Apolyton Civ2 Page

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Fantasy/SF Scenario Reviews

Playability Rating

7 / 10

COMMENTS: The scenario, like Microprose's high-tech Mars scenario from FW, makes it difficult to expand because there is relatively little land with access to water. In addition, attacking other civilizations is difficult because they are often protected by powerful special units, city walls, and their own small size - capture is not often an option. This makes the scenario quite challenging.

You will need to explore to find goodie huts as quickly as possible, because only then can you get the science you will need to grow. Failing that, there is always the option to trade or steal technology from your neighbors. Developing tech, however, is quite hard until you get pretty well-established. Most of the land is equivalent to desert (0 food) or at best plains (1 food), so canals and other water souces are very important to you. Surprisingly, the computer does a pretty good job of expanding under these conditions.

In addition to their various philosophical differences, the tribes have some other differences. Each tribe has their own special ability, usually a special unit or technology that only they own or only they can use. Some also have clearly better start positions. The tribes seem fairly well-balanced, though.

I found that a more civilized approach was necessary to win. In most Civ2 scenarios I am pretty much an expansionist warmonger, but here war simply was not profitable - especially with all those cool wonders to be built.

Overall, the scenario is quite fun to play and I recommend it. However, the events are so sparse that you rarely encounter them. The scenario could be greatly improved by adding more events, especially text events. The author clearly writes well and more events that would enhance the mood would be really great. This would go a long way towards improving the play of the scenario.

Level of General Care

8 / 10

COMMENTS: The author has done a pretty good job with the details. Pedia.txt is included, and there are lots of new wonders and city improvements to be built. Many of the units are familiar, but a few of them are very new - and the technology for building various things has changed a bit. The tech tree is long enough and it looks like Future Tech is attached properly. There are no obvious bugs, and only a few spelling errors.

The map is perhaps a bit too small, but it looks nice. I was especially impressed with the pretty cool looking Martian canals (shown in the screenshot above). It's pretty rare that an author takes the time to draw new rivers. On the other hand, the coasts are still done in green rather than being carefully replaced with Mars-colored edges. It's a small detail, but it detracts from the overall look.

One of the Wonders

The main shortcoming is the lack of a readme and the relatively sparse events.txt file. The author does a great job of setting the mood with the opening text, and should continue this with either a readme or additional events. In particular, given the large number of new wonders, it would be good to either see longer descriptions of the wonders in the pedia itself, or in a readme.

The readme should also explain a bit more about each faction and about the "war machines". Who are they? What are they doing? Likewise, exploring the past of Mars could be really fun. We need to know more about this "ancient society". It would also be good to have a rundown on the various terrain types up front, given that FW doesn't allow terrain in the pedia (though MGE does).

The new text for diplomacy is very clever and really fits the mood. Kudos for that aspect.

There is no title for the scenario, which is rather odd. Adding one would be good.

I was unclear as to what the victory conditions were. Maybe they were just the usual Civ2 conditions? If so, it is more difficult because of the harshness of the terrain.

Art and Originality

6 / 10

COMMENTS: The scenario uses artwork from other Microprose scenarios for terrain and units, which costs the scenario a bit in this category. The theme is pretty original and the author has done a very nice job of setting the mood with the opening text. It would be helpful to make better use of events, though, adding more interesting twists and turns.

Still, if there is an area that could use some work it is the artwork. There are a few nice surprises like the Martian "people" (shown at the right), but most of the art is taken directly from MPS products. Some minor modifications at least would make the scenario more visually interesting. Likewise, some more bizarre terrain or special "barbarian units" that yield events when killed might be a good idea here.