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Req.: P3 800 MHz Processor, 64 MB RAM, SB, 4MB Video Card DirectX 8.1 Reviewed On: P4 2.66ghz, ATI Radeon 9000 (64 MB VRAM), 256 MB Ram, Win XP Pro | |||
Intro Space. The word evokes a myriad of emotions and its expanse and origins have been on the minds of humanity for countless generations. Whether in literature, cinema, or games, the word has always seemed to accompany a sense of seriousness and thoughtfulness. Colony. Perhaps one might think of English settlers in the early 17th century. Maybe the super-insect creatures known as ants might come to mind. Put the two together and you've got the title Space Colony, wherein you might expect a super serious simulation that follows the perils and hazards of exploring the final frontier by what's left of humanity after the earth is ravaged by aliens. Um, no, that's not what this is. Stay tuned, however, as it turns out that this offbeat "people-sim" is still worth exploring. Gameplay: 8/10 By now, you've seen Electronic Arts' The Sims series, whether on a PC or the multiple console releases that are either here or coming. Space Colony takes The Sims ideas to the next step, by attempting to combine the "people-sim" elements of that immensely popular series with the world building elements found in other popular titles, such as the successful Sim City series and, most importantly, it's fun to play. As you begin the game, you're given a few different options for gameplay styles. You can go through a story based mission mode, which will follow the antics of predetermined characters along a tale in which you'll have to accomplish tasks to advance to the next chapter, which usually involves getting more characters or having more difficult parameters to be successful. There's also the Galaxy mode, wherein there are specific missions on a group of planets that you can choose from. Also, there's Sandbox mode, which consists of planets that have specific challenges inherent to the planet that you select. This is a type of "free will" mode, where you can basically do whatever you want. There's also a fourth mode, which will allow you to download user contributed scenarios from online players who've taken the time to create them. Between those four aspects of the games design, it's readily apparent that there are plenty of challenges here and many rewarding scenarios in which to partake. Initially,
Space Colony puts you in charge of a small group of characters, usually,
that perform various functions of everyday living. You are the hand that guides
these gentle, (and, in some cases, mean-spirited), souls through the rigors of
everyday life. You'll handle fundamentally basic tasks, such as bathing and showing
up to work everyday, as well as trying to maintain or improve their relationships
with those that surround them. You are in an incredibly small community of bio-sphere(s)
that eventually interconnect to other bio-spheres (small and large, as you build
them and progress in the game) and these usually come at a premium price with
a severely limited amount of space. Within these confines, you'll have to regulate
oxygen, gather nutrients to make food, maintain a continuous flow of power, and
keep an eye on many normal, and not normal, aspects of every day living on a planet
that you're probably not naturally otherwise supposed to be on. Each character
has multiple aspects of things that you have to maintain, ranging from basic stuff
like hygiene and food to more intricate things like the need for human contact
and their happiness with the wages they are getting. All of which have to be monitored
by you, oh God of game players, monitor of all that is. There will be aliens that your little base will encounter that you'll have fend off. Get those Ikaruga thoughts out of your head though, as this has nothing to do with that. There are automatic sentinels and laser cannons that can be erected to tackle the swine, but you'll have to build them and maintain them or the base will fall to pieces. One will have a repair facility that will have to be manned and this will provide much needed maintenance to the exterior of the base. You'll be asked to raise space chickens. S-P-A-C-E C-H-I-C-K-E-N-S, you read that right. You see, you'll have to earn money for "the man" (i.e.… the large corporation that is financing this whole space gig) and make sure to keep them happy with your progress. Want to buy a Jacuzzi? Dance floor? Exercise equipment? A watering hole? Then get ready to mine iron, silicon or even do the space chicken thing to earn cash for such spending. You
can even try to get two particular people to fall in love (though, don't be surprised
if the girl tells you to "Eat shit and die" if you ask her to "be
yours" too soon) and it's also a requirement of one of the missions. As is
the happy factor, where you have to try to keep the morale of the entire base
above and beyond a certain number or the mission will be deemed a failure. As
the game becomes more intricate, there are more and more factors that affect you
and your base. Medical conditions, bio-labs to make medicines and food, volcanic
vents that power your base and many, many more interesting factors come to bear
on your success or failure.
Graphics: 8/10 Sound:
9/10 Overall:
8/10 [ top ] |
