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    ONLY ONLINEHALF LIFE:GAME OF T YR
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    CD-ROM
    list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
    US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

    Editorial Review

    Your gun had better be loaded if you're playing Half-Life: Game of the Year Edition, the smartest, shootingest, bloodiest game ever to hit the PC. Take control of a scientist charged with destroying the alien invasion force that arrived, courtesy of government experiments gone wrong. Of course, in the post-X-Files world, there's additional bad guys in the form of federal "cleaners" who want you just as dead as the monsters.

    Power up your environmental suit and plunge through level after level of increasingly difficult and creepy challenges, rescuing your fellow scientists and ultimately clearing out the whole complex--if you're lucky. Game play is smooth and simple, after the obligatory false starts and botched maneuvers common to learning every new game. Persistence pays off, though: Half-Life rewards tenacity with increasing power and understanding of the virtual world.

    Play on a network and cooperate or compete with folks across the world or in the next cubicle. For those who've mastered the intricacies of Half-Life , the Game of the Year Edition includes Worldcraft 2.0, which the designers used to build every detail of the base. Make your own levels and snicker at other players' pathetic attempts to evade your deathtraps. It's easy to see why Half-Life won Game of the Year from dozens of publications; try it and see for yourself--if you're not too squeamish. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

    Features

    • Enemy AI: Half-Life's monsters are also remarkably--even terrifyingly--intelligent. Our proprietary AI has them running in packs, assessing threats and showing a marked distaste for suicide runs. You'd better think as fast as they do.
    • Rendering Technologies: So you don't want to have to buy a special hardware accelerator just to get 16-bit color, colored lighting, blurring, translucency or other cool visual effects? Then don't. Half-Life has developed all these features in software so now they're an integral part of the gameplay, not just eye-candy. Of course, if you do have Open-GL, Direct 3D or MMX hardware, things will look mind-bogglingly cool.
    • Skeletal Animation System: Our new animation system lets us create monsters that are more spectacularly menacing than ever before. Half-Life's monsters have the highest polygon count, and the most fluid and complex motion ever seen in an action game.
    • Multiplayer: Joining a multiplayer game is now fast and easy, thanks
    • to Half-Life's powerful interface. Find your friends, choose the type of game you prefer and let our master server do the rest. Choose from a variety of multiplayer gameplay scenarios, and use our decal technology to mark your territory with a personal or clan logo. Other Features:
    Reviews (246)

    5-0 out of 5 stars Sierra Games
    This game is really great. I own the following Sierra games:

    Half-life (game of the year edition)
    Blue Shift
    Opposing Force
    Half-life 2

    All I can say is that in September of 2003, Half-life 2 was suppost to be released, but they delayed it many times. So finally it was released sometime around the middle-end of 2004, and in November 2004, I picked up the game. I wasn't too dissapointed, although it's not as hard/fun as the original Half-life game. I like Opposing Force and Blue Shift, except the only problem with Blue Shift is that it dissapointed me with it being way too short. There is not even a final monster like Opposing Force and Half-life. Still, Blue Shift is fun.

    5-0 out of 5 stars The Best Game Ever
    When Half-Life first came out in 1999 I was about 11 years old, and I really wasn't into video games. But come late 2004, Half-Life 2 came out, and when I read the PC Gamer review(98%) and saw some screenshots, I went to GameStop to get it. The guy at the counter asked me if I had played Half-Life. I told him no. He then said, since I was under 17 he had no obligation to sell me the M rated game Half-Life 2, until I had bought, played and beaten Half-Life. So I bought Half-Life, went home, loaded it, and started playing. Imediatly I was suprised at how good the graphics were, especially for a game from 1999. The graphics in Half-Life could easily compete with many of the games in the 2000's. Also, the sound extremely good, hearing the slightest of noises. The story is pretty basic, but good enough to keep you interested in that area. You are Gordon Freeman, researcher at Black Mesa Labs. Your expirement has gone very wrong, releasing a bunch of aliens into the labs. The government has sent soldiers in to "clean things up" and you are faced with fighting for your life against aliens and human soldiers. The gameplay is awesome, and the weapons are very good. Online play is fabulous, especially if you have Counter-Strike. So, despite Call of Duty, Doom 3, the Battlefield series, WarCraft 3, Neverwinter Nights, or any other game that is mind-blowing, Half-Life is the best game I have ever played, and in my opinion, the best game ever.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Half-Life kicks ass
    Half-Life is one of those games that you have to play and not read a stratedgy guide. I was reading some of the other reviews and people kept on reporting that their weren't good stratedgy guides and such. Well, here's a tip. Play the game!! You have to buy a stratedgy guide seperately and it's like that for most video games/etc.. The game has good graphics, good music, and excellent characters. The game is really realistic, one of the most realistic games out their that i've seen. On my computer it takes a while to load up but once it loads up it works pretty good. And of course you get the interloads afterwards. My advice before you get this game is check the requirements. I think the only reason some people rated this game at a low level is because 1) they didn't play it because it didn't come with a stratedgy guide, 2)they didn't look at the requirements needed before they baught the game. Their's a reason why video games require different settings for your computer. But that's beside the point. Half-Life has one of the best plots i've seen, and has a lot of action. So for those who like first person shooters, killing aliens and people, and love great graphics, this is the game for you. For those who don't like realism and don't like to play video games like these stick to your spongebob squarepants video games. Oh and for those of you who hate video games coming without a stratedgy guide here's another tip in half-life. Half-Life explains the game as you play along. Their's Hazard Courses you play to learn more about the game. You make your own controlls and etc. This is a must have for any video gamer who loves games like half-life. ... Read more

    Asin: B00001KUII
    Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)    4. Havas   


    $19.99

    Star Wars: Tie Fighter (Jewel Case)
    Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
    CD-ROM (26 January, 2001)

    US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France
    Reviews (20)

    5-0 out of 5 stars These bad guys are so good....
    I love playing games, but when push comes to shove, I'm not very good at it. I own both X-Wing and TIE Fighter. When I play X-Wing, I always die in a fiery explosion in my first mission (once I was lucky, though, and got captured!), but TIE Fighter is so flexible in difficulty that even I have gotten pretty far. It's more interesting, too. Most Imperial fighters (and all of the classic movie ones)have no shields, so you must rely on your wits, aim, speed, and allies to keep from becoming toast, and if you run off to do secondary missions (for which you gain major brownie points with the Emperor and promotions through his secret "Order"), sometimes none of these can save you. Luckily, at least on the difficulties I played on (and it can get much harder for all you challenge junkies), it's not very easy to die or get captured even if you try (yes, I have. yes, I'm strange).
    If you hate games but love Star Wars (or vice versa), this is going to convert you. If you're into games of any kind (unless you only play solitaire and mahjongg, in which case you probably are from another galaxy anyway and don't need to discover the Star Wars one), BUY THIS RIGHT NOW. You will not regret it. You'll get more fun for your money than from any other game, even the Sims or Grand Theft Auto, no matter how sophisticated your computer is (I still only have 400 MHz).

    5-0 out of 5 stars A Classic and All-Time Great
    It's been ten years since Tie Fighter made its appearance, and I think that it's still probably the best game I've ever played.

    As many have said, this is an exquisite experience even if you're no fan of Star Wars. If you are, however, you'll be delighted to know that this game, rather than being the standard "unbelievably lucky Rebel kills the evil Empire all by himself," in TIE Fighter, you are an Imperial pilot. And you're not alone, you're - well, I'll get to that.

    The graphics, while not exactly ILM, are decent, as is the music. But it's the gameplay that makes a brave man weep in the wake of its sheer perfection. As a simulation game, controlling your TIE fighter is quite complex but you'll learn and get used to it in a matter of minutes. The combat itself is fast-paced and detailed, very advanced for a game of its time.

    And unlike most previous Star Wars games, in which you had an incredible advantage over your enemies, in TIE Fighter, you (as an individual) are often equally matched or even outmatched. The AI is beautiful, and it works both for your enemies and your allies. You are often only one element in a large and well-orchestrated operation. You'll get an amazing sense of accomplishment out of this game.

    It's just... epic. That's the word that keeps popping up in my brain. It was epic.

    You'll be quickly immersed in the storyline; in-mission voices are a big help. The campaign is very, very long, but worth every minute of it. There's a stunning variety of mission designs and goals.

    As you progress in rank, you'll get access to more advanced crafts and weapons, and, for storyline purposes, if you complete "extra" objectives in certain missions, you'll gain levels in the Emperor's secret service. (For a big fan of the Empire like myself, well, this is just *cool.*) In the earlier missions, you're often either alone or with one or two squadrons. You'll occasionally be under the command of your wing leader, but for the majority of the missions you're the leader of your flight group.

    And the farther along you go, the larger the battles get. This is the thing that really blew me away. In major missions, there are often ten or more capital ships and literally dozens of fighters and other smaller craft. You feel like you've become a part of something big.

    It just sucks you in. It feels like it's real. I haven't seen a game since that's quite reached that quality of depth.

    Please don't be fooled if you've played its successor, "X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter," which was nothing but a backfired attempt to fix what wasn't broken.

    In short: play Tie Fighter before you die.

    5-0 out of 5 stars You know you love the Dark Side...
    There is something extremely thrilling about playing the bad guy for a change. I was always happy to earn a medal after completing a mission in the X-Wing games, but I LOVED earning the Emperor's blessings as a TIE Fighter pilot. Goose bumps! I got goose bumps on missions of vital import to the Empire. I felt like I could take on the entire Rebel Alliance myself.

    The style of dogfighting is so different in a TIE because you ain't gots no shields!!!! :-) You simple must not get hit or pray that its a glancing shot you can shake off over time by outmaneuvering the enemy.

    Playing for the Empire opens up a diffrent sort of game. It is a lot fresher than the X-wing games, which make you feel like the understudy to Luke Skywalker since you are essentially taking on his place as Top Gun in Rogue Squadron. I mean, how many times can you blow up the Death Star in a Star Wars game? That type of game you can find over and over. But in TIE Fighter, there is a new perspective, much more intrigue and mystery. Lots of suprises. Hey, you are working for the bad guys, not everyone on your team plays well with others.

    There is a reason that this is considered one of the best games of ALL time. It is that good. And a minor spoiler... I nearly cried when I got the pleasure to fly as wingman to HIM. The Force IS strong with this one.... the Dark Side of the Force. ... Read more

    Asin: B000056PJI
    Sales Rank: 1029
    Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi, scifi)    3. Great Deals (Outlet store)    4. Space Simulators (Simulation)    5. Star Wars (Starwars)    6. starwars lucasarts    7. Action    8. Shooters (Shooter)   


    Civilization 2 (Jewel Case)
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    CD-ROM
    list price: $9.99
    US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France
    Reviews (71)

    5-0 out of 5 stars Civilizations II - Great Game
    This is one of my favorite games. It is so addictive. It's great because, you can build your own cities, make armies to crush other civilizations, produce caravans to trade with other countries. You get to compete with other nations to see who will be the first to create wonders of the world. I find myself spending hours at a time playing this game. It's great!

    5-0 out of 5 stars Perfect Game
    My father has civilization 2 (I am 7 years old).There is also the Map Editor, a program that allows you to create and play on your own map.As your civilization gets more advanced you can build more guys.You win by either capturing the world or building a spaceship.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Favorite game of all time
    I was addicted to the original Civ, and then came along Civ II.I have tried Call to Power, Civ III, and Alpha Centari, but I always come back to Civ II.It is my all time favorite.It only takes a few years in a new game and I am totally engrossed.I lose hours and days at a time.

    Want to lose weight?Start the Civ diet.You will choose Civ over food.Want to break an addiction?Civ will become your new addiction.Want to save your relationship?Well, you should take a break every once in a while. ... Read more

    Asin: B00004VXAZ
    Sales Rank: 1082
    Subjects:  1. Civ Two (2, II)    2. Computer Games    3. Strategy (Strategic)    4. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    5. Military (Wargames   


    Grim Fandango (Jewel Case)
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    CD-ROM
    list price: $9.99
    US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

    Editorial Review

    Join Manny, the undead travel agent, and uncover a conspiracy to keep new additions to the underworld from buying a safe passage through purgatory. Grim Fandango combines a unique story line and complicated puzzles to create an adventure different from any you have experienced before. Follow Manny through four years of mystery on his quest for true love and eternal salvation.

    The game opens to find Manny in search of the perfect client, one with the means to place them both on the fast track out of purgatory and into eternal paradise. Enter Mercedes Colomar, the client who has it all--beauty, brains, and enough money to buy them each tickets on the exclusive No. 9 train. Following the film-noir formula, Mercedes promptly vanishes, leaving Manny to solve the mystery behind her disappearance and her connection with the Department of Death.

    With fantastic graphics--stylishly rendered in the film-noir style--and art from the Mayan, Aztec, and Mexican traditions, Grim Fandango is imaginative and appealing. The challenging puzzles call for attentive play and serious exploration of the Land of the Dead--not an unappealing job when surrounded by such beautiful animation. Include the original story line and humorous characters and you won't want to stop playing--we didn't!

    ... Read more

    Reviews (120)

    5-0 out of 5 stars Soar like eagles on pogo sticks!
    In the vein of Monkey Island and Space Quest, we have Grim Fandango, one of the funniest yet emotionally poignant video games ever released.

    Manny Calavera is a Grim Reaper/travel agent who guides the recently deceased to the town of El Marrow to begin their four year journey of the soul in the Land of the Dead.He sells them packages to aid in their journey that vary depending on how well the "clients" has lived their lives.At the top of the line for the most righteous, they can qualify for a ticket on the "Number Nine express", a speedy train that will take them to paradise in four minutes rather than four years.If they've been somewhat less that good, they qualify for little more than a walking stick (though the compass in the handle will surely come in handy!) or being packed in a crate with foam.For reasons unxplained, Manny is forced to work in his dead-end sales job for a certain amount of time before he can even begin his own four year journey.In an act of desperation, he steals a competitors saintly client, Mercedes Colomar, to boost his sales and is shocked to find he can't qualify for anything more than the lowliest packages.Devastated, Mercedes runs away in tears leaving Manny wondering if someone is defrauding the system...

    The game that follows is filled with great characters, a wonderful plot that pays homage to classic film noirs like Casablanca, the Maltese Falcon, and the Fat Man, and logical environmental puzzles that make sense to the context of the game.Though the game didn't sell well and we will most likely never see a sequel, own a piece of gaming history that you will treasure and quote with your friends for many years to come.

    With bony hands I hold my partner
    On soulless feet we cross the floor
    The music stops as if to answer
    An empty knocking at the door
    It seems his skin was sweet as mango
    When last I held him to my breast
    But now we dance this grim fandango
    And will four years until we rest.

    5-0 out of 5 stars Casablanca With An Art Deco Aztec Twist
    Grim Fandango has a very retro feel, sort of like Casablanca with an Art Deco Aztec twist. The game centers around Manny Calavera who is attempting to stay honest and make sense out of a Hispanic day of the dead afterlife which has been corrupted by those who control that afterlife for their own gain. All while Manny pursues the love of his afterlife! Confused? Trust me, it will all make sense once you start playing and the dialog and graphics will impress you and keep you hooked. I've tried a lot of the adventure games and they all have their flaws. But Grim Fandango comes as close to perfect as any game ever will. The controls are a little irritating but not as much as some newer games. This is the best adventure game out there and I strongly recommend that you try it.

    2-0 out of 5 stars I Must Be Missing Something
    I picked this up in a bargain bin because I had heard great things about Grim Fandango, now an admittedly older title.I had also played a demo of one of the Monkey Island games and found it hilarious.I greedily slapped down my ten bucks and looked forward to some fun.

    The game is fun to listen to and watch.Filled with yucks aplenty, Grim Fandango is like participating directly in a wacky animated film.For this alone, Fandango earns high praise.As with the Monkey Island games, the voice acting and humor is top notch.

    Sadly, gameplay suffers.If you read through enough reviews here at Amazon, you'll find that people like Fandango simply for its humor and style; most customers admit that they needed walkthroughts to get past the game's frustrating puzzles.I'm a puzzle fan, and I like a challenge, but there were simply too many moments in Fandango where the puzzles felt arbitrary. Logic rarely led to a solution; only trial and error did!For me, this weighed heavily--and I mean heavily--against the game.Humor and style, huge plusses no doubt, should still be secondary to gameplay (or at least equal).With Fandango, gameplay seems to be a less important means towards creative and hilarious ends.You'll need to decide if this is okay with you. For me, it wasn't.

    For music reviews, visit http://unpaidrockcritic.typepad.com
    ... Read more

    Asin: B00004WGW1
    Subjects:  1. Humor (Humorous humour humourous)    2. Supernatural (Horror)    3. Computer Games    4. Adventure    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   


    StarCraft
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    CD-ROM
    list price: $9.99
    US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

    Editorial Review

    Blizzard's release of StarCraft was eagerly anticipated by Real Time Strategy fans, and with good reason. Instead of two similarly powered enemies facing off, the three distinct races in StarCraft have unique capabilities and strategies. Everyone still competes in the RTS genre's typical race for resources, but that's the only shared trait. Terrans can move their bulky mechanized bases as necessary, while the reptilian Zerg grow their colonies and warriors from mutating larvae. Meanwhile, the noble Protoss warp in equipment from their home world using psionic powers.

    Not only does Blizzard juggle the races' playability and match it with superb art and sound effects, it also weaves together an engrossing three-act plot. Early on, as a Terran Magistrate, you spend a breathtaking 30 minutes defending against a Zerg onslaught. As the story unfolds around you, you'll experience the Zerg's hive mentality, and decipher the mysterious Protoss by the game's dramatic conclusion.

    Missions vary in scope and are effectively framed with dialogue, chapter screens, and in-mission exposition. Multiplayer is also very well represented by Blizzard's own free battle.net service. If you'd rather play over a local-area network, StarCraft will generously "spawn" up to seven copies so your friends can join in. --Jack Gardiner ... Read more

    Features

    • 30 unique missions will challenge you across 3 different campaigns as you control the fate of the galaxy
    • Control any of 3 different species, each with unique units, technologies, attributes, and abilities
    • Included Campaign Editor allows players to edit units and create their own campaigns
    • StarCraft boasts award-winning advanced control features, such as waypoints and training queues, to provide enhanced gameplay
    • Multiplayer games for up to 8 players over IPX Networks and Battle.net, 4 players with Direct Cable Connection, and 2 players with modem Connection
    Reviews (270)

    5-0 out of 5 stars One of the best
    ... titles in real-time strategy games.
    Starcraft didn't really set a new standard when it was release for graphics, engine and gameplay. However, as people played it they realized how perfect this rts title really was. Easy to learn, difficult to master. It retains its flavor and fun even after all these years and so many other titles that came out after it.
    A great sci-fi rts game that should be in the collection of any fan of the genre. Don't miss out and make sure you also pick up the expansion back: Brood War.

    5-0 out of 5 stars A Game I Highly Recommend For Your Santa List
    Space....the final frontier. In this final frontier, you embark on a journey to the outer reaches of the galaxy, where you encounter three races involved in a war for the future of the universe; the Zerg, the Protoss, and the Terran. At this time, the Zerg are invading everywhere and on every planet. Unfortunately, they have hit a couple of stops in the road of divide and conquer. On the planet of Earth; the Terran, future earthlings, are fighting to defend against the Zerg as they have been launching attacks without stop. However, the zerg are no match for the Terran unless the Zerg pull out the Mutalisks, flying beasts that can't be stopped without having great losses. In the meantime, the Protoss have also become a big pain in the BLEEP. The protoss seem bent on destroying their equals as the mission goes, but after the Terran put them in their place, the Protoss seem to want to leave them alone. Then, the Zerg have decided to launch one last offensive on the Terran people............
    On the Protoss homeworld, the Zerg are also taking over. The Protoss are on the brink of destruction when one of their kind, disobeying the directorate, have called on the Terran to come to their aid. With the aid of the Terran, the protoss have new hope and more time to rebuild their armies. Most of the time, the Protoss go on their own, asking for help on the way. Then, in their final hour, the Protoss have to call on the Terran one last time. With their final attempt at a counteroffensive........
    Now the Zerg, though they may be the "bad guys" in this game, are actually at war with the Protoss and Terran over a big misunderstanding. The Zerg only live to serve the cerebrate, to carry out the will of the Overlords, and just plain are slaves. The Zergs cannot exist without the cerebrate and the Overlords are the only reason the Zerg underlings can be created, to keep them in line. So, the Zerg are going to be on the brink of destruction as well until the Zerg capture Lt. Kerrigan, a Terran commander that now is infested with the Zerg parasite in their mind. She knows many of the Terran secrets and now the Zerg are planning to launch a MAJOR counteroffensive......

    3-0 out of 5 stars The Game of a lifetime of STINKAGE AND FUN!
    Starcraft.....
    the game of building a lot of stuff...researching as much crap as possible...and BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF THE OTHER PLAYER.

    The game...it is partly strategic....but...the game is basically about building as many units as possible and hoping that the other guy doesn't have as much as you do.

    if you are having trouble on the game...cheat...thats all there is to it...if the game gets so boring at times....Cheat.....thats all there is to it.

    The game of Starcraft is complicated as you advance in the game....but..if you have friends in high places(wink wink)...you should be able to do just fine. But....the game is so easy at the start that you wouldnt even need to have friends in high places when you are going solo on it.

    Now multiplayer........thats very complicated...you are basically battling against other players who have more experience than you do and you are HELPLESS to an attack by the people you are against. My advice....dont go into any rooms that say noobs only. the people in there are basically setting you up for the BIGGEST BEATING OF YOUR LIFE......i know.....it happened to me too. This is the area in which you NEED friends in high places. My advice..again...join clans...you will be surprised in what help you get there.

    THE BAD POINTS OF THE GAME

    Now my review basically looks like its all about bad points in the game....but it just goes to show that what i am about to tell you may be helpful....or u cant do anything about it...you decide that for yourself.

    1. The game has LAG.....it has it in multiplayer and single..nothing you can do about it accept that you have to wait for it to stop.
    2. You can get confused very easily as the game progresses further into the mystifying depths of starcraft.
    3. You also can get very frustrated...easily...jist keep a cool head throughout the whole game or else get off and walk away for a while.

    hope this helps you understand starcraft better...
    W.G.J.T. ... Read more

    Asin: B00001IVLY
    Subjects:  1. Star Craft    2. Computer Games    3. Strategy (Strategic)    4. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi, Scifi)    5. Macintosh (Machintosh)    6. Mac    7. Apple    8. Havas   


    Curse of Monkey Island (Jewel Case)
    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    CD-ROM
    -- our price: $9.99
    (price subject to change: see help)
    US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

    Editorial Review

    In the annals of computer adventure gaming, LucasArts' epic The Secret of Monkey Island remains as engrossing today--despite its obviously dated visuals and sound effects--as when it was first released. With its timeless story line and humor, The Secret of Monkey Island shaped adventure games for many years to come.

    To the relief of longtime fans, LucasArts finally released the third game in the trilogy: The Curse of Monkey Island. Thankfully, its technical superiority to its predecessors doesn't come at the expense of a delightful and hilarious story line--The Curse of Monkey Island is every bit as good as its prequels.

    Players once again assume the role of Guybrush Threepwood, an aspiring pirate who lacks the coordination and muscle tone to succeed as a swashbuckler. After unknowingly slipping a cursed diamond ring on the finger of his longtime love, Elaine Marley, Guybrush finds himself--and the player along with him--again battling wits with the nefarious (and very dead) pirate, LeChuck.

    Utilizing a simple point-and-click interface, players guide Guybrush through hundreds of beautifully rendered scenes, meeting unique characters, collecting dozens of objects, and solving puzzles. Interacting with the eccentric inhabitants of LucasArt's comic Caribbean is one of the adventure's highlights; the excellent writing and dialogue make each new encounter even better than the last. The Curse of Monkey Island, with its Saturday-morning-like animated graphics, is suitable for all ages, though the tricky puzzle solutions may be a tad obscure for younger gamers. --Doug Radcliffe

    Pros:

    • Delightful story line and excellent dialogue
    • Colorful, animated graphics
    • Simple, easy-to-use interface
    • Suitable for all ages
    Cons:
    • Some puzzles might be a bit obscure
    ... Read more

    Features

      Reviews (55)

      4-0 out of 5 stars COTI--A new classic
      Another step in the succesful Tower Island series,though this misses
      the charm of SOTI and TI2KJR,it is still a classic.Ever since the invention of Guybrush and his Magnon Croboys adventures he has been regarded as a computer-game saint.Now comes the next puzzly Nachitov
      Croboys chapter.

      5-0 out of 5 stars Great jumping Monkeys! This game still rocks!
      The Curse of Monkey Island is the 3rd game in Lucasarts' highly acclaimed graphic adventure series, and finds our hero Guybrush Threepwood tasked with removing a cursed ring that has turned his girlfriend into a gold statue.

      My siblings and I dug this game out over the holidays, and (having memorized all the solutions to all the puzzles) went through it in one straight session. This game holds up surprisingly well for being close to a decade old. The graphics look like they were pulled straight from a cartoon, and only the pixelation in the cutscenes will hint at the game's true age. The voice acting is spot-on perfect (Alan Young, voice of Scrooge McDuck, has a hilarious role), with lots of clever dialogue and delivery and occasional references to Star Wars and other Lucasarts games. Puzzles are reasonably challenging without being too obscure, and most gamers should be able to find their way to the end without consulting a walkthrough too much, if at all.

      The major strike against this game is that if you're not familiar with the Monkey Island series, a portion of the story and background will leave you scratching your head (such as why Guybrush starts the game floating in a bumper car in the middle of the ocean). The first two installments in the game were DOS-based, and they were old even when Curse of Monkey Island was new. There's actually a huge portion of the game at the end dedicated to sorting out all the various plot threads of the series, and new players might find this a little drawn out. Still, the basic premise of the game is simple enough to follow.

      There's no guarantee this game will work on WindowsXP, but I've had no problems running it, so it's worth giving it a shot (a group of fans also developed programs to make the game run smoother, for those having difficulty with it). The Curse of Monkey Island is a classic game in a genre that has been criminally neglected in today's gaming industry.

      5-0 out of 5 stars best ever
      easily one of the best point and click adventure games. end of story.... ... Read more

      Asin: B00004WGVX
      Subjects:  1. 3 (three III)    2. Adventure    3. Computer Games    4. Humor (Humorous humour humourous)    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   


      $9.99

      Blade Runner
      Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      CD-ROM
      list price: $19.99
      US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

      Editorial Review

      Games with ties to movies usually stink, but few adventure games can even begin to approach Blade Runner in terms of gameplay, production level, and respect for source material. You play the part of Blade Runner Ray McCoy, traveling throughout the Los Angeles of 2019 to gather clues and question suspects as you try to follow the threads of a series of interwoven crimes.

      Blade Runner is unusual in the amount of freedom it gives players. Theoretically it is your job as a Blade Runner to eliminate any Replicants you encounter in the course of your investigations. (For those of you unfamiliar with the movie, Replicants are synthetic humans banned from Earth due to their unpredictable nature). You can choose to sympathize with their cause, however, and all the choices you make in the game have a dynamic impact on the way things will turn out in one of the multiple endings.

      Blade Runner has some of the most impressive and dramatic visuals ever to grace a computer monitor. The title's low resolution is more than compensated for by the myriad animations on each screen, the stunning detail present in every image, and the atmospheric lighting effects. Still shots do not do this game justice.

      The game is also notable for its high-quality sounds and music. It is rare to find a game with voice acting that doesn't elicit chuckles, but the hours of voice recordings in Blade Runner are almost universally superb. The diverse characters speak in a variety of accents that rarely sound hokey, and the overall quality of sounds does much to make players feel like they are actively participating in a movie.

      No game is without some problems, and Blade Runner has its share. Puzzles sometimes devolve into hunt-the-pixel searches where you try for minutes to find the exact spot to put the mouse cursor so you can pick up an object. Some of the time-based events, like trying to outrun a bomb explosion, are just plain frustrating. However, if you can live with the pixel hunts and have the discipline to save often, prepare to enjoy one of the best adventure games ever produced. Just be aware that the R-rated language and violence make for a game that is strictly for adults. --T. Byrl Baker

      Pros:

      • Stunning attention to detail in both graphics and audio
      • Outstanding voice acting--especially for a computer game
      • Captures the atmosphere and style of the movie with aplomb
      Cons:
      • Puzzles are sometimes more cheap than challenging
      ... Read more
      Reviews (27)

      4-0 out of 5 stars Average game that's incredibly immersive.
      There are two things to think about when talking about this game. One is the game mechanics themselves and one is the execution of the look and feel of the game. On the former the game lacks, but as far as the way the game looks and sounds you will be hard pressed to find a computer game that puts you this deeply into a franchise. Blade Runner is this kind of game.

      Westwood Studios decided to take a stab at the Blade Runner franchise and make a game so true to the movie that you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. I think they succeeded in this. They do it in three ways: Plot or story structure, visuals and sound. All of which holds onto an important credo: be true to the source material.

      The plot itself puts you in the Blade Runner world as a Rep Detec (a Blade Runner) on the hunt for a group fugitive replicants. Apparently this is all happening at the exact same time as the movie events as well (kinda like two different cases going on in the department). The mood and manner of the story is well done and they brought in a wealth of talent to do with voice acting, including a few from the original movie (Sean Young, Brion James, William Sanderson and more). Add some really nice cut scenes and you get a pretty theatrical experience. One "scene" where you walk out of your apartment balcony so see the city streets and skyline is almost worth playing the game alone.

      The visuals are stunning for when the game was made. Actually they still are. The backgrounds are pre-rendered with some interaction here and there. While that sounds like it makes a rather static game it does mean when you walk into a familar Blade Runner movie location you REALLY feel it. Down to the little details the background visuals really inspire.

      While the visuals are great I think what really makes the difference in this game is the sound. I think this game takes full advantage of having 32 channels of audio, and if it doesn't it sure does sound like it. Every location you go to is filled with environmental sounds. This more than anything else sucks you into the setting. Add to that the occasional cues from the Vangelis soundtrack (which mixes in perfectly by the way), PLUS the incredible voice acting, and the audio experience in breathtaking. Even with two speakers it's incredible. Add some surround sound and you will get lost in the game.

      Okay that's all the good stuff about the game, but I did say the actual game play was merely average. I meant that. The game is incredibly static. While you can travel all over the place and see the beautiful sites and sounds (which is a good thing if you think about it) the game will not progress until you take a specific action or interview a specific person. You play a detective in the game, but since the game is so linear you really don't get a chance to stretch your detecting skills much.

      Also while the backgrounds and static images or animations are incredible Westwood made a compromise and decided to reduce the resolution of the items that are more dynamic so more people with "average" systems at the time could enjoy the game. The end result is you are a very pixelated character and the characters you interact with are just as pixellated. While shading is not too bad on your pixelled self any time you compare with the backgrounds the difference is painfully obvious.

      So the game had pixelled characters and VERY linear gameplay. That's not the reason to get it. The reason to buy Blade Runner is to get yourself immersed in the Blade Runner universe. This, more than anything else, is what the accomplishes in spades.

      5-0 out of 5 stars Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?
      Bladerunner is one of the few adventure games that has survived through the 'new era' of 3d gaming.
      Althought following a story similar to that in the film/book, the character 'Roy McCoy' is new to the game.
      This classic game allow gamers to be immersed into the world of bladerunner, and actually hunt replicants for themselves. However there may be a few hard choices on the way.
      Play this and you may be able to answer the question, "Do androids dream of electric sheep?".

      4-0 out of 5 stars I like it
      Looking at the cover of this game I would have assumed it to be more bang-bang and low on plot. I was pleasently surprised. You take on the role of the main character, flying, running and interacting with the environment at a speed that you desire. It doesn't have the graphic beauty of say Myst, but it is dark, futuristic and sexy non the less (some scenes are a little adult). It's easy to get addicted to this game, and look forward to whats around the corner. Solving this game is not super difficult I would rate it's difficulty as low to medium. It does the movie justice and is alot of fun. ... Read more

      Asin: B00002EPYE
      Subjects:  1. Science Fiction (SciFi, Sci Fi)    2. Mystery    3. Bladerunner    4. Westwood    5. Computer Games    6. Adventure   


      SimCity 2000 Special Edition (Jewel Case)
      Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
      CD-ROM

      US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

      Editorial Review

      The ultimate city simulator. You design, build, and customize any city you can imagine, and Sim City 2000 SE will bring it and its resident Sims to life. Includes the Urban Renewal Kit and Scenarios Vol. 1--all on one CD-ROM. ... Read more

      Reviews (27)

      1-0 out of 5 stars Irritating Game
      I see some people love this game.I on the other hand, dislike it very much.Mostly because in order to make your city happy, you need money to make the city better.But you run out of money to soon and try to make some adjustments in the taxes and everything, which makes the city unhappy.And while your trying to do all that, the roads keep getting messed up and needing repairs, you have to add more police stations to keep the crime at bay, ect.Plus, if your playing with the crisis', you'll have aliens burning your hard work down, earthquakes, ect.It's just not worth the time.Now if you love a tough challenge and have nothing else you can think of to do, then go right ahead and get it.Otherwise, don't waste your time or money.This is unlike the regular Sims game, which is the best PC game ever.I really can't wait for The Sims 2!Save your money for that one!It will be so much better than the first!

      5-0 out of 5 stars Extremely dated but great vintage value!
      I still come back to this game from time to time considering the immensely complex scope of the newest SC 4 game released recently.

      I have such great memories of this game when I got in during Christmas of 1998 and played it for a long time afterwards and for most of that time, it was the most state of the art computer game that was ever created at least at that point in time.

      In this game, you zone out the tiles of land for industial, commercial and residential development and manage your city's progress from a small unincorporated village into a thriving metropolis or town if you don't want it big. The game is incredibly simple compared to the newest reincarnation of the game saga.

      This game is extremely dated today but tack in 1994 through late 1998, this game to me was the 'game of the future;! The graphics are quite low on detail and almost look silly by todays standards. The water pumps for example look more like pacifiers than real water pumps. The railroads are also a bit questionable by today's standards because although it makes it a lot easier to play, the railroads can be built at ninety degree angles, something that is impossible with real traintracks which can bend maybe no more than like 10 degrees. At the same time, it's quite entertaining just to see the freight trains pass the ninety degree bends with no problems at all.

      This game holds a special place in my life not just because I played it so much but also because it was the game that brought the whole Simcity Saga into my life and is the grandfather of the simcity games. It's definatety a keeper just for it's vintage value and the memories that it holds for me.

      A true classic in every way. This game is the grandfather of the Simcity Saga at least for me it is.

      1-0 out of 5 stars It looks good, but DON'T buy it!
      This game is extremely bad. The only good sim games are the awesome "The Sims" games. In SimCity, th only way to build homes, hospitals, airports etc... is to use the urban renewal kit! If you build a city useing the regular game it does not build buildings at all! If you choose to make an area of land residential, it does not build homes, it colors the land green! This game is horrible! When you look at your finished city, it is a huge color coded land mass! ... Read more

      Asin: B00005AG1J
      Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Great Deals (Outlet store)    3. Simulations    4. Strategy (Strategic)    5. World Building (Builders)   


      Startopia
      Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
      CD-ROM (21 June, 2001)

      US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

      Editorial Review

      Startopia takes gamers to a once-thriving galactic network of starships, space stations, and planets left lifeless with redundant scars of the apocalypse. You will lead the way in rebuilding the network of space stations that once served the commerce and communication of the old empire--reuniting the surviving alien peoples under one banner.

      Startopia gives you the opportunity to rebuild and successfully maintain a series of giant Torus (donut) space stations scattered across the galaxy. They will provide a suitable home for the many alien races that inhabit space, and perhaps turn a tidy profit for you in the process. Of course, there are plenty of other enterprising individuals out there with the same goals, not to mention there are many hazards that exist in deep space. A number of different life forms and organizations are developing competing stations, and it will only be a matter of time before you'll need to confront your opponents. Will you use economic or military means to force out your opponents? You decide.

      Startopia features nine primary character races, each with a unique look and function. Each inhabitant is an individual character, with unique moods, desires, personal histories, and humorous character animations. It's a fully functioning alien society, with racial animosity and friendships, crime and punishment, leisure and entertainment, and a functioning economy. The unique Torus play area gives a viewpoint never before seen in a game. The bio-deck has an editable landscape and a manageable ecosystem, allowing you complete control of terraforming. Multiplayer support for up to three other stationmasters and simple and intuitive command of security forces can conflict with other players or defend your station against alien threats. ... Read more

      Reviews (21)

      3-0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginning
      This game is easy to like. The slick graphics and interactive feel make it modern and appealing. The quirky techno soundtrack helps too. The only complaint I can levy is that it's easy to finish all the "training" levels, and go straight to the open ended "sandbox" mode. After you control the entire station, there's nothing else to shoot for!
      I bought this game pre-9/11, and I think something must've happened to stopo production on a sequal, or an improved newer version....I mean come on....Sim City got a second, third and fourth chance, and spun-off countless times....why not Startopia?

      4-0 out of 5 stars I love this game... all 10 minutes of it.
      I have to give this game a rating of 4 stars, even if it is short. The game design and camera angles along are worth it. I played the demo of this game when it first came out, and I remember just playing with the camera features for 10-15 minutes.

      In a free play mode this is basically superb RTS world management game. With all the different features you can beat a level in at least 5 different ways.

      The missions are great for learning the ropes, however they will only take about 2 days to beat, most of this time being spent in the last 3 or 4 missions.

      This wasn't the most disappointing part though, because at the end of the origional missions there appears to be more, but they just do not work, or were a teaser for a never made sequal.

      But, back to the positive side. This game's level design is open source, and anyone who can use a spreadsheet (Excel) can modify and create custom campaigns. So, if you've got some hardcore gaming buddies you can keep each other entertained for at least a couple months trading levels back and forth, or you can simply try your hand at game design solo.

      With top rate graphics (for it's day) and a new look at an old game format, I have to go with 4 stars.

      -- nemo54321

      3-0 out of 5 stars Fun at first but wears off fast
      I'm sorry to say that I got pretty board of this game pretty fast. It was worth about 10 hours of "fun" play time for me, but from then on out it was just too repetitive, and confining. The animations are great, but the gameplay itself was lacking for me, and the storyline was really dumb in my opinion. ... Read more

      Asin: B00004WI4B
      Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Strategy (Strategic)    3. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi, Scifi)   


      Black & White
      Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
      CD-ROM (28 March, 2001)

      US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

      Editorial Review

      If you've ever wanted to play god, Black & White shoulddefinitely be on your short list. This highly anticipated game takesthe concept literally, letting players navigate and influence a lushworld using only the "hand of god" as an interface. Players can use thehand to uproot trees, hurl rocks, rescue (or punish) followers, andcontrol all aspects of the camera as it zooms, dips, and swerves overthe completely 3-D environments.

      The game gets off to a slow start, but things pick up once players getto choose their creatures. Creatures are giant animals that serve asyour physical link to the mortal world, and they have a sophisticatedartificial intelligence that lets players teach them how to act. In thebeginning, there's only a cow, ape, and tiger from which to pick, butthe choices expand as the game progresses. And for a limited time, Amazon.com customers can download a bonus creature--a magnificent horse. Click here for details.

      Ultimately, creatures grow, and their appearance gradually changes toreflect both their tendency toward good or evil and the treatmentthey've received from the player. Deny the animal access to food and itwill lose weight. Pet it each time it eats a villager and you'll soonhave an evil juggernaut that strikes fear into people's hearts. Most ofthe game's fun comes from spending time teaching your creature andsimply watching the crazy things it does of its own volition. Best ofall, players and creatures don't have to have the same alignment,making it possible to be an evil god with a glowing, beloved,benevolent creature. It all depends on why you choose to reward orpunish the creature.

      Unfortunately, Black & White tries to be too many things atonce, and there is rarely any real focus. It's difficult to enjoytraining a creature when villages need protecting, villagers needdirection, and buildings need to be built in order to expand theplayer's influence and ultimately win each level. It wouldn't be so badif the villagers were half as smart as the game's creatures, but theyrequire a lot of micromanagement to work efficiently. The single-playercampaign gives players plenty of time in each mission to overcome theseshortcomings, but prepare to spend many long hours administrating yourholdings for every hour of pure joy that Black & White iscapable of providing. --T. Byrl Baker

      Pros:

      • Great graphics and animations
      • Exceptional creature artificial intelligence
      • Plenty of keyboard shortcuts, greatly simplifying the complexcamera controls
      Cons:
      • Managing villagers and buildings can be a chore
      • The manual is completely inadequate considering the complexity ofthe creature AI
      ... Read more
      Reviews (506)

      1-0 out of 5 stars Frustrating!
      I played this game for about a month, but it got so tedious andfrustrating that I quit. I am 12 years old and I've beaten Civilization III and other games like that but this game I just couldn't finish. Do yourself a favour, and don't even try it.

      3-0 out of 5 stars Not for the blood thirsty
      If you like running from room to room or planet to planet (or whatever) shooting things and blowing stuff up.This is NOT the game for you.

      If you enjoy sociological endeavors, you'll enjoy this game.

      As others have said, micromanaging (who ever said God's job was easy?), is tedeous BUT the one person who complained obviously did not read some of the instructions.You can set up short cuts to various places on your island.Then it is as simple as pressing "4" to get from one place to the place you've designated as area "4".No biggie.

      There does not appear to be any book out on how to accomplish things you want to accomplish.I suppose that is because there are too many variables in the game.

      Some parts of the game are pretty funny.The boat builders song is pretty humerous as well as people falling "in love" and giggling etc.

      So, all in all, not the most riveting game I've ever played but certainly not the most boring.This is kind of like SIMS meets The Swiss Family Robinson.

      At $3 for a used version, how bad could it be?

      Wish I had gotten mine for that price!

      4-0 out of 5 stars If you have Windows98/ME & A LOT of Ram. You need see this..
      I saw some people have problems running this game.If your system is Windows98/ME and you have more than 512 MB memory in stalled, you need to see this ... otherwise you will get game crashes more frequently ... not just in Black & White, but other games as well. You need to follow the workaround method as follows.

      I first come across this knowledge from www.nvidia.com FAQ : Windows 98 and ME were based on the original Windows 95 kernel which was never designed for handling a lot of memory. These systems will experience various operational difficulties if more than 512MB physical memory is installed. These problems are due to how the 32-bit protected-mode cache driver (VCache) for Windows 9x/ME reserves memory.With more than 512MB memory, VCache may reserve most of the virtual addresses available.This issue does not affect Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000. Directions for correcting this problem are outlined in Microsoft's Knowledge Base article number 253912:[...]
      CAUSE :
      The Windows 32-bit protected-mode cache driver (Vcache) determines the maximum cache size based on the amount of RAM that is present when Windows starts, or 800MB, whichever is less. Vcache then reserves enough memory addresses to permit it to access a cache of the maximum size so that it can increase the cache to that size if needed.. These addresses are allocated in a range of virtual addresses from 0xC0000000 through 0xFFFFFFFF (virtual address occupy between 3 gigabyte and 4 gigabyte area - a space of only 1 gigabytes) known as the system arena.

      On computers with large amounts of RAM, the maximum cache size can be large enough that Vcache consumes nearly all of the addresses in the system arena, leaving little virtual memory addresses available for other system process.

      This problem may occur more readily with Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) video adapters because the AGP aperture is also mapped to addresses in the system arena. For example, if Vcache is using a maximum cache size of 800 MB and an AGP video adapter has a 128-MB aperture mapped, there is very little address space remaining for the other system code and data that must occupy this range of virtual addresses.


      WORKAROUND :

      - Add the MaxFileCache line as follows in the System.ini file to reduce the maximum cache size that Vcache uses to 512 MB (512x1024 =524288 KB. Note: The value for these settings are in kilobytes) or less :
      [VCache]
      MaxFileCache=524288

      - Then reboot computer to have setting take effect. You should suffer FAR LESS crashes in many games. Your game can still crash, though.But it will be due to other problems - game bugs, drivers too old, etc.
      ... Read more

      Asin: B00004UE0O
      Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Strategy (Strategic)    4. Fantasy    5. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   


      Diablo 2 Collector's Edition
      Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      CD-ROM (27 June, 2000)

      US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

      Editorial Review

      In Diablo II, players return to a world of dark fantasy. As one of five distinct character types, players will explore the world of Diablo II, journey across distant lands, fight new villains, discover new treasures, and uncover ancient mysteries. The Collectors Edition includes the four-CD game, a 24-minute Diablo II movie on DVD and in letter-box format, the 70-minute soundtrack, and the D&D Diablo II pen-and-paper box set for playing D&D in the Diablo II setting.

      Since the beginning of time, the forces of order and chaos have been engaged in an eternal struggle to decide the fate of all creation. That struggle has now come to the mortal realm, and neither man, demon, nor angel will be left unscathed.

      Diablo, lord of terror, and youngest of the three prime evils, awoke from his long sleep beneath the dark earth. Setting in motion a grand scheme to free his exiled brothers, Mephisto and Baal, Diablo took control of the small western kingdom of Khanduras. Working from deep within the ancient catacombs beneath the town of Tristram, Diablo gripped the entire populace in a blanket of fear and paranoia.

      Ultimately, as even Khanduras's good King Leoric fell under Diablo's wicked power, a lone hero arose to challenge the darkness that had engulfed the land. After plumbing the hellish depths of the labyrinth under Tristram, the nameless hero finally confronted the lord of terror himself. Knowing full well that Diablo's spirit could never be truly destroyed, the hero made the noblest sacrifice of all: casting his soul and his very sanity aside, the hero took the spirit of Diablo into himself, hoping that his own strength of will could contain the demon within. The hero could never have known that his selfless act would not only ensure Diablo's victory, but would also irrevocably damn his soul for all time. ... Read more

      Reviews (9)

      5-0 out of 5 stars Diablo II RULES
      If you don't already have Diablo II, GET IT!It will provide hours of fun for all players.I hope you enjoy this game!

      5-0 out of 5 stars Diablo 2 is AWESOME
      THE BEST RPG GAME I EVER PLAYED!!!

      Read all the other 5-star reviews, I am pretty sure it's all cover there.

      2-0 out of 5 stars Boring
      I don't care for any of the Diablo games.If you want a game that you have to click your mouse button 50 times to kill a guy, buy this game.Overall, there are alot of better games to buy for your $60 bucks ... Read more

      Asin: B00004RJXR
      Subjects:  1. Fantasy (FRPG)    2. Diablo2 (Two, II)    3. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    4. Havas   


      Alpha Centauri (Jewel Case)
      Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      CD-ROM

      US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

      Editorial Review

      Ever wonder what happened to the explorers launched into spaceat the end of Civilization II? This game has the answer: theylanded on a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri and quickly divided intofeuding factions, each bent on molding the new world according to thegroup's particular philosophy or culture. But the human colonists arenot alone.

      Alpha Centauri employs the same basic gameplay, rules, andconcepts as Civilization II, but features enhanced diplomacy anda new, slicker interface. Players begin by assuming leadership of oneof seven colony factions, establishing a base on the unexplored world.Conquering territory, developing technology, expanding the faction'spopulation, and dealing with native life forms are critical prioritiesthat must be correctly balanced for survival. If a faction's militaryoutput is low, it may be vulnerable to attacks by others or bydangerous mind worms that roam the landscape. On the other hand,building war machines at the expense of scientific research may resultin having to manage a massive but obsolete war machine or a rebelliouspopulation.

      Within the game, you can now automate tasks that--in the earliergame--were repetitive and dull. The factions also have a better mix ofleaders: three of the seven factions are headed by women. The computerAI for the other groups does a good job of making decisions inaccordance with each faction's particular philosophy and worldview, andwill often surprise a human player with an offer of strategic allianceor a sudden double-cross.

      This easy-to-learn and thoroughly absorbing game takes the bestfeatures of the original classic and sets them in a brave new world.--Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

      Features

        Reviews (28)

        5-0 out of 5 stars The zenith of strategy gaming. kudos to Reynolds.
        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 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.

        5-0 out of 5 stars If only days and nights were longer..
        so I could play this masterpiece more often! When I ended my long and profound relationship with civ2, having attained one
        of the first monster scores on the net, I thought that nothing would ever come close to the feeling I got out of diving deep
        into the perplexity of Sid Mayer's classic.
        I bought AC out of curiosity. I first went through the manual. Magic! I then started studying the game. More magic!
        The offspring of the Mayer-Reynolds collaboration was nothing short of miraculous. The game had all the stengths of civ2 and none of its weaknesses! Micromanagement was introduced abolishing the tedious bits of civ. Customizing land,sea&air units was an absolute killer. The sound was smooth as silk.The overall display was devine.
        And then it was the concept... That game's concept could easily stand alone as a great read in the sci-fi bookmarket.
        Making some very simple changes in the text files such as city names, gender, quotes etc. the player can personalize a faction and actually become part of the story; and what a beautiful story it is. The living planet, the fantastic future science tree along with its mind-twisting excerpts from the "datalinks", a word that inevidably sends one back,momentarily, to the haunting intro movie, the combination of socio-political models producing incredibly unusual types of goverment, the eery peace emanating from the alien atmosphere... No matter how violent your strategy may be, the nature of the game is such that it will eventually force you to think more, kill less and try harder.
        All of the above and much more will be experienced to their full extent ONLY by those who will invest time and effort in getting to know all the subtleties of this hard-to-master gem and not by those who think that they know the game because,after a few reloads, they finally managed to win at deity level.
        Finishing this well deserved encomium I would like to point out the only flaw I found in AC. That is the use of a single
        wav. file for all hand-held/turret mounted weapons regardless of class, power and age. Big no-no. The amount of research and attention to detail that ,evidently, the designers put into this game just goes to prove that this one just slipped under their noses.
        Ah well, nothing's perfect after all...

        3-0 out of 5 stars I don't think this is as good as some others say
        I played all the other Civ like games and this is the type of game I like, but I just didn't get Alpha Centauri. I played this one enought to get good, but the whole feel was just too much like Civ II and I seemed to get into Civ II like end games too easily.
        Having now played CivIII for six months I given it a 5 start rating I don't understand my own review, but that was the feel I had.
        I guess if you can get it for $10 now then it should be worth a try.
        Maybe I'll try this again another day. ... Read more

        Asin: B00005AG0S
        Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Strategy (Strategic)    3. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi, Scifi)   


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