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Don't get me wrong; this is a fine game, worth the price. However, I'm the kind of weirdo that LIKED the mystifying complexity of Master of Orion 3; GCIV2 is a bit to simple and straightforward for me, a little like a "spreadsheet game". In MOO3, the player gets to control friendly forces in tactical battles on ground and in space; in GCIV2, one simply watches them happen. Never mind the fact that this is more realistic: given the distances involved, battlefield commanders would enjoy great freedom of action in this context. But I play Turn-Based Strategy games to indulge my inner control freak (strange, considering that my persona is pretty laid-back and messy). Still, a good game, and if you were overwhelmed by MOO:3's byzantine sophistication (or appearance thereof), this is the answer to your wishes.
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I found this game to be a great solo play game after its updated to the newest versions. The AI gives a good battle and it isn't always easy to beat. Its easy to learn and has good support on the Gal Civ website.
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Considering the mediocre performance of the first Galactic Civilizations game, I was wary to purchase this game from the store. The only reason why I purchased this game is because I really enjoy turn-based civilization-type strategy games. I was really impressed with MOO 2 that was launched a decade ago (I thought that game was the best space strategy game ever) and wanted a more up-to-date version of MOO 2. GalCiv 2 certainly meets that requirement and much more!
One of the best things about GalCiv 2 is the level of playing depth. This game is not for some kid who has nothing better to do on some weekend night. This game is really for adults who want to be the master planner of their own private star empire. The interface is pretty good and easy to handle and the gameplay is generally smooth (however, I would highly recommend really fast CPU computers for this game). I also liked the way the computer can help you along the way if you're only a beginner trying to get a handle of things.
One of the other good features is that the game allows for HIGHLY various possible scenarios to be played out. For instance, one can choose various sizes of the galaxy, amount of planets, levels of difficulty, and alien races (you can have 1 to 9 opponents, contrary to most standard conquer games that only allow a maximum of 6). The 10 different alien races are very different from each other making the galaxy very interesting place to play. They all have their own tendencies and alignments. This means you have to choose your allies wisely or you will get burned in the process.
Another thing that gamers will love about this game is the ship design feature. You're allowed almost infinite design types to the satisfaction of your own imagination. You can even create ships that almost match the ship designs of your favourite sci-fi TV shows. One can even spend hours just deciding how one can creatively design a troop transport or a mothership (you will know what I mean when you enter the ship design feature).
Another thing that gamers will find relief in is the level of the graphics and music. The graphics in this game are quite stunning. Especially if you use the zoom in and zoom out features on the starmap. One can even see the details on each of the planet (no joke, if you zoom in on Earth you can even see the various continents in their exact detail, which is amazing). Also, the background music is really nice and not distracting. The music changes depending on the situation you're in. Thus, if you're in a war situation, the music will carry a more tense and militaristic tone.
Finally, the game time can be varied just as the game features. Some games can take a couple of hours, while some games can take a couple of weeks. It all depends on how you set up your galaxy and which alien race you decide to play (in the first GalCiv you could only play the Terrans, in this game you can choose any of the other races and even make your own). One will notice that playing the Terrans or Torians will take shorter times and will be easier (since they can make allies more easily) than playing the Yor or Drengin (since they are the most despised in the galaxy). It all depends on you on how you choose to play the game.
Overall, I would highly recommend this game. Though MOO 2 was a very good strategy game for its time, GalCiv 2 totally overshadows MOO 2 in terms of quality, fun, options, and depth. You will never regret purchasing GalCiv 2 if you're a space strategy game fan who wants to create his or her own empire in the stars.
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This game is great fun, a must-have for any fan of the turn-based strategy genre. It is everything that Master of Orion 3 should have been..
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If you ever played Master of Orion 2 and was expected something better out of Master of Orion 3, then this is your game. Very bad about the "Next click" syndrome. Have to be careful with it because 20-30 minutes can easily become hours or even days.
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