User Reviews (1 - 11 of 23)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Bigger, deeper, more involving than the original

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 32 / 34
Date: December 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

First, a warning: there is already a patch for the game to fix several problems known with the game at the time it shipped...

But, hey, it's an Interplay game; I've come to expect high quality from them -- but high quality that occasionally needs a strip of duct tape.

SFC II adds two new races: first, the Mirak, based on the Kzinti from Larry Niven's novels and stories and later adapted in the Star Trek cartoon -- explaining how they got into the Star Fleet Battles boardgame that SFC is based on; it's all a rich tapestry. ;)

Second, the Interstellar Concordium (ISC). These guys were my favourite race in the boardgame, and they don't disappoint in SFC II. Their ships are larger than comparable ships of the same class from other races, and they have unique weapons, like rear-firing torpedoes and their Plasmatic Pulsar Device. The PPD is a very accurate, long-range weapon that does damage to multiple shields in multiple bursts.

Every race now gets fighters and/or fast patrol ships (small gunboats, smaller than frigates but bigger than fighters). Now the Hydrans don't get all the fun. The wide assortment of ships (more than 1,000 of them) is astounding, and no two fleets ever need to be the same.

Game balance has been improved; no longer are missile boats the game-killers they were in the pre-patch SFC -- however, the Mirak specialize in missiles, and are certainly the exception to this rule. Run away from them.

Perhaps the most exciting improvement to the game is Dynaverse II, the new campaign system. While offering a fun single-player experience, where it really shines is in the online semi-persistent world, where hundreds or thousands of players can potentially build up their fleets to conquer their enemies. While the game has only been available for a few days as of this writing, I've had some experience playing online and it's a lot of fun. Once the player base grows (and it will -- SFC II went gold before release) I expect the online game to be the only way to go. And, of course, SFC II supports standard multiplayer one-off games, if you don't have the inclination to play a campaign.

The graphics are even better than the first in the series, with space effects, nebulas and planets displayed in eye-popping detail. Weapon effects are glorious, and the sound is first-rate.

The training missions aren't as frustrating as in the first game, and help to ease the massive learning curve for this extremely deep game.

If there's any weakness to the game it is that the ships themselves still look artificial compared to the concept art, and this prevents me from giving SFC II a 5/5 score.

Many bugs spoil what should be an excellent experience

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 16 / 20
Date: December 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

As a veteran of the (long to play) board game Star Fleet Battles, I was extremely happy when Starfleet Command came out last year. Although it had glitches and imperfections, the possibilities of finally having starships duke it out in a tactical setting (although real-time) was a joy.

Of course the original Starfleet Command lacked some of the races and other features of SFB, and so, a year later, we come to Starfleet Command II.

SFC II has two new races missing from the original Starfleet Command that are a staple of SFB...the Mirak (renamed from the board game due to infringement--you might know them better as the Kzinti) and the dreaded "evil Federation", the dangerous ships of the Interstellar Concordium. It is their efforts to bring "peace" to the various groups in the game that drives the engine of the missions and the map.

For all of its pluses, however, the bugs and glitches are many and major. The multiplayer "dynaverse" is still in beta due to a licensing problem, and the game itself is very very buggy. The word on the message boards from the designers is that Interplay, the parent company, rushed this puppy out of the door for the Christmas rush...and it shows.

Taldren has a reputation for fixing their mistakes, and so I am pretty sure that in time the game will be working well. Right now, however...it can be painful to wait minutes between turns on the major map and other glitches.

Without the bugs, this game would easily get four stars, possibly four and a half.

Bad Outweighs the Good for the Casual Gamer

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: August 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Please note from the outset I am approaching this as a casual gamer who was drawn to this game because of my positive experiences with the previous edition. Bottom line: Empires at War offers distinct improvements over the first edition, and glaring problems.

First, what was kept: The basic operation of the controls remains the same. There are little quirks that have changed a couple of things, but nothing glaring. Ships remain similar in appearance and function.

Second, the improvements. Regenerative shields: if your shields get knocked out, they will regenerate, more accurately reflecting activities of repair crews on the starships. Of course, you have either go to keep your good shields facing the enemy, or keep your distance from an engagement. Of course, your opponent has the same advantage/disadvantage, but it is preferable to the permanently dead shield. Also, if you destroy a ship, unlike in the first game if you sit on top of or close to an opponent when you destroy them you can also be destroyed. Another improvement: Accurate photon torpedoes over a distance. In the previous version, unless you fired point-blank, you often saw half or more of your photon torpedo spread disappear into space. In this version, they are actually an effective weapon over distance, with an appreciably high hit-to-miss ratio. Third - missile defense: Missiles are less effective overall, removing to advantage of the heavy missile cruisers from the previous game. They also come in varied speeds, another good thing. Space Monsters: much more varied - often lethal. They are a great x-factor, and wonderful teachers of caution in an engagement. I ran into one that literally destroyed my ship with a plasma volley in the first exchange. Fleet combat - In skirmish mode, I experimented with fleet maneuvering, and found it a distinct improvement over the prior edition. Ships operate with a number of options in terms of control, and seem more responsive to orders - though not all functions seemed to work as they should. Also, visually, the scenarios are much nicer than the old version.

Third, the problems. Where to start? Overall, the gameplay, while in many ways improved (regenerative shields, better torpedoes, greater equity in terms of reduction of the missile effect) is overshadowed by the complexity of gameplay, and overall difficulty presented by the game's progression. One example - Prestige points. While in the first game you had to pay for what you got in terms of supplies and new ships, you could do so in a fashion that assured a steady rise in points that translated into better, stronger ships. In this version, because of the average greater length of battles and commensurate exhaustion of supplies and added repair costs, it is difficult to build significant value. Also, ships lose their value quickly for trade in, and I find I cannot trade a ship in for a new one without first buying the second ship, thereby reducing the prestige points necessary for purchase. Additionally, there is no crew section, where you have officers accruing value that is valuable in trades and/or ship combat effectiveness. Finally, the cost of supplies, as I mentioned, is prohibitive, especially in terms of missiles. Lastly, if you buy something and then decide you don't want it, you can return it but you will not receive the spent value back. This is a glaring weakness in the game, given the increased value of the Capitol ships like Battleships and dreadnoughts.

The interfaces, while serviceable, are a step backward in terms of functionality and clarity. While I like having a greater selection of ships (even though it seems nigh impossible to accrue the Prestige Points needed to acquire them), I feel there could have been modified version of the old interface. Still, I admit that right clicking on the ship type to get the schematics is almost as good and provides a quick method of determining value of the ship.

Replay is no longer offered. Instead, you're dead and you get to go back to the beginning. Now if you are a serious gamer, I suppose this is no big deal. But for the casual gamer, this is a serious drawback. Also, saves are controlled more by the AI than by the gamer, taking away the feature of being able to branch off in a separate direction and experiment with ships in scenarios.

In the end, I won't say don't buy this game. But be warned, in spite of appearances, and some functional improvements, it is not as good, and more important, not as fun.

A TREKKIE's DREAM GAME!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: February 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is great. Obviously the game has worn off in excitement since first buying it...but the first time you play it is undescribable. The first time you get it loaded and start playing you feel like you're a captain. As a trekkie, that was all I had ever wanted. And controlling every detail about the ship is just amazing. I'm serious, EVERY DETAIL. Probing, electronic warfare, weapon control/firing, shields, shuttlecrafts, special features using your warp engines such as high energy turns, usage of mines, transporters, ship speed, systems repair...ok the list goes on. This game is simply amazing.

Now people have told me about bugs...I've never had any problems...EVER. The game should never be minimized or interrupted because you will come back to a messed up screen, which can't always be fixed. But that's the only "problem" I have. The "patch" is really easy to get considering you just go in your start menu under the game and select Update. It will instantly find the udpate and download. With a fast connection this will only take a few minutes. All bugs previous to this are gone. (If there were any, I've always updated first.

The game:
The single player game was very cool at first. I never really got into the single player on this game after being dissappointed by continuous repetition of missions on the original Starfleet Command game. And it always seemed as if the missions were to easy or absolutely impossible. However, this game has many more missions, features etc. Besides the campaign you can set up a "skirmish" for short little single missions with the AI. I bought this game almost exclusively for online play. I play with Gamespy Arcade, the only place to play online known to me....It's great battling against other human beings. Your chances are realistic after you get good. This game is about skill, and also knowledge of the other ships and the weapons they have. If you're into Star Trek and realistic battle simulations you can not go wrong.

A good effort

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: January 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I would have given this game five stars except for the bugginess of it. When they get this game patched, I would be willing to give it one more star. The patches that are out right now have helped a lot but more work needs to be done.

This is a complex game and not for everyone. It takes a lot of thought and planning to play it successfully. If you are not into taking the time to read the manual and learn the game, then avoid this one.

The battle sequences are stunning, the graphics make you feel like you really are commanding a starship. I am still learning how to play this game and expect it will be a long time before I am bored with it.

The only things I am disappointed with is that ship movement is limited to 2D and the starships handle like airplanes and not space vehicles. Come on people, this is SPACE combat, we should be able to do loops and rolls and all sorts of maneuvers. I should be able to fly my ship in any attitude, even backwards.

So is it worth getting? I say yes if you are enamored with the Star Trek universe and enjoy complex games. If you aren't into either, than pass it by.

Not for the faint of heart!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: December 27, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This sequel takes what was a complex game and adds another layer of gameplay: The emphasis on fleet (multi-captial ship + fighter) movements.

For those who don't know, Starfleet Command 2 is an enhanced version of Starfleet Command v1.03. This version (v1.03) tweaked the computer game closer to the original board game Starfleet Battles (SFB).

The game includes many campaign missions for the eight races and one pre-made skirmish mission (Not to worry : There is an online community that creates interesting skirmish missions). There is an online campaign multi-player component that currently is in a beta stage due to a collapse of an internet company...but Interplay has heroically stepped in to provide the servers. This is should prove to be exciting as the eight empires battle over a persistant virtual territory.

Two things prevents this game from being a five-star. (1) The tutorials don't cover the new features and new races within the game. I guess you have to just "figger-it-out" or just "know." (2) The manual is light on the race-specific strategy or links to other sources of information. Both of these factors make the game more inaccessible for the non-SFB player.

Starfleet Battles is a complex and nuanced strategy game that simulates the starship combat in an extrapolated Star Trek Universe (pre-Next Generation). This game has a great deal of depth and, unfortunately, a VERY high learning curve.

EXAMPLE: I watched a friend of mine (who likes Star Trek on TV) play SFC for the first time. He picked a Federation ship tutorial to play. The first thing he did was arm all of his weapons and shot his photons torpedos at the first ship he could get into his sights. They missed. He piloted his ship closer. Waited around for his weapons to recharge. Fired and missed. (...Repeat until really close...) He just didn't see the fun in it. "They make it look easy on TV." he said.

It is like chess: Deeply complex and rewarding for the dedicated student.

But it isn't for everyone.

Stop thinking about it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: May 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It's hard for me to even describe how much I love this game. It is the most thoroughly enjoyable game I've ever played. Thoughts of up, down, left and right are blown to the wind as you're able to control every aspect of ship functions on your choice of hundreds of different ships. Each ship has it's own unique characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, weapons, etc. Play as a wily ship captain with unconventional techniques and ploys, or take the straight forward mathematical approach to combat. Either way you will be pushed to your limits by this game.

Once you think you've 'mastered it'... try signing on to GameSpy's online gaming forum and challenge a veteran over the net. You'll realize there's no mastering this game and that you've just opened up a whole new realm of tactics to explore.

Video games don't normally thrill me. The fast ones are too fast and the slow ones are too slow. This game, however feels less like a game and more like actually 'commanding' a starship into battle. I urge all Star Trek fans to make this investment. You won't be disappointed.

Enjoy.

One of the most disappointing games this year.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 15
Date: December 22, 2000
Author: Amazon User

As a die-hard SFC fan I eagerly awaited the release of what I hoped would be one of the best games of the year. Sadly however I was woefully disappointed in the "finished product" or should that be unfinished product. To completely list all of the bugs would take more space than I have here. The most annoying is the near total lack of single player missions (you get one with the game) and tutorials. Also the sound effects and music do not work; nor do some of the hot key commands. Also the game crashes regularly and often requires a complete re-boot of the system. In short save your money and get something else or wait until a fixed version is released.

Bugs and More Bugs

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: December 31, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Doesnt work out of the box. I have emailed interplay and have received no response. This game has more bugs then any other i have seen. Each patch promises to fix them, to no avail. The first one was great Empires at war is the worst second i have ever seen in any game. I bought this game for the name. Taldren who actually wrote it is probably the worst company I have ever had to deal with. After getting no response i posted on the forum asking about the bugs and my posts were deleted. All you will see on the forum are filtered messages genereating positve press. The game looks great but after playing it for a while you will lose ships, Lose cash or it will freeze up right when you tink you are doing good. Buy at your own risk.

Not the best game for true trekkies.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: May 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I give this game a 3 out of 5. This single player campaigns are severely weak. The only fun there really is are on the skirmish missions. You get to pick your race ship and up to 2 other ships for your fleet. You can also download missions for the skirmish campaigns that can almost make up for the single player campaigns. There are a bunch at http://www.strategyplanet.com/sfc/ along with patches and anything to do with Starfleet Command. It has good graphics but still is in 2-D. If you just want a trek game that isn't hard get this game.

Review Page: 1 2 3 Next 

Actions