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Extremely complex ....

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I'm a Caesar III and Pharoah/Cleopatra addict. I found this game to be extremely complex by comparison. This is not a game for people who want to just load up and start playing. There is a lot of reading that should be done just to get started on the first game! There were so MANY options to choose from that I almost gave up the first night out. The books that came with this package didn't give me the straight forward "how to play", instead it gave me theory and formulas. I got so frustrated just trying to read them that I very nearly threw the darn thing out. The first 3 tutorials weren't very helpful either. I won each of the scenarios but still am not really sure how or why. All that said, I started automating certain functions and started to watch how the computer manipulated things and that gave me a lot more insight into how to run the factions myself. I'm still confused on a lot of the technology. There just seems to be SO MUCH involved that even now, I've still only got a very basic grasp of this game.

If you don't mind a complex game with lots of things to learn then this game is for you. The game IS addictive. I've found that several hours can pass and you don't even know it. Since I've only been playing a week, I'm sure that there is a lot more to this game than what I've uncovered. I do wish, though, it was possible to win a game within a couple of hours instead of having to play for days at a time.

Time For a Makeover

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Over the last 5 years I've spent tons of hours playing this game, usually as the Morgan "Businessmen" Faction. When it came out, this game simply had it all, as far as features were concerned... excellent AI, tech tree, and sound, and decent 2D graphics for the late 90's.

Yet the coolest feature of all are the distinct abilities of the various political factions, and the way they interact (in an expanded version of the simple old paper, rock, scissors game) and being able to choose which faction you want to play as.

Even more factions were added for the Alien Crossfire expansion pack, but I never felt that this expansion was a "must have"; however, when it was basically included for free in the Planetary Pack edition, I decided to get a copy and check it out... I think my original impression was right, Alien Crossfire is not really a must have - if you are new to Alpha Centauri, you'll should definately start with the basic edition that comes in the Planetary Pack edition.

When this game originally came out, there was no doubt that it was a 5 star game - it made the best use possible of the 2D graphics technology available at the time. However, here we are in the year 2005 - there have been astronomical improvements in 3D graphics card technologies, and the old Alpha Centauri graphics just don't seem so good anymore... we are overdue for a makeover to Alpha Centauri! I see where a slew of cool-looking 3D makeovers are coming out: Age of Empires III, Civ IV, Galactic Civ II; it is high time for a 3D-based Alpha Centauri II makeover.

Addictive.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 14, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is for those who loved the original Civilization but who prefer science fiction over historic recreation. I know - I'm one of them. Alpha Centauri's diverse selection of factions is better than Civ's nations - each has its own goal, agenda and beliefs that you will discover as they fight, trade and politick with you. The Alien Crossfire expansion includes new factions - including two alien ones - and new advancements for the game. If there's one problem, it's that the different advances avaialble to you are hard to differerntiate once you've built them into your military units.

Alpha Centauri

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: May 26, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Being a long-time fan of Civilization, and Sid Meier games in general, I admit I felt a certain trepidation when first playing the game. The interface and style of play were so reminiscent of Civilization I&II that I thought Alpha would be just another clone in a a long line of them.(Call to Power comes to mind...) But Alpa Centauri surprised me. It has a depth in story that was lacking in previous games, and the characters are all fully fleshed out in their beliefs and speech patterns. From Deirdre the Planer-friendly enviromentalist to Morgan Freeman the ruthless profit-driven marketeer, they all have their own definite agenda. And unlike previous games, your enemies can think. Diplomacy and war go hand in hand, with the computer working together behind your back or deciding to make war on your allies so another force can strike in your blind spot, the AI is sophisticated enough to provide a challenge to the most jaded player. Difficulty settings are easily adjusted, with easy being, well, easy, and the hard setting can make you weep to see it all crumble around you. Alpha Centauri continues to astound me, even after multiple games it still feels new and engaging. So go buy it already.

Probably the best game of its type yet-absorbing & addictive

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: October 13, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri since the week it was released. When the expansion pack, Alien Crossfire, was released, I bought that right away as well. That was some time ago. I'm still playing it. Regularly. About the only other game I have ever owned with this kind of addictive play is SimCity 2000 (SimCity 3000 is graphically lovely but not nearly as absorbing). With all of the factions, random maps, difficulty levels, customizable units, etc, gameplay is surprisingly different every time. Mixing and matching the factions is fascinating. Perhaps the best feature of the game is that it forces you to think strategically as well as tactically - you literally have to think 20 to 50 turns ahead of the game all the time. Really a wonderful piece of work; I cannot recommend it more highly. And now I think I'll sign off and boot it up...

The Mozart of Strategy Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: March 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Why compare this game to Mozart? They are the same: Genius in Simplicity.

I loved this game. I am actually surprised that even more people have not played it. It has the highest rating ever from PC Gamer (98%). Think about that: Alpha Centauri is 2% away from being considered The Perfect Game.

Why? Strategy that is detailed but intuitive. Diplomacy that is believable and matters. Game balance. A fun storyline. An intelligent AI that does not have to cheat to win.

But by far my favorite part of the game is the technology aspect of the game. Each new future technology (some truly vague) is introduced with a sound byte from a faction leader, but more important is WHAT these leaders say. Philosophy, religion, literature, hard science, Emmanuel Kant, Aristotle, even Military Cadences are used to provide atmosphere to the game. This is a game that respects the gameplayer's intelligence. Additionally, the future technology tree has been well researched. Just go to the back of the well-produced Alpha Centuari manual to see the vast bibliography of Science Textbooks, Hard Science Fiction (Think Stanley Kubrik's 2001) and Soft Science Fiction (Think Star Wars or Star Trek) that the game draws influence from. I have a PhD in Molecular biology, and I must endorse the technology tree as an excellent model for speculating how humanity's future knowledge-base may be represented. Particularly interesting is how different civilizations are based on faction instead of nationality. However, nationalistic stereotypes are represented. The communist/socialist faction is represented by Chairman Yang (Chinese). The Gaia mentality is represetned by Lady Dierdre Skye (Celtic/Irish). The University faction is represented by a Russian Scientist (Academician Prokhor Zakharov), and the UN peacekeeping faction by a Ghandi-like figure in Commissioner Pravin Lal. There are others, to be sure, but these are the most egregious.

Regardless, the game is an outstanding mix of fun, a stytle of gameplay that does not require excessive detail to be considered intelligent, great presentation values, and an overall attention to polish even in the smallest details. There is precious little that could be changed in this game. To quote Salieri describing Mozart's music, "Displace one note and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase, and the structure would fall."

A Pox on Sid Meier!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: June 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

For making such a freakingly addictive game. I had to delete it from my computer I was playing it too much! As far as gameplay, there are so many different avenues to take--diplomatic, war mongering, economic, a little of everything--that it's replayability is beyond rapproach. You can create new factions, import those created by gamers on the internet, and this only adds to the games consistency.

What sets this game apart from its Civilization-like competitors, is the morbid science fiction backdrop that is as attractive as some of the better science fiction novels (although it definitely has a space opera bent to it). This is a nuanced futuristic society that subtely brings in many of the upcoming issues of tommorrow - genetic modification, cybernetic humans, quantum gravity. The characters reflect the tension and problems of tommorrow's science, and the various philosophical reactions humanity can have to it.

An awesome game, well worth the money. I wish Firaxis would develop this line further...

Get it for less

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: November 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

There are moneygrubbers who are going to kill me for this but for all of you wanting this game for a reasonable price this is for you.

Don't bother buying in secondary market for an overblown price. Pick up the laptop collection by EA games, $20 for both main game and expansion and some other strategy games to boot, some of which are quite good. Save yourself some cash and get some great games.

Ender

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 12
Date: March 23, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is the BEST! If you like stratagy games then youhave to get it. If you played and liked Civilizaton I or II then youwill love this. It comes with a fold out tech chart, a statagy guied and of course the cd. the diplomacy options are the best, much better then anything else that i have played. however it has not so good graphics. all in all it is a very good game, and i suggest that you buy it...

Still the best thinking person's game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: December 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

As titled.

The game's other principle designer, Brian Howard went on to do Rise of Nations, a worthy game but without the incredible story-line and in-depth richness of ACAX.

ACAX was a delight not just for the gameplay but for the entire experience: the cultural references, the well-developed factions, the whole mind-worm experience.

One could get immersed in ACX the same way one could in Balder's Gate, Everquest, etc: but at the same time play a Risk/Age of Empires-like military campaign. To be sure, the Starcraft series is classic; as well as the first two Myths.

But AC and ACAX, from the same era, set a standard for a total gaming experience that very few strat games since have approached.

Great stuff. I'd love to see a new version with many of the old characters.

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