Galactic Civilizations I: Ultimate Edition

This game was far closer to the "Master of Orion" experience than Master of Orion 3. Lacking tactical combat was a (small) point against it. But otherwise... I played the crap out of it. And then, when the sequel came out with all of its expansions... I don't think I could ever go back. Still, lacking Gal Civ 2, this is a very fun sci-fi 4x game that is really head-and-shoulders above any others of its era. And while it's not MoO2, in some ways it is a simpler, faster-paced experience, so that's not totally a bad thing.

You'll be soaring through the stars in no time as you discover the galaxy in a similar fashion to Civilization. You'll find special materials, build star bases, enhance your planets and battle it out with customized space ships. The strategic elements create endless gameplay. But where this game truly soars is in its diplomatic system. The AI feels like you're dealing with real people from real galactic civilizations. You'll tread carefully with some just to avoid war, give freely to others because they'll do the same (and you generally won't have to look out for wonky back-stabbing events that just don't seem to make sense) or you may just decide that a civilization is just too dangerous to live. Kill them all. Another great reason to like this game is that it features a vast array of difficulty levels, so you can learn the game while you play. This 1st game is my favorite. Everything is in 2D sprite form. I played it endlessly. Galactic Civ II made everything in 3D and kept many of the same elements -- but it just lost its charm for me. So do yourself a favor and pick this one up now and enjoy several hours of strategic fun.

The best part of this 4X in space game is IMO the AI. It has yet to be toppled especially for diplomacy. The AI can have plans, work behind your back, pretend to be your friend, or actually be your best ally. Now, as for the game in general, it follows most of the 4X rules, you pick your race, including humans, or you customize your own if you so desire. Then try to expand in the galaxy, first peaceful through colonizing, then through fighting. You have to constantly research new technologies, or find new ones through various "loot chests" (similar to the barbarian huts in the Civilization series). Diplomacy as mentioned before is very well done, and in general you feel like you are playing against these alien races and not just some stupid AI. For me, this game is a better experience than its sequel, which of course has some other advantages like larger galaxies etc. It remains simple to play but complicated under the hood. It's fan and it is close to the Civ games. I am not going to say it is the best 4X game out there, but depending on someone's tastes, it could easily be the best. If you like 4X games, it's a no brainer that you buy it. I know I will even though I already have it from other sources. It's from a time when Stardock actually made good games instead of....nvm.

I recommend this game. It is an amazing 4X game that is not overly complicated. Anyone can learn it in an evening, and yet it takes hundreds of hours to master. Most people prefer the sequel, Galciv 2, and for good reasons. In this game you are limited to only humans, and the playing field is 2D. But to be honest, I LIKE the top down 2D view, and I actually think the UI is BETTER than it's sequel, although I am the minority on that. It's not as good as Galciv 2 or MoO 1/2, but it still deserves 5 starts - it's an excellent 4X title in it's own right and the closest thing to Civ 2 in space you will ever see. I highly recommend it.