Galactic Building Game?

[-TM]

Hey,

I'm looking for the best "Civilization in Space" game that there is. I always liked Birth of the Federation, but it kinda gets weird in end-game. I also played Galactic Civ 2 a decent amount of times, but that starts out a bit weird and doesn't have alot of space battle.

So, I wanted to know if there's any recommendations (for PC) for managing games that are set in space.

Thanks!

 

[soladrin]

i got nothing i just like Homeworld 2

 

[Fozziedave]

How about Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri? Since it more or less is Civ in space.

 

[qaqa1]

I really enjoyed Master of Orion I and II

 

[raankh]

Alpha Centauri + the expansion (often available in the bargain bin) is excellent, but isn't really a galactic civ game; it's planetary but with scifi elements.

Master of Orion II is the canonical safe bet, I 'spose, although it might feel a bit dated now. Stay away from MOO3 however, it could have been great but the interface is a nightmare.

Imperium Galactica 2 is supposed to be good, but I didn't much like it. Same thing with Sword of the Stars. The interfaces and tech-trees seem a bit stinted to me; indeed also the mechanics. SotS tries to be Master of Orion, but does a measly job, imo. Imperium Galactica 2 has a rather uninspired storyline that becomes irritating after awhile.

Did you play Gal Civ 2 with the Dark Avatar expansion? That really makes the difference between an ok and a great game, imo.

If you like RTS games, Homeworld and Homeworld 2 are great (but stay away from Homeworld: Cataclysm); if you prefer just spacebattles and no resourcing but with some rpg-like elements with equipment and experience, try Nexus: The Jupiter Incident.

The 4X genre hasn't really got a worthy successor to MOOII in my opinion.

 

[Chilango2]

Well, my normal answer for thsi is Gal Civ II, but you alreayd tried that, so...

Glad to find someone who enjoyed BOTF as much as I did, back in the day, I have a link to a website that is a quasi actiev mod community for that game that is still up and running alst I checked, its at home, so I can't psot it right now, I[ll edit this post later with that info.

Let's see, if you want very old abandonware, try Emperor of the Fading Suns, which is avabilble as a free download on multiple places, including Home of the Underdogs.

Or try Reach for the Stars, I'm talking about the 1992ish version, not the veyr old 84 one, which I have never played. Its ship building mechanic is somewhat limited, but it has a nice map and its campaign is fun, if hard.

Alpha Centauri is great, buts its no Civilization in Space, rather, its Sci-Fi Civilization on Alpha Centauri. Still a very, very good game though, try it.

I'll second MOO2 as one of the best in the genre, stay away from MOO3 however.

I'd also give Gal Civ 2 another try, Stardock is very good about continuously updating games, and an expansion came out with extended and deepened the game play, the original and the expansion (Dark Avatar, I believe), often come in a fairly cheap pack these days.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Master of Orion 2 is the daddy in this genre.

Though if you can find it, Ascendancy is a top game as well.

 

[BPLlama]

I'll add my voice to the MoO2 chorus. Ascendancy and GalCiv2 are worthy as well, but nothing compares to MoO2. I've still got it installed, and build an empire with it about once a month.

I'm also a huge Homeworld fan, but those really aren't empire builders. Just your typical RTS games... but in space, with 3D movement, graphics that still hold up today, and awesome ship designs.

Hmmm... Sounds like I'm reinstalling Homeworld 2 tonight.

 

[Archon]

Man. Master of Orion II is one of my two all-time favorite games. The other is X-Com: UFO Defense.

Why the game industry can't make games as good as those today boggles my mind. And, please, no claims that my memory is obscured by the fog of time, yadda yadda. They simply were excellent, balanced, brilliant games, and their successors were not as good.

 

[CptHawk]

Sins of a Solar Empire, its an Upcoming RTS currently in beta (semi-open, You Preorder they give you the beta). Civ * Homeworld 2 = Sins of a Solar Empire, altho it lacks 3-D movement, That we are familiar with in Homeworld 2. It has the 4X RTS system?(eXpand, eXplore, eXploit, eXterminate). Anyway, i started playing at around 2130 one night, Just a skirmish against the CPU to get accustomed to the game. well, I didn't stop till around 0600 the next morning. I some how lost all sense of time.

http://www.sinsofasolarempire.com/index.aspx?c=1

My Original Post seemed bland, so I made use of that wonderful "Edit" Feature

 

[soladrin]

yea i heard about the game, it looks promising, and i will most likely give it a go, i do hope i can get over the lack of 3-D movement because thats one of the things that made me love Homeworld.

 

[Chilango2]

Well, most strategy games don't have detailed ship movement because their about strategy, not tactics, basically. In short, 3d space battles are hard to do well and take alot of effort, and a strategy game likewise, its just hard to do both well, and I actually can't think of any space strategy sim that even *tried* it. (MOO2 has ship movement, but its a 2D grid. Galgic more or less does autobattle in 3D. BOTF is similar, except for with "turns" during which you give general commands.

It sounds like your looking for Total War in space, and I am afraid that does not exist yet. Altough, Yes, Sins of a Solar Empire looks promising as the first of its kind.

 

[-TM]

Thanks for all the options. I tried MoO III, where I should've tried II, I gather. I will see if I can get that game somewhere.

Think I'll just be happy with some of the older games in between, until somebody makes Total War in Space ;-)

Cheers!

 

[GloatingSwine]

Why the game industry can't make games as good as those today boggles my mind. And, please, no claims that my memory is obscured by the fog of time, yadda yadda. They simply were excellent, balanced, brilliant games, and their successors were not as good.

I wouldn't necessarily call MoO2 "Balanced". It's actually hilariously easy to break the game balance with certain race abilities and ship designs.

It's still the best this series has ever got though.

 

[MacCarth]

You could also wait for spore to come out.
...in 2020

 

[MrKeroChan]

Man. Master of Orion II is one of my two all-time favorite games. The other is X-Com: UFO Defense.

Why the game industry can't make games as good as those today boggles my mind. And, please, no claims that my memory is obscured by the fog of time, yadda yadda. They simply were excellent, balanced, brilliant games, and their successors were not as good.

Correct, correct, and correct one that point too.

to the "swine" several posts above... perhaps you've only played on easy or simply against morons?

 

[rawlight]

Master of Orion 2 is good, but I really think that Gal Civ 2 is a worthy successor. It has all the gameplay from Moo2 and then some.

The best part is the AI. Gal Civ 2/Dark Avatar gets really hard if you don't bring your A game. I thought it was too easy to turtle in Moo2.