detailed but intuitive. Diplomacy that is believable and matters. Game balance. A fun storyline. An intelligent AI that does not have to cheat to win.

But by far my favorite part of the game is the technology aspect of the game. Each new future technology (some truly vague) is introduced with a sound byte from a faction leader, but more important is WHAT these leaders say. Philosophy, religion, literature, hard science, Emmanuel Kant, Aristotle, even Military Cadences are used to provide atmosphere to the game. This is a game that respects the gameplayer's intelligence. Additionally, the future technology tree has been well researched. Just go to the back of the well-produced Alpha Centuari manual to see the vast bibliography of Science Textbooks, Hard Science Fiction (Think Stanley Kubrik's 2001) and Soft Science Fiction (Think Star Wars or Star Trek) that the game draws influence from. I have a PhD in Molecular biology, and I must endorse the technology tree as an excellent model for speculating how humanity's future knowledge-base may be represented. Particularly interesting is how different civilizations are based on faction instead of nationality. However, nationalistic stereotypes are represented. The communist/socialist faction is represented by Chairman Yang (Chinese). The Gaia mentality is represetned by Lady Dierdre Skye (Celtic/Irish). The University faction is represented by a Russian Scientist (Academician Prokhor Zakharov), and the UN peacekeeping faction by a Ghandi-like figure in Commissioner Pravin Lal. There are others, to be sure, but these are the most egregious.

Regardless, the game is an outstanding mix of fun, a stytle of gameplay that does not require excessive detail to be considered intelligent, great presentation values, and an overall attention to polish even in the smallest details. There is precious little that could be changed in this game. To quote Salieri describing Mozart's music, "Displace one note and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase, and the structure would fall."

I've been playing Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri since the week it was released. When the expansion pack, Alien Crossfire, was released, I bought that right away as well. That was some time ago. I'm still playing it. Regularly. About the only other game I have ever owned with this kind of addictive play is SimCity 2000 (SimCity 3000 is graphically lovely but not nearly as absorbing). With all of the factions, random maps, difficulty levels, customizable units, etc, gameplay is surprisingly different every time. Mixing and matching the factions is fascinating. Perhaps the best feature of the game is that it forces you to think strategically as well as tactically - you literally have to think 20 to 50 turns ahead of the game all the time. Really a wonderful piece of work; I cannot recommend it more highly. And now I think I'll sign off and boot it up...

For making such a freakingly addictive game. I had to delete it from my computer I was playing it too much! As far as gameplay, there are so many different avenues to take--diplomatic, war mongering, economic, a little of everything--that it's replayability is beyond rapproach. You can create new factions, import those created by gamers on the internet, and this only adds to the games consistency.

What sets this game apart from its Civilization-like competitors, is the morbid science fiction backdrop that is as attractive as some of the better science fiction novels (although it definitely has a space opera bent to it). This is a nuanced futuristic society that subtely brings in many of the upcoming issues of tommorrow - genetic modification, cybernetic humans, quantum gravity. The characters reflect the tension and problems of tommorrow's science, and the various philosophical reactions humanity can have to it.

An awesome game, well worth the money. I wish Firaxis would develop this line further...

There are moneygrubbers who are going to kill me for this but for all of you wanting this game for a reasonable price this is for you.

Don't bother buying in secondary market for an overblown price. Pick up the laptop collection by EA games, $20 for both main game and expansion and some other strategy games to boot, some of which are quite good. Save yourself some cash and get some great games.

As titled.

The game's other principle designer, Brian Howard went on to do Rise of Nations, a worthy game but without the incredible story-line and in-depth richness of ACAX.

ACAX was a delight not just for the gameplay but for the entire experience: the cultural references, the well-developed factions, the whole mind-worm experience.

One could get immersed in ACX the same way one could in Balder's Gate, Everquest, etc: but at the same time play a Risk/Age of Empires-like military campaign. To be sure, the Starcraft series is classic; as well as the first two Myths.

But AC and ACAX, from the same era, set a standard for a total gaming experience that very few strat games since have approached.

Great stuff. I'd love to see a new version with many of the old characters.

I'm a Caesar III and Pharoah/Cleopatra addict. I found this game to be extremely complex by comparison. This is not a game for people who want to just load up and start playing. There is a lot of reading that should be done just to get started on the first game! There were so MANY options to choose from that I almost gave up the first night out. The books that came with this package didn't give me the straight forward "how to play", instead it gave me theory and formulas. I got so frustrated just trying to read them that I very nearly threw the darn thing out. The first 3 tutorials weren't very helpful either. I won each of the scenarios but still am not really sure how or why. All that said, I started automating certain functions and started to watch how the computer manipulated things and that gave me a lot more insight into how to run the factions myself. I'm still confused on a lot of the technology. There just seems to be SO MUCH involved that even now, I've still only got a very basic grasp of this game.

If you don't mind a complex game with lots of things to learn then this game is for you. The game IS addictive. I've found that several hours can pass and you don't even know it. Since I've only been playing a week, I'm sure that there is a lot more to this game than what I've uncovered. I do wish, though, it was possible to win a game within a couple of hours instead of having to play for days at a time.

This game is probably the best I've ever played, and perhaps the best game I will ever play. It has all of the features you could want in a turn based game.

The automation of funtions is incredible. Based on your wishes, you can designate tasks for units to perform, instead of dealing with the monotony of reissuing the same command turn after turn. For example, you can just say tell a unit to "build road", and it will only build roads... and will do so in places that make sense. Truly amazing AI...

Add to that the rich cultures and philosophies of the characters, ability to customize units any way you'd like, great sci-fi, and you're left with a game that is still a force to be contented with 4-5 years after its release.

However, because of the wide range of possibilities, the game can be quite complex.

If you're not intimidated by having to think, this game is definitely for you. I look forward to a sequel, should they ever develop one.

This game is the only turn-based strategy game one would ever need.
It has everything one would want out of a strategy game and SO much more.
The story is epic. The world is fully realised. The gameplay is deep. The literary references(not only Sci-Fi but philosophical and ethical and social) are many and profound. The factions are compelling. The possibilities are endless.

The including of multiplayer as well as 7 extra factions in the expansion pack only sweetens the deal.

The only (minor) flaws here, which only present themselves to the diehard gamer, is the apparent lack of challenge from the AI, as well as the seemingly lacklustre graphics(but given the budget of Firaxis at the time, the art direction is still amazing).

Get This Game. It's one of those classics which you will keeping coming back for more. Even having owned this masterpiece for more than 5 years, I still play Alpha Centauri every 3 months or so, and it STILL retains its freshness and playability. This one is a definite keeper.

Also, as a parting word, I want to make it clear that, despite the "Sid Meier" name on the package, designer Brian Reynolds(who has since left Firaxis I believe) was the man behind Alpha Centauri and as such deserves the kudoes.
It is THIS game which deserves the title of "true sequel to Civilization II", and not Civ III which has none of the depth that this game has in spades.

Buy it.

Alpha Centauri has several notable features not present in Civilation. Even Civilization 3 lacks several of the features of Alpha Centauri. Each Alpha Centauri faction has a personality and there are mp3 files of the voices of Professor Zhakarov or Sister Miriam. The faction leaders are much more alive and dynamic than playing with a Civilization Empire such as Rome. The Gaians prefer environmental harmony and the Morgans prefer wealth and business and then there is the Spartan enclave.

The military units are much better in Alpha Centauri than in Civilization. In Alpha Centauri the units are customizable. Each unit in Alpha Centauri is modular and can be modified or upgraded. You can design AA units that defend against air units and land units. You can also design cloaked probes or amphibious units. You can also terraform the land with your former units or even terraform the sea. You can even have advanced formers that terraform both land and sea squares. Your military units can have improved abilities and morale modules. Planting forests not only plants them but forests even grow in Alpha Centauri. You can design and produce thousands of military units and variations. In comparison in Civilization the units are fixed. In Civilization you can have infantry or militia or cavalry but the attack and defense and movement attributes stay constant in the game and the units have stayed similar names.

Alpha Centauri has several advantages over the Civilization games. In the Civilization games you spend 3000 years and hours approaching a technological level of sophistication and technology and sometimes you fail before you are destroyed. You spend hours to get tanks and battleships. Alpha Centauri starts at the top of the technology pyramid with rapid technology advancement and skips the stone age medieval age and dark ages for modern combat. In a few turns you can get the technology to build sea units or ocean cities and ocean units. You can have air units much sooner than in Civilization. In Civilization 80% of the work takes place in getting to the Modern Age whereas in Alpha Centauri you can obtain units such as plasma sentinals and needle jets much sooner. In Alpha Centauri you skip all the primitive ages and start at the high tech age.

Alpha Centauri also has 3d land which can have elevation that can be raised or lowered. Ocean Cities are much more prominent in Alpha Centauri. You can build a city on the water.

There is also a lot of strategy to Alpha Centauri and the military aspects make for a much more dynamic game.