Best Turn Based Game (Masters of Orion 2 - Battle at Antares (PC))

Member Name: jason_webb

Product:	Masters of Orion 2 - Battle at Antares (PC)
Date:	06/09/00 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to play hard to leave

Disadvantages: Larger games need faster machines

Masters of Orion was the game that first got me addicted to computer games, so when when i found a copy of MOS2 for sale, i snatched it up.

Was i disappointed, in a word NO!

This game takes the concept of MoO and improves on it 200%. If you have not played MoO of MoO2 before, they are turn based stratagy games which can be played against up to eight computer or human opponents. The idea is to scout out star systems and then populate and cultivate the planets in those systems to increase your overall populaion.

Over and above the basic concept, you also have to research new technology, buildings, defences and weaponry to give yourself an edge over your opponents. To make things easier, you can automate some of the functions, so that you do not have to concentrate on everything at once.

The best touch of this game is the freehand it gives you in the design of your ships. In the original you had to add everything yourself, but in this version you are automatically given the best shields, engines etc up to the highest level you have currently researched. You do have to select the weapons and defences for your ship though and this is where you have to be clever.

The races in the game are diverse and all have their own special abilites, for example some races are better at surviving on harsh planets than others but may suffer in fair climates.

I have only touched the surface of this game, there are many more features to be explored like spying, political stratagy ( alliances, non aggression pacts etc. ) planet invasions, revolts and random events ( space monsters etc.)

In conclusion

This game offers players a wide spectrum of play from a simple game lasting an hour or two, to a massive challange that can last days or weeks. BUY IT.

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