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General discussion (archive)Which should I play? (SMAC vs MoO2 vs MoM)(15 posts)(15 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted June 11, 2014
Edit: I have decided to play Master of Magic

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So in the next few days I want to play one of these 4x style games in-depth.
I can't decide which to pick myself(they all look good), so can y'all help me by recommending your favorite?

Choices are:

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (can't play alien crossfire because I don't own the gog version yet)

Master of Orion 2 (you can suggested 1 if you like)

Master of Magic

Edit: I now have the gog version of SMAC/X if that effects your choice any.
Post edited June 12, 2014 by comradegarry
Posted June 11, 2014
That's a tough choice. They are all great.

SMAC is probably the best Civ-like I have ever played.
MoO2 is still the king of space 4x games - IMO no game ever came close.

MoM holds a special place in my heart. It is by far the most varied 4X game I know (just creating your sorcerer opens so many options). And there is just no other game like it.

On the other hand: It is old. It looks old. The AI is very flawed (and heavily cheats on higher levels). Get your heroes high level and boost them with permanent flying, invisibility, weapon immunity and powerful atrifacts - the game becomes unbalanced and you are unstoppable in the mid-/endgame.

If you can live with the flaws I would recommend MoM, just for its uniqueness. But there is wrong choice in that list.
Posted June 11, 2014
All three at the same time, of course! =P toxicTom is right. That is indeed a tough choice.

For me personally, I'd pick Master of Orion 2. Superb Space 4x even after all these years. While diplomacy may be ridiculously simplistic overall it's always fun to be that space-megalomaniac. Also, planet busters are so last year. I roam around with my very own fleet of Death Stars. ;)

SMAC/X is definitely also a good choice if you're feeling more of a Civilization itch. Without a doubt my favorite game of its type.

MoM was the only one of those three which I hadn't played before until it came to GOG, and I've yet to manage to properly get into it. With each attempt I seem to get a bit farther, but man do I ever get discouraged with every beat-down. One of these days I really ought to force myself to play it repeatedly until I get the hang of it rather than the current once-in-a-blue-moon trial run.
Posted June 11, 2014
I'd go with Master of Magic first. It's just so much fun experimenting with builds.
Posted June 11, 2014
If you want a balanced game, go with SMAC or MoO2. MoM is not balanced, since there are builds that do allow you to steamroll the opposition (wraiths, Torin, Stream of Life), while other are quite penalizing you.
But MoM does give the most option of all the games in terms of builds.
Posted June 11, 2014
So far MoM is ahead, any more recommendations anybody?
Posted June 11, 2014
I haven't played Master of Orion 2 yet, but everything I've seen and heard about it convinces me that it is an excellent game. I would not suggest MoM though, not while you have the option to play MoO2 and SMAC for the first time. MoM is excellent, but if you don't have nostalgia to fall back on, then I think there are better 4X options out there. Age of Wonders for example, which is its spiritual successor as far as I know.

If it were up to me then I would go with SMAC but be warned, it's not an easy game to get into. It is however, extremely gratifying to beat it.

Also, it worth keeping in mind that SMAC (and I suspect MoO2 as well) are very intense games, in which each and every turn can spell disaster. Consequently you have to be very focused playing the game and managing your empire. That is, its not a laid back game, especially if you are a first time player. If you want something excellent and a tad more relaxed, then I'd like to suggest my absolute favorite 4X fantasy game : Disciples 2.
Posted June 11, 2014
Personally, I like Master of Magic :)

Two different worlds with their own properties, heroes, items and crafting, awesome spells (who doesn't want to summon Wraiths!?!?), and all kinds of things to do :)
Posted June 11, 2014
avatar
Matewis: I haven't played Master of Orion 2 yet, but everything I've seen and heard about it convinces me that it is an excellent game. I would not suggest MoM though, not while you have the option to play MoO2 and SMAC for the first time. MoM is excellent, but if you don't have nostalgia to fall back on, then I think there are better 4X options out there. Age of Wonders for example, which is its spiritual successor as far as I know.

If it were up to me then I would go with SMAC but be warned, it's not an easy game to get into. It is however, extremely gratifying to beat it.

Also, it worth keeping in mind that SMAC (and I suspect MoO2 as well) are very intense games, in which each and every turn can spell disaster. Consequently you have to be very focused playing the game and managing your empire. That is, its not a laid back game, especially if you are a first time player. If you want something excellent and a tad more relaxed, then I'd like to suggest my absolute favorite 4X fantasy game : Disciples 2.
Well I understand how each of these 3 games are played and what they offer, I've watched several hours of let's play in each of these games so I know what I'm getting into(for the most part). Though I couldn't see myself getting into AoW [at the moment].
Regardless thanks for your suggestion/s though :)
Posted June 11, 2014
Postal
Posted June 11, 2014
I'd go wtih either MoO2 or SMAC for one simple reason: the interface. MoM's interface is pretty archaic for modern times. It's still a great game, but MoO2 and SMAC having more user friendly/intuitive interfaces give them the edge.
Posted June 12, 2014
Go with Orion2!

Master of Magic is cool,too, but AI is nonexistant. Maybe with the AI fanpatch its ok. Mom is from the same guy as Orion2, it definitely has the same motivating magic. I thinks the magic essence is the race/leader creation combined with the total lack of balance in both games, which I see as a good thing, since it allows alot of fun or difficult builds to mess with.

AC...its not bad, the diplomacy is neat, but there are so many civalikes now, I dont think its too great anymore.
Posted June 12, 2014
Master of Magic, beats them all.
Posted June 12, 2014
Master of Orion 2, probably the best 4X game ever made .
Posted June 12, 2014
Well I have decided(by votes) to play Master of Magic. :)
Thanks for voting guys, I'll try out Master of Orion 2 in a couple weeks and later after that SMAC.
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General discussion (archive)Which should I play? (SMAC vs MoO2 vs MoM)(15 posts)(15 posts)
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