World Famous Comics: Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords
Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords
From: Take 2 Average Rating: Binding: CD-ROM ESRB Age Rating: Everyone Format: CD-ROM Label: Take 2 Model: 708192010325 Platform: Windows XP Release Date: February 21, 2006
Features:
Direct your people's military as you battle to control the galaxy
Deep strategic elements as you establish your place - Ccolonize planets, establish trade routes, fight wars, research new technologies, sign treaties, build up a planet's industry&economy
Research and design new ships -- full customization lets players create completely unique ships
Create entire fleets and develop them strategically
Multiple planets to explore and colonize - pick and choose what your planets will be used for
Product Description: Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords has incredible space-based strategy action, where you fight to defend humanity! The reckless humans have formed an alliance for their mutual defense against the rising power of the evil Drengin Empire. Meanwhile, the Drengins gather an alliance of their own and begin exploring the furthest corners of the galaxy for ancient weapons that may give them the uppher hand. But humans and Drengin alike are about to learn that there's far deadlier things in the universe than each other. Take command of a spacefaring civilization and guide it toward galactic control! All-new map system where players can make strategic use of planets, asteroid fields and other interstellar objects State of the art 3D engine with vastly improved graphics and visual effects than the original
Galactic Civilizations I bought the first galactic civ when it came out. The second was even better. You can make custom ships and reaserch new technologies and there are even more races to choose from. I like these game for replay value. Not the same boring thing. In the first I go into the xml and add new stuff such as technology and new stats and so on. It is too easy. Both galactic civ one and 2 are a safe bet for a fun stratagy game.
The Bottom Line This game is without doubt the best turn based 4X game I have ever played. Allowing me to design and create my own ships with different weapons and defenses made a dream come true. The people behind this game, Stardock, are developing an odd reputation, because for some reason they actually care about their customers, many of these reviews were written nearly a year ago, and since that time the game has been pacthed and changed.
If you enjoy strategy games (turn based or RTS) and are not afraid of using your head, try this game out, there's a great demo out that can give you a taste.
I started with the purchase of this game, I then bought the expansion Dark Avatar, and because of the amount of support the company has shown me and their products I pre-ordered the second expansion Twilight of the Arnor and Sins of a Solar Empire. Now that Sins of a Solar Empire is out I can say that I will continue to pre-order Stardock Entertainment products as whatever team they have creating video games over there are clearly gamers themselves and put plenty of common sense into their games, which is a lot more than most companies can say.
Try the demo, see for yourself. I went for it, and have nothing but good things to say.
Above average game This game is ok. Lotta tech to research. Lotta differant ship designs and payload. But i like Star Trek Birth of the Federation better. The starports on this game dont protect the plants and that can get kinda annoying.
Brain Cells beware, this game will kill allot of you. Nothing like a good strategy game that will wipe out brain cells when you're depressed and/or lonely.
This game is exceptionally fun and Very inspiring, keep the name Stardock in mind.
Stardock the makers started off a very small company with good ideas and exceptional programmers, the company is the game, unlike Ubisoft, Atari and other mega-giants who don't even know there product or care to support it, Stardock takes a personal interest.
The fanatics generated by the open-ended nature of this game have thrilled me with Babylon V and Star trek revisions of the game which easily could be sold as stand-alone expansions.
The selective complexity of the game remains just good enough to be entertaining and fun while remaining simple enough to play in short or long periods, the AI for strategy gets an A+.
The real fun in the game comes in MAKING your own starships, interfacing with a common language like XML to create scenarios', designs and storylines (limited),
The premise is the same as all good strategy games; grow your civilization, arm yourself just enough to achieve your goals and win a victory based on your choice. Be a war monger and blast all your enemies to pieces, be a diplomat and form a galactic alliance of coerce your enemy to surrender to your superior way of living etc...
The 3D battles are like 1980 television show CGI effects, but truly a treat, again remaining simple means you are not on the helm of a ship targeting enemies but rather arranging to win the battle by combining arms and fleets to get the upper edge what strategy is all about, and then if your really good not one shot has to be fired, but then you miss the cool effects.
It's a game priced well, from an exceptional company (a 3d0 replacement possibly).
Pros:
Very compatible with most machines and graphic cards, Fast and multi-tasking so you can commiserate life's pointlessness while you destroy the universe. Excellent support and community structure, FREE add-ons. A true desire to work with there users rather then leech them out of some more small change. No CD in drive 24/7 needed to run
Cons: New release does not work on my older p3, even though it is loaded. (Intel Graphics) I can't tell what version, what upgrade, what release I should get or have or should have, there sales teams needs a little bit refinement (Which is sort of backwards since everyone else sells you the Brooklyn bridge and there tech teams is the clod)
All in ALL it's worth the money you won't be disappointed Duftopia
Decent. But old ideas don't make a new game good. I had been hoping for good things with Dread Lords. The older GalCiv, while not on the level of MOO2, was good enough and looked promising.
Sadly, my hopes were not answered. Don't get me wrong, Dread Lords is not a bad game. However, it is nothing special either. 10 years after MOO2 something more is demanded of 4x space strategy than what we got here. There's plenty of new options, but after playing it perhaps 40 hours and finishing the main campaign and a few random galaxies I sat with the impression that I could safely go back to Rome Total War without losing much sleep. A month later I discovered Sword of the Stars and Dread Lords made its way to the dustbin, where it has stayed until today and probably will remain.
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