A Civ II lover asks....Is AC any good??

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Author Topic:   A Civ II lover asks....Is AC any good??

Erno Legless posted 02-26-99 06:43 PM ET
Or is it too sci-fi to be instantly understandable. After all, we didn't really need telling what any particular units or improvements did in Civ, we are already familiar with the terminology.
My magazine of choice, PC Gamer (UK), gave AC 91%, and Civ : Call to Power 92%, but most other UK magazines have awawrded marks of 72%, 78%, and another 91%, citing lack of originality (understandable) and confusedness (as I speculated above) as the reasons for low marks.
Should I wait for Call to Power???????????
Kudro70 posted 02-26-99 07:17 PM ET
If instant understanding of most/all of the concepts of the game and the tech tree are absolute musts, then wait for CTP. If, on the other hand, you enjoy Civ type empire building and game play but are looking for something different enough to get the imagination running in some new directions and are willing to spend a little time getting used to a few things, then Do Not Delay! Buy SMAC Immediately!
When only the demo was available I played about 3 games (3-4 hours for the demo) and thought, "ho hum, a Civ II clone, not bad, but how interesting could it be?". Then, I started another game, got about half way through it and something hit me almost like a religeous experience and I think, "WHOAH, this is *Awesome*!". I still couldn't tell you exactly what it is that struck me but there is a subtle layer under the surface of SMAC that makes this game really special, IMO.
Since I haven't played the game I can't say for sure, but I don't think I'll find *that* in CTP. But, who knows, maybe CTP will surprise me the way SMAC did.
Kudro70
Kyle posted 02-26-99 07:49 PM ET
Yes, it is better than good. It is better than Civ 2. PC Gamer gave it (so I've heard) a 98%. CGM gave it 5 stars, and so forth.
PrinceBimz posted 02-26-99 10:29 PM ET
Put it this way, I have been playing Starcraft so much on BNET and with a friend, I hardly played any of my other games. Since I got SMAC (Which was on the very first day it was released)I have only played SC twice! Thats it, only twice! The longest I ever went without playing SC and it was only to take a break from SMAC. This is the ONLY game that has been so addicting since Civ2 period. So if you are a true Civ2 lover and would like a sci-fi setting were you can create and modify your own units during the game and have more techs and more of everything, get SMAC.
You can even build bases in the ocean in this game which is only one thing out of alot more that you can do here that you could not do in Civ2. I will tell you however, it might take a little getting used to at first but the more you play and understand the better it gets.
Better yet, if your funds allow just get BOTH SMAC and CTP, I am sure CTP will be worth getting also.
DHE_X2 posted 02-27-99 12:53 AM ET
Hmm, I seriously doubt ctp has advanced terraforming, social engineering, custom design units, a distinct storyline throughout the game, THREE peacefull victories, economic, diplomatic, and transcendence. That's right, the next step in human evolution. I doubt that ctp has any scope whatsoever compared to Smac.
DanS posted 02-27-99 01:28 AM ET
I have to admit that it took some warming up to. The tech tree is one hindrance, and foreign concepts don't help. Little makes instant sense. But I've played about 25 hours and am liking it better now. After 100 who knows.
Since I like Civ 2 so much, this is probably good. I mean, I wasn't looking for an expansion pack for Civ 2. I was looking for a new game. This is about as much "new" as a game can get with essentially an identical game engine to Civ 2. It put me off at first, but now I'm thinking, "well let's try this out."
I am especially interested in playing multiplayer, as I think the extensive balancing of the factions (and there ideologies, not just their powers) will really come to the fore.
JL1 posted 02-27-99 03:29 AM ET
Buy SMAC, don�t wait for CTP.
If you buy games because UK game magazines
gave them good rating, you then have a dozen
C&C clones and "interactive movies" in your shelf, why? `cause ALL UK magazines SUCK.
They don�t even play the games properly and they probably don�t have PC:s at home, but Playstations!?!?
Anyway, SMAC is great, perhaps better then Civ2 so buy it.
Rubikahn posted 02-27-99 08:01 AM ET
Hey - SMAC even has a 27 page installation manual - are you ready for SMAC? Is SMAC ready for you? (Think about it, most games only need a couple of pages to help you make it work!)
Burns posted 02-27-99 08:25 AM ET
I gotta admit, when i first played SMAC, i was disappointed, the foreign concepts were too overwhealming. Then a few days later, was playing again, and like Kudro70 said, it suddenly hit me that this game *was* awesome!
Now im taking a break from SMAC for a while, and then jumping right back in, im hooked
Just ask yourself one thing, will CTP have planetbusters that not only obliterate an enemy city, but also ALL the land around that base, leaving only waste-, erm, sea??
I dont think so. But then again, im biased.
Burns
tOFfGI posted 02-27-99 01:37 PM ET
I have to defend the UK PC Magazines. They really are the best in the world. Now, I'm not british, but surely there can't be any better ones anywhere...
Erno: "but most other UK magazines have awawrded marks of 72%, 78%, and another 91%"
PC Zone gave it 92. The highest score for a TBS ever, two more than Civ2. I admit, their scores are rather vague, but they have great reviews...
JL1:"If you buy games because UK game magazines gave them good rating, you then have a dozen C&C clones and "interactive movies" in your shelf, why? `cause ALL UK magazines SUCK"
Which ones have you read? PC GAMER (UK), I'll wager. The ones I read (PC Zone, PC Format) wouldn't dream of rating TBSs that are good lower than Interactive Movies... as for PC GAMER (US), they really are a bit nuts anyway.
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Author	Topic: A Civ II lover asks....Is AC any good??
Erno Legless	posted 02-26-99 06:43 PM ET Or is it too sci-fi to be instantly understandable. After all, we didn't really need telling what any particular units or improvements did in Civ, we are already familiar with the terminology. My magazine of choice, PC Gamer (UK), gave AC 91%, and Civ : Call to Power 92%, but most other UK magazines have awawrded marks of 72%, 78%, and another 91%, citing lack of originality (understandable) and confusedness (as I speculated above) as the reasons for low marks. Should I wait for Call to Power???????????
Kudro70	posted 02-26-99 07:17 PM ET If instant understanding of most/all of the concepts of the game and the tech tree are absolute musts, then wait for CTP. If, on the other hand, you enjoy Civ type empire building and game play but are looking for something different enough to get the imagination running in some new directions and are willing to spend a little time getting used to a few things, then Do Not Delay! Buy SMAC Immediately! When only the demo was available I played about 3 games (3-4 hours for the demo) and thought, "ho hum, a Civ II clone, not bad, but how interesting could it be?". Then, I started another game, got about half way through it and something hit me almost like a religeous experience and I think, "WHOAH, this is Awesome!". I still couldn't tell you exactly what it is that struck me but there is a subtle layer under the surface of SMAC that makes this game really special, IMO. Since I haven't played the game I can't say for sure, but I don't think I'll find that in CTP. But, who knows, maybe CTP will surprise me the way SMAC did. Kudro70
Kyle	posted 02-26-99 07:49 PM ET Yes, it is better than good. It is better than Civ 2. PC Gamer gave it (so I've heard) a 98%. CGM gave it 5 stars, and so forth.
PrinceBimz	posted 02-26-99 10:29 PM ET Put it this way, I have been playing Starcraft so much on BNET and with a friend, I hardly played any of my other games. Since I got SMAC (Which was on the very first day it was released)I have only played SC twice! Thats it, only twice! The longest I ever went without playing SC and it was only to take a break from SMAC. This is the ONLY game that has been so addicting since Civ2 period. So if you are a true Civ2 lover and would like a sci-fi setting were you can create and modify your own units during the game and have more techs and more of everything, get SMAC. You can even build bases in the ocean in this game which is only one thing out of alot more that you can do here that you could not do in Civ2. I will tell you however, it might take a little getting used to at first but the more you play and understand the better it gets. Better yet, if your funds allow just get BOTH SMAC and CTP, I am sure CTP will be worth getting also.
DHE_X2	posted 02-27-99 12:53 AM ET Hmm, I seriously doubt ctp has advanced terraforming, social engineering, custom design units, a distinct storyline throughout the game, THREE peacefull victories, economic, diplomatic, and transcendence. That's right, the next step in human evolution. I doubt that ctp has any scope whatsoever compared to Smac.
DanS	posted 02-27-99 01:28 AM ET I have to admit that it took some warming up to. The tech tree is one hindrance, and foreign concepts don't help. Little makes instant sense. But I've played about 25 hours and am liking it better now. After 100 who knows. Since I like Civ 2 so much, this is probably good. I mean, I wasn't looking for an expansion pack for Civ 2. I was looking for a new game. This is about as much "new" as a game can get with essentially an identical game engine to Civ 2. It put me off at first, but now I'm thinking, "well let's try this out." I am especially interested in playing multiplayer, as I think the extensive balancing of the factions (and there ideologies, not just their powers) will really come to the fore.
JL1	posted 02-27-99 03:29 AM ET Buy SMAC, don�t wait for CTP. If you buy games because UK game magazines gave them good rating, you then have a dozen C&C clones and "interactive movies" in your shelf, why? `cause ALL UK magazines SUCK. They don�t even play the games properly and they probably don�t have PC:s at home, but Playstations!?!? Anyway, SMAC is great, perhaps better then Civ2 so buy it.
Rubikahn	posted 02-27-99 08:01 AM ET Hey - SMAC even has a 27 page installation manual - are you ready for SMAC? Is SMAC ready for you? (Think about it, most games only need a couple of pages to help you make it work!)
Burns	posted 02-27-99 08:25 AM ET I gotta admit, when i first played SMAC, i was disappointed, the foreign concepts were too overwhealming. Then a few days later, was playing again, and like Kudro70 said, it suddenly hit me that this game was awesome! Now im taking a break from SMAC for a while, and then jumping right back in, im hooked Just ask yourself one thing, will CTP have planetbusters that not only obliterate an enemy city, but also ALL the land around that base, leaving only waste-, erm, sea?? I dont think so. But then again, im biased. Burns
tOFfGI	posted 02-27-99 01:37 PM ET I have to defend the UK PC Magazines. They really are the best in the world. Now, I'm not british, but surely there can't be any better ones anywhere... Erno: "but most other UK magazines have awawrded marks of 72%, 78%, and another 91%" PC Zone gave it 92. The highest score for a TBS ever, two more than Civ2. I admit, their scores are rather vague, but they have great reviews... JL1:"If you buy games because UK game magazines gave them good rating, you then have a dozen C&C clones and "interactive movies" in your shelf, why? `cause ALL UK magazines SUCK" Which ones have you read? PC GAMER (UK), I'll wager. The ones I read (PC Zone, PC Format) wouldn't dream of rating TBSs that are good lower than Interactive Movies... as for PC GAMER (US), they really are a bit nuts anyway.