Today's exciting edition of Identity Crisis is about Master of Orion 2: Battle of Antares. This may not be a widely heard of title for PC gamers, but personally this is my favorite PC game. It is a futuristic strategy game, in which you control a single race that has two objectives; defeat the Antares or defeat all your foes. To reach one of these goals however, you must build up your empire. There are scientific researches to update the technology of anything under your rule, and lots of diplomacy involved with other races.
Master of Orion 2 has random events throughout the game play. Things that affect the money you have, to enemy monsters roaming around the universe and attacking you (or another race). The random occurrences make this game exciting as you are concentrating on the main point of Master of Orion 2. Some even have perks for the empire, such as someone donating a technological advancement and money to you. They often can affect the course of the game and make it so that you have to change your strategy in some way.
Another great feature of the game is the races you have to choose from. There are different advantages and disadvantages for each race, though you can also create one and customize these pros and cons. Some races also affect diplomacy, whether they are aggressive or passive. They also change the way the people look (obviously) and the space crafts design. It gives an interesting change to the game if you play it through as different races each time. It also tends to give the game a different perspective and feel.
Finally, Master of Orion 2 has the technological advances and other means of building a civilization. Depending on your race determines how fast your scientists are and how many advances you can research. You can colonize other planets for certain materials (such as gold deposits) and eventually make the planet turn from a barren desert to a lush green planet. It lets your imagination reach out into a new world of technology and the effects it has on the planet and even events and others around you.
To take these away is to tear apart the game itself. If you did not have events by random and have them planned out or not at all, the game wouldn't be as fun as it is now. You'd eventually memorize when a certain event would happen and be able to avoid it (if it's bad) in future replays of the game. The races could either be preplanned for you and drawn at random when you start a game, or the only race you could be is fixed and no way could you choose another. The effect on the game could be terrible, resulting in loss of replay ability and the excitement and entertainment of Master of Orion 2. The last thing removed is the technological advances. The pain staking product is a new game. Master of Orion 2 would become a boring strategy fighting game with sequenced events and no replay factor.
Mast or Orion 2: Battle of Antares for PC is a great strategy game even if it is not widely known. Concentrating on the technological advances and the races (equipped with their own strong points and weaknesses) while having random events occur on the side is what makes the building blocks for Master of Orion 2. I highly suggest this game to everyone, though you may not like it, it is your opinion. So until next Monday, happy gaming to you all.
