Scenario Review Scenario Title: Spartacus Author: Alex the Magnificent Reviewer: John Petroski   Historical scenario. A massive multi-events file epic covering the slave revolt in ancient Rome. Preview at Alex's Site Download Part I from csc.apolyton.net Download Part II from csc.apolyton.net Download Part III from csc.apolyton.net Download Part IV from csc.apolyton.net

Overall Rating 23/30 SYNOPSIS: This is the largest scenario to date, and it is very obvious that Alex has put a ton of time into certain parts of the scenario, as you will see with my review. This scenario is an extremely fun one to play, and I sincerely believe that anyone would get a kick out of at least some part of the scenario. In fact, I would go so far to say that it is most likely the most fun scenario out there on the net. The reason why this scenario did not score a perfect score is however because this scenario is not particularly well made in certain aspects although in others it reigns supreme.

Playability Rating 10/10 COMMENTS: In this particular rating, Alex brings home the gold medal. Spartacus is a game that has excellent Playability and replayability although novice players may become frustrated with it's exceptionally high difficulty (in my humble opinion though, this just makes the scenario even better. In this scenario, Alex linked many "quests" together to form "super-quests". This was awesome and is definitely the reason why this scenario is so much fun (as a total war scenario, this one would be a bomb). I would have to state that the quests are the scenario. Without them, this scenario would be nothing. I think that Alex deserves a lot of credit for coming up with a plausible story line and then translating it into a text and situation that the limited AI of Civ2 would be able to understand and simulate. I can just imagine how much work this would have taken. Alex effectively created a very fun scenario most likely off the top of his imaginative head, and THIS is why it is so enjoyable. The only bad thing that I would say about the playability is that due to the scenarios mediocre reassume file; the novice player will have a very hard time in the early stages of the war. (I myself had to restart at least 10 times and I have never had to do that with a scenario before). You see, right off the beginning of the scenario you are fighting for your life against a few mediocre (but at this early stage of the game comparatively powerful) Roman units that threaten to kill Spartacus within a few turns time. I think that a brief "start up hints" section of a readme could help out the newer player tremendously but since the rest of this scenario has such an awesome playability, I won't mark off points.

Level of General Care 5 / 10 COMMENTS: THIS is the section where Spartacus metamorphosis from the best built scenario out there to one of only average care. You see, it is painfully obvious that Alex painstakingly spent hours upon hours drawing exquisite units and cities, and getting the events done just right, but then he failed to go all the way with the care! The major faults of this scenario are as follows: The readme is very pathetic, although it does indeed cover the much needed technical data; I feel that a section on all the units of the scenario, what they do, when they become available, and how to deal with them is desperately needed. (with another hour's work on the readme, this scenario would be all the better). Almost none of the icons have been changed from the original Civ2 ones. I do not expect for Alex to go and make brand new icons for this scenario, but it would have been extremely easy to take icons from either the "Atlantis" scenario that comes with Fantastic Worlds CD, or to grab a few icons from out on the net. The point is that the regular civ2 icons do not fit the theme of the scenario and in my opinion, Alex's refusal to change around some of the icons for what he proclaims to be "the best scenario of the year", is simply inexcusable. He will loses a lot of points for this. (EASILY fixable). Global Warming eventually occurs (he could fix this with solar plants renamed).

Art and Originality 8 / 10 ORIGINAL IDEAS/INTEREST POINTS: There are a few good ideas that are worth noting in a conclusion: Minor "quests" that have a major effect on your playing of the scenario. The use of new (and exciting) terrains A brand new map which suits the purpose perfectly Simulation of Roman Legions marching on you from various parts of the empire (and you finding out about it with your spy Atorix). ART: I wish that I could give him a perfect 10 in this category! I really truly do! Anyone who sets eyes on this scenario would think that I am crazy for not giving him a perfect score! His units are the best out there on the web, and Alex has even gone and drawn some new terrain and city icons to better match the theme. The reason why he did not get a perfect score for this scenario is because of the city icons/Wonders of the World. Even if he had just taken the icons from a different scenario I would have given him a 10 but he did not even do that. Instead he just elected to keep the regular Civ2 icons (honestly, how long would it have taken?), and due to this his originality suffers 2 full points. I think that many will agree with me on this, he failed to change an entire category of artwork from the original game files! How on earth could I give this a perfect 10 if he did not make it a perfect scenario?

NOTES: The main attraction of this scenario is it's beautifully done unit icons. It is clear as day that Alex spent weeks drawing these perfect units. It is a downright shame that he chose not to change around the city improvement icons but I think that in a further version of this scenario, this could easily be remedied and the scenario could move even further up on the ladder. For now I will say that this is defiantly a very fun scenario to play over and over again, but it is definitely not the best scenario ever. The reviewer begs Alex to please in the future put more time into the game mechanics and little details for it is those things that make a scenario great.

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