Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game

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Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/3/2007 4:51:22 PM

Tank Commander_MatrixForum

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As its says, could anyone recommend any?

StarShatter TGS would appear ideal but the forum appears to suggest its very buggy. Perhaps I'm wrong?

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/3/2007 6:46:52 PM

Kuokkanen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Tank Commander

StarShatter TGS would appear ideal but

It's space combat sim, NOT strategy. Start from Steel Panthers World at War. It's available for free, but if you like it, you can pay for it and get heavy weight campaigns along (game's free, Mega Campaigns cost money). Other free games by Matrix are Pacific War and War in Russia (old games).

Also check out thread Free strategy games. There are mentioned many good ones which are available for free. Good way to find out what you are interested of and what you want to play: everyone might not have time, interest and patience to learn games, like War in the Pacific, where single turn can take over hour.

[edit]
Important notice: bulk of Matrix's games are turn based strategy-operational level wargames with hex maps. Many people working for Matrix have been on this business for over 10 years, some even over 20 years (Gary Grigsby). Their games may not look pretty, but those people are best in the business and, with exception of graphics, games are highest quality available for public.

< Message edited by Matti Kuokkanen -- 1/3/2007 7:02:43 PM >

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/3/2007 7:55:33 PM

Tank Commander_MatrixForum

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thanks for the advice

I've played manmy of the hex base IGUGO games, The Microporose series (I'm showing my age!) West Front, East Front. I particularly enjoyed the WW2 German invasion of Britain Scenario (Operation Sea Lion?)

I've also played the CDV games also. I just fancied something along the lines of space rather than global.....requires more imagination but the prinicples are there.

Based on that, anything you could help me with?

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/3/2007 8:22:04 PM

Kuokkanen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Tank Commander

I've also played the CDV games also. I just fancied something along the lines of space rather than global.....requires more imagination but the prinicples are there.

Based on that, anything you could help me with?

Uhhuh... Starshatter serie has strategy elements, but simulation is steak so I don't recommend it for strategy game purposes. Master of Orion serie is good one... or at least it used to be that. It is said that best of serie is Master of Orion 2, but that is already some 10 years old. I recommend you to search Web for Galactic Civilizations.

Matrix has some other space games besides Starshatters. Supremacy is first which comes to mind, but there is no demo available so I'm not saying anything about it (I would like to have tried). Has anyone else around played it?

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/3/2007 8:22:07 PM

Hertston

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As Matti said Starshatter (which is perfectly playable, BTW.. or at least I've never had really problems with it) is much more a space combat sim than a strategy game, although it does have fleet command/RTS elements.

If you want a space strategy game there are plenty out there. Matrix publish a remake of Reach for the Stars, you can get Space Empires 5 via Steam, or for a no-risk purchase Space Empires 4 for less than $8. The market leader is probably Galactic Civilizations 2, which is I'd certainly recommend. My other choice if "the requires more imagination" front still applies is fantasy, rather than space, Dominions 3. Excluding the pure wargames I generally prefer, that's the best strat game I've ever played, and I've played more than a few of them.

< Message edited by Hertston -- 1/3/2007 8:32:43 PM >

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/4/2007 10:59:50 AM

ravinhood

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Master of Orion II and Galactic Civ II are the two top ones on my list. Though my dream space strategy game will have turn based land combat when conquering planets as well as turn based space combat. Another oldie but goodie, more of a land based space strategy game is "Full Metal Planet". That's the game I'd like to see combined with the space strategy games for land based combat. Would be a perfect combo.

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/4/2007 11:39:21 AM

Tank Commander_MatrixForum

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Thanks very much guys - I'll look all these up and take my pick

Ravinhood - I agree entirely on 'dream combo'!

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/4/2007 4:38:23 PM

Kuokkanen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

Though my dream space strategy game will have turn based land combat when conquering planets as well as turn based space combat.

It's Star General, but I haven't played it and reviews don't exactly praise it.

There is at least one board game which involves combat on land, sea, air and space: Classic BattleTech. But game components would cost hundreds-thousands of any currency and there is need for human opponent.

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/5/2007 12:50:58 AM

Jevhaddah

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I believe that the new Space Empires 5 has land combat in it now. I have the game, just no time to play it yet, the latest patch is 1.20.

I have played Space Empires since version 3 and really enjoy them, I am in no way an expert at this type of game, but it does give me my Galactic Megalomania Fix when I feel the need

Cheers

Jev

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/5/2007 12:51:24 AM

ravinhood

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Yeah Star General isn't exactly my dream game idea. Needs more of an Orion II and Galactic Civ type of play and then a turn based land combat portion like "Full Metal Planet". Star General was too beer n pretzels like.

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/5/2007 1:40:20 AM

Hertston

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I could never see the point of tactical resolution systems in 4X style games, certainly good 4X style games. They just break up the flow of the game with what is, essentially, just a sub-game. Not to mention that if you are competent at the strategy element you really ought have arranged things so that you can't lose anyway, at least against AI. To make it worthwhile you would really need two or three quality games in one, and I doubt such a game could ever turn a profit.

I'd rather see resources put into making the strat part as good as it can be. Forge of Freedom (although not 4X obviously) is a good example, the 'combat lite' is utterly pointless and the principle combat system, while a much better stab than you usually see, is still nowhere near as good as the likes of Take Command or the HPS Civil War Battles. I'd rather just auto-resolve, enjoy the 'proper' game and spend the time saved playing 'proper' tactical games.

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RE: Can you recommend a good PC Space Strategy Game - 1/5/2007 9:41:05 AM

ravinhood

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But in this day and age some people like two games in one. ;) I certainly do. Medieval Total War did a pretty good job of it. Can't say the last two lived up to it though. Forge of Freedom is another that can do it. For Liberty did as well. We are starting to live in the age where monster games can be made. WITP certainly is an example of that though one deminsional. Combat Mission Campaigns will do it as well if it ever gets finished. I look foward to this new way of providing two types of games in one. ;)

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