Hello, I havn't played this game before however I am willing to give it a try. My question is; is this a trilogy where the storyline is a major feature worth playing through each game. Or is it like civilization where I may as well just buy the latest game in the series?

Well many might say go for 2160, but I have the 2150 games because it runs on older PC's as 2160 is harsh on anything without dual-core CPU's. 2140 I didn't bother with yet, having enough fun with the last 2 games.
Also 2150 is a campaign where you have to mine resources from various places in the world and do so quickly to build a ship and escape Earth. 2160 is a straight up RTS, no special campaign so that's another reason I still play 2150 over 2160, though I will admit 2160 is better gameplay mechanics in my opinion.

Well my computer isn't a problem. So if it wasn't for you, would you just play 2160?
(Anyone played 2140 and got anything positive to say story wise?)
Thanks for the reply tb.

Agghhh. choices. If PC is not the problem then 2160 is more a refined experience, but 2150 was still worth it to me when I got it at $30 long ago. 2160 is the way to go though if you're getting only one, I enjoyed it plenty after I learned how the different sides built their bases.

Cool, okay I will go for 2160. The money isn't as much of a problem, time is however. I want a good gaming experience not just the same thing re-done in prettier graphics. If 2150 offered a great storyline I could play through then I would go for it as well. Time time time, you always have too much of it or not enough (or maybe I am just damned terrible at time management).

The story is way cooler when playing the three games in sequence. All three games are good. But imho, Earth 2150 is by far the best, especially the Lost Souls!

I would agree with that, but don't dismiss 2140 though. That game does have a charm all of it's own. Best bits are the sound of the UCS units stomping around the map, very reminiscent of Walker on the Amiga and also, the game has one of the best intros ever.

Mind you there is that issue with the crippled AI, might be best to hold off until that is fixed.

Hey in my opionion it's one of better RTS games created.

Below is my short description what i like and what i don't like for all games from series.

2140 :

Absolute Awasome intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTREPsYa1Ss

Game is very hard though it did finish it even witch all map packs etc. so it's nothing impossible.

Here is some gameplay :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycSwIS5OEp4

I think still 2140 hold quite good lot of variety in missions and strategic planning same as C&C

What i don't like now:

-it's old formula of C&C if you don't like command and concquer or red alert you won't like it. It's fun but i's old.

2150

To this day i think it's more advanced than any RTS out there including new games.

- Day and night cycle with weather even snow that stays on buildings and units.
- You can switch off light in nights for ambush attacks in multi.
- AI of your units is something else. They know how to fight how to hold position how to defend buildings. If you create platoon from them it's even more refined as you can create formations, and platoons have their own additional commands. You can ever record actions and save them as sripts to play later.
- Buildings aren't sitiing ducks anymore. If you will build headquaters every building can get own turret or two also headquaters are menaging supply.
- Supply what ? Yes Supply because your tanks , mechs helicopters etc need ammo. It's not infinite. So if you are going to attack somebody you have to create supply line for attack.
- Story,reserch, development progression. Because of game is constructed as giving you main base and sending you for a missions where that base is avabile all time you don't reserch same things all over again. When you start next mission you reserch that you did earlier is still present so there aren't stupid " oh i must reserch again this for 20th time now"
- As above mentioned, next thing is economy. Yes real one. Resources which you didn't use you should transport from mission to base. Units that you build on mission should be transported to home base. Nothing shouldn't be wasted. Every sur plus of resources you can send to orbital station can be used to achieve game faster. Same with units you can build in you main base and send them for a mission.
- As above mentioned. You don't have goial to do 30 missions or 20 or 35. Goal is 1000000 cr and you must collect that in 181 days. And yes day counter doesn't stop on missions or in main base.
You can spend few days lazing in missions or in home base reserching things but 181 will come to fast as every game day is like 20 minutes in real life and as i said earlier counter doesn't stop anywhere.
- Real 3D RTS. Change in terrain is crucial. You can raise or lower part of terrain and MAKE TUNNELS. Yes you can do that and you can go straight at the back of enemy. Multi with it should sound fun :)
-Units customizations using Warzone 2100 system.
-Awasome soundtrack
- Fake units. Yes you can pretend to have strong army in base or pretend that you have some flanking power to keep your enemy out of you base or try to disperse enemy army in diffrent directions.
- 3 long campains with 3 completly diffrent races(?). How diffrent ?

ED is using old method of gathering resources. Mine --> cargo venicle --> Rafinery.
UCS is using mobile drills venicles --->> rainery
LCS litelary drop mine base on resources from space and that's it.

in Summary v. good RTS who play like an RPG game where you care about you units and care about on what you spend resources. It isn't anymore build as fast as you can because you will fast run out of resources.

When i was ending with ED i was still in posession of my first units with A LOT of experience.

What i don't like now:

- a bit old graphic
- no supreme commander style strategic view/zoom in zoom out ;)
- English VO are cheasy and bad ;)

Game for every fan of RTS is Gold.

You should skip main game and go straight to lost souls. If you will like lost souls then you should play main game and moon project.

Gameplay (mind it is skimrish):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MHq2yoCoHc

2160:

- Campains are worst of all 3 games. A lot of moment when game is boring.
- Game is step back in RTS evolution compared to 2150 no tunnes, no terrain deformation, no home base, no RPG like progression etc.

Those are things i really don't like.
But:

- game play now diffrent more like Ground Control. More AI actions for units more strategic use of units.
- there are some special characters units that even have their own inventory that you can change.
- graphic is still good even in 2011
- Skimrish/multi is a blast !
- All 4 diffrent factions are now even more diffrent. Whole LCS base can be one bulding. USC create your traditional RTS bases with unit productions buildings in same style as Sark Colony bases. ED is IMO most awasome they litelary make bases as one big building wch grows.

Some gameplay :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCu0DKozrMw&feature=related

Whole 3 games are worth 5$ easly if you are fan of RTS games.


EDIT:

EARTH 2140 gog version have dumbed down AI so i would wait for proper version.