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Topic: Gamespot review!!!!! |  |
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Monkey King Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Apr 99
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posted November 20, 2000 19:45
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Only got a 7.2 on gamespot  Read about it here. http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2656251,00.html |
MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 20, 2000 19:55
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on combat: quote:
 The combat system is still hampered by the fact that you have no control over unit placement on the tactical screen, and that you are essentially reduced to being a spectator as the battle unfolds. Watching valuable units die because of seemingly random map placement can be frustrating
 | RANDOM??????on unconvetional units: quote:
 As before, there is such a wide variety of threats inherent in the endgame that it's impossible to defend against every one of them
 | which means: "i'm used to conventional war game and i'm too bored/unable to find new strategies for these new units" message of the day: dont trust a review with a rating 
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MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 20, 2000 20:02
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the more i read.... quote:
 However, removing the unit support considerations makes it far easier to wage war,
 | cost for unit support is still there...  quote:
 and with the 12-unit army system, Call to Power II (like its predecessor) replaces city micromanagement with army micromanagement
 | meanwhile, managing units and settlers in civ2 and smac was no micromanagment at all....  |
Mad-Kat Chieftain Camarillo, CA, USA Apr 99
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posted November 20, 2000 20:09
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I don't get why people see Lawyer and Branches as so powerful. They are weak and easy to defeat. They just give a nice, different style of warfare. Too many narrow minded dumbasses just don't have the imagination to play a strategy game if it's not 100% focused on pure reality. How anyone can put down the streamlining of CTP is beyond me. At the end of a Civ II game you had so many settlers, caravans and units going hither and thither that you could go insane trying to remember where they where all going and what they were doing. It was a nightmare. Any one that finds that fun I have just 3 letters for you. OCD! Get help now. CTP II seems very nicely balanced from what I've played so far. I even think mod-ing this game could hurt. So what if the tech tree isn't 100% true to history! If it's for the good of game balance, let fascism come before democracy. Gameplay is more important than trying to cram EVERY tech and EVERY historical time period and unit that ever existed.This brief rant was brought to you by the sucky reviewers at Gamespot  [This message has been edited by Mad-Kat (edited November 20, 2000).] |
MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 20, 2000 20:13
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quote:
 Originally posted by Mad-Kat on 11-20-2000 08:09 PM This brief rant was brought to you by the sucky reviewers at Gamespot 
 | let it all out Mad-Kat i think i'm going to postpone the preview a couple more days. i'm afraid i'm going to write something as idiotic as this  (actually, i'm hooked on a diety game. i've got 4 small allied to me and a huge war with the major english one )
[This message has been edited by MarkG (edited November 20, 2000).]
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Mad-Kat Chieftain Camarillo, CA, USA Apr 99
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posted November 20, 2000 20:25
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Ok, I just went to Gamespot and gave CTP II a good rating. Everyone who likes CTP II get over to Gamespot give CTP II the review it deserves from the people who actually play it. [This message has been edited by Mad-Kat (edited November 20, 2000).] |
John-SJ King of Silicon Valley since Aug 1999
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posted November 20, 2000 20:59
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I just gave it a good rating too. Of the 10 people who have rated it so far the average is 8.6, that sounds about right to me.  John-SJ
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smellymummy Settler
Nov 2000
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posted November 20, 2000 22:07
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About the random placement of units, I think that's half true. Sometimes a good job is done at placing your army in the correct position in relation to the enemy. While at other times it's like an idiot planned the attack - that's when you end up with your flanking units in the middle your front line (lambs to the slaughter?). |
Mercantile Prince Westcoast of Canada Sep 2000
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posted November 20, 2000 22:48
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perhaps this is a realistic approach, its not like military history hasn't been chock full of great strategic manuevers, as well as plenty of boneheaded mistakes. I guess the crappy thing if it is random, is that you have no control. I would think as long as it is better more often than not, that would be historically accurate I am dying to know if i should buy the game. The review scared me but MarkG's rebuttal sounds great as well. I really disliked the first one??????? [This message has been edited by Mercantile (edited November 20, 2000).] |
Imran Siddiqui Emperor Heaven, aka New Jersey b.02-15-99
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posted November 20, 2000 22:53
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Hmmm, I guess I'll wait for other reviews in deciding to get CtP2. I always trust Gamespot as they've never been wrong in the reviews for games that I own.And 7.2 isn't a bad score people... better than the 6.5 CtP got . |
Monkey King Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Apr 99
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posted November 20, 2000 23:10
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WOW!!! After 19 reader reviews the score stands at 8.8. Talk about power to the people! I can't seem to find the link to read them though.... strange. |
Imran Siddiqui Emperor Heaven, aka New Jersey b.02-15-99
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posted November 20, 2000 23:22
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That is because there haven't been any written reviews that passed muster (100 words, etc). |
Triphosphatase Settler
Nov 2000
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posted November 20, 2000 23:24
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I woudn't take Gamespot very seriously if I were you. Their reviews are biased towards large and 'popular' developers (Diablo 2) and they deviate their opinion from the crowd. They have writtin awful reviews of games, giving high marks to 'not so hot' games just to satisfy the hype (Red Alert2, Tiberium Sun). |
Imran Siddiqui Emperor Heaven, aka New Jersey b.02-15-99
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posted November 20, 2000 23:32
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Well all I know is that they gave a higher mark to Icewind Dale over Diablo 2, which I definetly agreed with (Diablo 2 actually didn't get a great rating).And your remarks are simply wrong! http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/filters/products/0,11114,196969,00.html Tiberian Sun got a 7.9, which is not good at all!! I like that you are trying to defend your game, but defaming a well known site is below you. I consider Gamespot and PC.IGN as my sources to if I should buy a game if there is no demo and they have never failed me. |
Kautilya Prince
Feb 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 00:09
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Hmm. Pc.ign has panned it as well. 6/10 http://pc.ign.com/reviews/14118.html Though reading the review I seriously wonder how long the reviewer has played the game. |
vlad King Of Comedy Dec 1999
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posted November 21, 2000 00:33
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Well thus far for me Gamespot liked the game ALOT more than I do. I would give it a 5.0 on their scale. I am not giving up though, still playing it to see if it grows on me at all. |
Maxxes Chieftain Amsterdam, The Netherlands Oct 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 00:51
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quote:
 WOW!!! After 19 reader reviews the score stands at 8.8. Talk about power to the people!
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The people already owning the game are the hardcore fans that run to the shop as soon as it's released, so i don't think that much about this score.That said, I have problems myself with reviews written by people who played the game a few hours or who don't like the genre at all (see the PC.IGN review) [This message has been edited by Maxxes (edited November 21, 2000).] |
EdCase Warlord CT. USA b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 00:53
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Havin read many many reviews in my time, I now have come to the conclusion that :- Any reviewer with a "taste" for the type of game reviewed will lean towards a higher score (Yes i know they claim to be impartial,but has anyone ever met a TRULY impartial person?) Hence i long ago concluded that if any game belongs to a genre I enjoy and I like the way it looks i'll buy and give it every chance.I liked CTP and so far I like CTPII it appears to have progressed.The developement team listened to the players and worked in the most popular requests.Games like any software evolve and providing the developers listen to the players,I for one will buy and play their games so viva CTPIII and until then CTPII is the game of choice. |
MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 01:06
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quote:
 Originally posted by Maxxes on 11-21-2000 12:51 AM The people already owning the game are the hardcore fans that run to the shop as soon as it's released, so i don't think that much about this score.
 | yeah, but the existance of "hardcore" players for ctp1/2 should tell you something, no?  |
MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 01:07
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quote:
 Originally posted by smellymummy on 11-20-2000 10:07 PM About the random placement of units, I think that's half true. Sometimes a good job is done at placing your army in the correct position in relation to the enemy. While at other times it's like an idiot planned the attack - that's when you end up with your flanking units in the middle your front line (lambs to the slaughter?).
 | i have NEVER seen falking units in the middle. perhaps it's because you dont have any offensive/defensive units in your stack???? |
Triphosphatase Settler
Nov 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 01:29
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I am completely unbiased!7.9 is still a high mark for TS, it deserved a 5! Diablo2 also... |
EdCase Warlord CT. USA b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 10:23
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quote:
 Originally posted by Triphosphatase on 11-21-2000 01:29 AM I am completely unbiased!

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I never mentioned bias.Biased is to strong a term. DiabloII hah! game should have had this quote on the box -- "Close your eyes,bend down.Ok now we're going to shove this rehash as far up your a$$ as we can " Now that my friend shows my bias |
Depp Prince Luleå, Sweden b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 13:24
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Why go to gamespot and those places that play a game for 2 days and write a dumbass review ? Listen to them are not wise. Turn to the sites that review games for 2 weeks and are competent. Like Strategy Games Plus (their old name) www.cdmag.com, they are by far the best reviewers I have seen on the web. |
Imran Siddiqui Emperor Heaven, aka New Jersey b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 13:44
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Well, Gamespot gave Diablo 2 a 8.7 (I think), which is a score I would have given it. Fun game, but gets boring. 7.1 isn't bad. It just means it is an average game, nothing special...And I still respect and hold Gamespot as the standard all reviewers should emulate. Btw, what is that sense in releasing a review 2 weeks after the game comes out?! Reviews are meant for guides on whether or not to buy a game, so they should come out as soon as possible. And remember they got the games first (even as much as a week before). |
Dark Renown Settler Scotland Nov 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 13:54
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[quoteSo what if the tech tree isn't 100% true to history! If it's for the good of game balance, let fascism come before democracy. Gameplay is more important than trying to cram EVERY tech and EVERY historical time period and unit that ever existed.[/quote] Didnt fascism really come before democracy? Im pretty sure it did. Anyway whats wrong with having fascism in the game? not all fascist governments were raceist(like spains) |
Ralf Warlord Sweden Mar 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 13:58
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quote:
 Originally posted by MarkG on 11-20-2000 07:55 PM on combat: [QUOTE]The combat system is still hampered by the fact that you have no control over unit placement on the tactical screen, and that you are essentially reduced to being a spectator as the battle unfolds. Watching valuable units die because of seemingly random map placement can be frustrating
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MarkG quote: RANDOM?????? Well, MarkG - can i interfere by drag-dropping my own units around in better positions on the battle-screen, BEFORE the battle executes? Can the human player do that, or cant he? |
Imran Siddiqui Emperor Heaven, aka New Jersey b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 14:06
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quote:
 Didnt fascism really come before democracy? Im pretty sure it did. Anyway whats wrong with having fascism in the game? not all fascist governments were raceist(like spains)
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Uh... you failed high school history didn't you ? Fascism arose in the 1920s in Italy. Democracy can be traced to 1776 in the United States (or even before). And nothing is wrong with Fascist governments, just having them as a prereq for Democracy is kind of silly. |
Carrion Settler CA Nov 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 15:45
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Actually Ancient Greece had a basic form of Democracy. The US isn't a democracy at all. Its a Consitutional Republic. True it does have elements of Democracy in it but it is a far cry from a "true democracy." Democracy has every citizen vote on all matters of the state. As I recall I didn't have a say in any bill presented to the senate or congress this year. We elect representatives who in turn are supposed to do what they think is in our best intrests. Anyway I can discuss this all day there is my 3 cents |
MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 16:19
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quote:
 Originally posted by Ralf on 11-21-2000 01:58 PM MarkG quote: RANDOM??????Well, MarkG - can i interfere by drag-dropping my own units around in better positions on the battle-screen, BEFORE the battle executes? Can the human player do that, or cant he?
 | no you can not. but this does NOT mean that the placement in RANDOM. the placement of units during a battle, follow a certain SET OF RULES. your CHOICE of units of your stack determines your TACTICS for the battle.... |
John-SJ King of Silicon Valley since Aug 1999
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posted November 21, 2000 16:47
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Hey, MarkG,There's one I've missed, how do I set the rules that determine battle tactics? THANKS! John-SJ
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MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 16:53
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quote:
 Originally posted by John-SJ on 11-21-2000 04:47 PM There's one I've missed, how do I set the rules that determine battle tactics? THANKS!
 | i didnt say you change the rules. i said that there is a determined set of rules on how battle is done. your tool to make the best out of the rules is your choice of units in your stacks.... |
TheLimey Prince
May 2000
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posted November 21, 2000 16:54
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You can't set them per se. Marks point was the units that you include in a stack determine how they are arranged.What this means in practice, is if you include appropriately varied units, with some ranged attackers, some assault units and some flankers, you'll decimate an unbalanced defender. |
John-SJ King of Silicon Valley since Aug 1999
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posted November 21, 2000 16:57
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OOPS! I misread, sorry. Now that I read again I see what you are saying.John-SJ
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MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 16:57
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quote:
 Originally posted by TheLimey on 11-21-2000 04:54 PM What this means in practice, is if you include appropriately varied units, with some ranged attackers, some assault units and some flankers, you'll decimate an unbalanced defender.
 | exactly! |
Tilemacho Prince Heraklion, Crete , Greece Nov 1999
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posted November 21, 2000 18:39
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About the combat system: Although I like very much a had a problem. In a stack I had 8 tanks 4 Artillery…and the AI put 2 of my artillery in the front line (!!!) and some tanks behind them. The result was that I lost one Artillery in a battle that I expected not to lose anything. I realized later that the AI put the Artillery in front become its ranged attack was 70 whereas the tank has a ranged attack of 80Very weird… the game is easy in “easy” level… BTW: I am playing the game for 5 days now and I think the reviews so far ar far from being objective
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MarkG Apolyton CS Co-Administrator Greece b.02-15-99
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posted November 21, 2000 19:09
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quote:
 Originally posted by Tilemacho on 11-21-2000 06:39 PM I realized later that the AI put the Artillery in front become its ranged attack was 70 whereas the tank has a ranged attack of 80
 | now, why should someone get away with such an error in creating his stack? (i'm not aiming this to you tilemaxe ) btw, from the review
quote:
 Visually, Call to Power II is excellent.
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the rating for graphics is 7. i wonder what the word for 10 is....  |
John-SJ King of Silicon Valley since Aug 1999
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posted November 21, 2000 19:40
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From MarkG: btw, from the review quote:
 Visually, Call to Power II is excellent.
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the rating for graphics is 7. i wonder what the word for 10 is....  I've seen this before, judging from the text of the Gamespot review it seems the numeric score was a bit harsh. Personally, I'd score the game in the mid 8s but judging from the text of the Gamespot review I'd expect at least an 8.0. Seems like a mismatch. edit: BTW, I think the word for "10" graphics is "Superstupendous!!!".  John-SJ [This message has been edited by John-SJ (edited November 21, 2000).]
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WesW King Huntsville, Al., USA b.02-15-99
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posted November 22, 2000 02:19
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Well, the gamespot preview was better than the ign one, which isn't necessarily saying anything "at all". The ign one was pathetic. Even the gamespot one seemed to have been done by someone with a list of games to review, and who would have rather been playing something else. Do you guys ever notice the games listed in these mags as the ones which their people are playing on their own time? It seems that they are always rts or fps's. Anyway, about my only complaints with the game so far are play-balancing issues like Tanks having a higher ranged attack than Artillery, and the tech-tree stuff, which is what mod-making is for. |
hexagonian Prince hither and yon Jun 99
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posted November 22, 2000 10:48
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