New Game Selection Advice

[Japher]

I need help... seriously. I am ashamed to say it, but CIV has bored me once again. I have loved every CIV game since CIVII (never plaved the first one), and now I am at ends on what to buy next.

To help with suggestions here are some of what I have liked (besides civ):

- Master of Magic; but since I can't get it to work on my OS I am screwed.
- Total Annilation
- Command and Conquer (bored of it too, liked it more for MP play)
- Sim City (also bored of it), didn't like any other Sim game or Tycoon game
- Privateer and another game I forget the name of that had you as an old frigate and set up trade lanes, up grade boats, etc.
- Ceaser, all of them
- Master of Orion 2, I bought the 3rd one expecting it to fill the void, but it sucks.
- Master of Might and Magic, but better as MP


That's about it. I would like a single player game with lots of micromanagement and a good "feel"... I like the games to have lots of play time so that you can't start the same but compose the game yourself differently.

If there are any suggestions, please reply.

Thanks.

[Sharpe]

Adequate replacements for Master of Magic would be Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Complete and Age of Wonders Shadow Magic

C&C Generals is ok - though I think I preferred Red Alert 2

Freelancer is somewhat similar to Privateer but is fairly short

Galactic Civilizations is ok , but doesn't surpass MOO2

If you like lots of micromanagement, the Paradox games (Europa Universalis 2, or the more recent Victoria) have plenty of that

[Zero]

get RA2 + yuri for cheap $$$

or get warcraft3 + frozen throne.

[Sarxis]

Freelancer is nice. Lots of mods for it, and there's online play that let's you cruise the whole sector and play with or against other players.

Age of Wonders is nice also.

[DrSpike]

If you go RTS another vote for Frozen Throne. But from your choices I think you might like different TBS games like Warlords4 and Age of Wonders 2.

[Japher]

Thanks

I have several of the Heroes of Might and Magic, use to play hot seat all the time, I should load it up again.

Age of Wonders and Warlords were recommended to me by my bro-in-law, so I guess I really should check those out.

[DrSpike]

If you liked the HoMM series those TBS games I suggested are definitely worth checking out.

[Japher]

I just went and read reviews and checked out screen shots of Age of Wonders 2, Warlords 4, and Victoria... They all look great, problem I have now is what to get first!!!

Thanks again.

[SpencerH]

The total war games are good. Medieval total war has more complex strategies than the original 'Shogun'. Rome total war is due out in 2004 and the concept is awesome.

Although it's RTS, I liked WC3.

[Japher]

As can be seen, I use to like RTS games, but now I have responsibilities that take me away from the computer at random times, so TBS works better. Since saying "one more turn" is more of a standard than "one more frag."

[Sharpe]

Regarding Age of Wonders 2:

There is Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne
and its successor / Expansion Shadow Magic (it is standalone so it doesn't need AOW2: Wizards Throne though)

Wizard's Throne is fairly cheap now, however, Shadow Magic adds many features , including a good random map generator.

I don't have Wizard's Throne, only Shadow Magic, but ZargonX has both and he told me that once you have Shadow Magic, its extra features made Wizard's Throne not necessary anymore.

[DrSpike]

Yes Shadow Magic is definitely the way to go if you are buying new. AOW was easy, and they compensated by making AOW2 a pig. AOW2: SM is the Goldilocksian happy medium.

[Japher]

ZargonX has both and he told me that once you have Shadow Magic, its extra features made Wizard's Throne not necessary anymore.

Thanks for clearing that. I saw both, and got that it was "stand alone" but didn't know if was "the same yet different" in an inclusive way.

[General Ludd]

I'll second AoW: Shadow Magic.

[SpencerH]

Total war is turn-based.