Game Review : Master of Orion 3 by Infogrames
Genre: Galactic Empire Building
Rating: It Sucks
http://moo3.quicksilver.com/
The original Master of Orion was a great game in it's day. Similar in concept to Civilization, MOO put you at the helm of an expanding galactic empire. Researching technology gave you tools to exploit the planets you colonized, and weapons to fight alien enemies. My favorite part was creating customized ships using the engines and weapons allowed by technology. I created massive planet-bombing ships called "Ethnic Cleansers" and watched the kills rack up as they nuked whole planets. I've been looking forward to Master of Orion 3.
Master of Orion 3 is basically an updated version of the original game. Improvements include 3D rotation of galaxies and better interface. The diplomacy features were the best I've ever seen, and the alien species look better than ever. Other highlights included slick interface that switches from galaxy to solar system to planet. Most stars have planets around them; exploration is a huge part of this game. Once you explore a star system, you can view data on each of the planets and make decisions about mining and colonization. Many aspects of this game are very solid. Unfortunately, as a whole the game falls apart.
To be honest, I was so excited when I brought this game home and started playing , it actually took me a few hours to realize that it just wasn't fun. The game is still turn based, which although not necessarily bad, doesn't flow as well as realtime. Most of the game is spent checking your SITREP (situation report), which details events requiring your attention. Micro management of planets is possible , though considering the amount of planets colonized in a game it seems impractical. That's why you can delegate planet expansion to AI control, complete with settings to guide the AI's efforts.
So when you've got all your planets working properly with no civil disorder, you build some ships and attack an alien world. Considering that most of the game centers on adjusting numbers and viewing statistics, you would expect a robust tactical challenge to offset the slow pace. No such luck, I found that though I could tell my fleets where to fly, I felt I had little control over the battle. Tactics exist only in the form of outfitting your ships and fleets with weapons that counter or exploit the enemy's weakness. Once you're in battle mode, who is fighting for you is more important than what you tell them to do. The ships appear mostly as tiny specs of gray, although large battles with destroyers and battleships are cool to watch.
Once you've defeated the enemy fleet, you can bombard the planet's surface. Click "Attack Planet" and you get a message declaring victory. Now it's time for an all out land assault! But don't beam down expecting Starcraft style strategy with cool futuristic tanks. Just click "Assault" and watch as a progress indicator tells you how much of the planet is taken over and what the casualties are. While you stare at a meter, you hear sounds of battle and receive messages about events happening. Once you've committed to an assault, your troops are on their own , you can't influence the battle in any way. Just sit back and watch the calculations. Sit back and watch $39 and five hours of your life vanish into oblivion.
Master of Orion 3 should take a lesson from it's greatest competitor: Civilization. What makes Civilization a great game is that exploration and battle are an extremely hands-on affair that takes center stage away from "Administrative Duties". MOO 3 provides good AI to pick up the administrative slack, but there isn't enough of a game left to make it interesting. I really wanted to like this game, but it just isn't happening. I have been hearing some good things about Galactic Civilizations though…
