GameSpy review of Galactic Civilizations II

The Drengin are coming for you..

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/galactic-civilizations-ii/693427p1.html
from GalCiv2 Forums

The GameSpy review of Galactic Civilizations II has been put up.

The final line of the review "Master of Orion is dead. Long live Galactic Civilizations II! "

 

The review talks a great deal about the computer AI.  Veteran strategy gamer Allen Rausch talks about how brutal the computer AI can be in the game:

Then, just as I was about to conquer his homeworld, the Iconian leader sent me a message telling me that, while he knew he couldn't defeat me, he was going to use his last action to spit in my eye -- he was going to surrender to the humans. Suddenly all his planets and ships belonged to the human leader who had doubled the size of his empire in a single turn. My next message was from the human leader who told me to say my prayers because I wasn't long for this world. The humans! They had been everybody's buddy! They had built up a great trade network and were the most peace-loving race in the galaxy. They had also given technology to the Iconians and encouraged them to go to war with me, all to pull me out of position and swoop in for the kill. I found this out because the computer AI sent me a message taunting me for my stupidity in falling for it! The greatest thing about Galactic Civilizations II is that something like that happens every game. I may not have enjoyed being flimflammed by the computer, but that's the kind of immersive gameplay every strategy game player dreams of.  

For new players, we do want to assure you that you can set the game difficulty down and the computer players do play very easy so that you can learn the ropes without being wiped out. It's all about how challenging you make the game.  Check out the whole review, it's a very informative read.

8,927 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The word "AI" comes like a repetitive pattern in this review! Careful Brad, I think you traumatized Allen!!
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Strange thing. I don't like this game, it's not 'solid': financial management is weird, screens are not logical, no doubleclick support etc. - but nevertheless I spent 10 hours playing it this weekend. Now how can that be?
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Heh, I know what you mean, ShunterAlhena. My computer technically can't even *run* GalCiv 2 (RAM and CPU are both well below requirements), and it crashes every other time I try to save.

....And yet, I've still spent more hours playing this game in the last 5 days than I've spent playing other games so far this year! There's something just nutty about that.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hahahaha... now if only we could hear the aliens laughing..

Anyways, totally agree~ immersive game play EVERY game.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Great to see him being so astonished about the A.I. It says "buy this game NOW!" to the hardcore 4x gamers.
It seems that you would have gotten 5/5 if you would have made better tutorials and included those supergraphics that you talked about.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
He did include the supergraphics! If only Allen had imported one of those 1 million pixel models that have been shown off recently...
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I love this comment
It's the type of game that typifies the "one more turn" feeling that has you riveted to your monitor until 4AM.


I can hear the screams of my wife at 3 am "WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO BED?????"
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Also I love this comment

The game's greatest strength, however, is undoubtedly the sheer number of strategies available. Players can, of course, pursue a military course, creating a war machine to grind alien races under their boot heel. They may also pursue a diplomatic course, forging alliances to create a sort of "United Nations of the Stars." They can chase the dream of technology, eventually becoming so powerful that they transcend this plane of reality. They may also pursue a cultural course, spreading their influence via trade and tourism to the point where they become the "indispensable race." Those simple descriptions don't even hint at the depth to which the player can go in running his or her empire, though. Want to run a trade war and bankrupt an enemy race without firing a shot? Want to become a "brain trust" while using your diplomatic gifts to convince those stupid Drengin to act as your muscle? Want to lie, wheedle, cheat and backstab your way to the head of the table via diplomacy, proxy wars, and strategic alliances?


Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Gamespy are a really big respected site, getting 4.5 from them and another high score from gamespot will really give this game the attention it deserves. I've played it for 5 hours today after opening it and found it very hard to drag myself away.