Imperialism

The Good
This game has a super system of resource and economy management, and the AI will trade with you for mutual profit. The mercantile economies of the colonial era are very nicely modeled. You can develop client states that eventually become part of your empire without war. But war is a hoot, especially since if you develop your technology quickly you can outclass the others. If not, you can still create alliances that will lead you to victory against stronger opponents. It is easy to play, but not so simple that you get bored. The classical music score is wonderful, and puts you in a martial mood. Tactical battles are like playing chess and Stratego. Best of all, people play the wazoo out of this game still. On Yahoo newsgroups new games start often, and there are heaps of variants, alternate maps, and scenarios. A good strategy game needs live players !

The Bad
Could use more variation in the land battle maps. It would be super if the sea battles were modeled on a tactical map, too, but they are always taken care of in the abstract. Control of the seas is essential, since you need ships to move armies between continents, to protect your trade in money and resources, and the impose embargoes.

The Bottom Line
It is like playing a cross between Risk, Stratego, and Settlers of Cataan. It is a hoot. The big flaw described in the first review is possible, but easily addressed. When the random scenario ends in your victory, it will ask if you would like to continue "conquering" just for kicks. You can say yes and continue on until you have won the whole map. But if you play a timed scenario it will stop at the allotted time in "history". Also, if you are voted out by the other players or AI as being the weakest power, the game ends for you. So play well !

The Good
This game had a great blend of finance and war, easy controls and good graphics for its day. There were many good aspects to this game but unlike most games it had the proper blend. So many games go so far in one talent (graphics, sound, gameplay, ease of use) but lack in others. A truly great game wont be perfict but will have just the right blend of everything.

The Bad
This absolutly broke my heart. This game came so close to being a top 3 or 4 in my all time list but for one fatal flaw. Just as I am building up a great state from the ashes of another war the counsel elects me winner and guess what... GAME OVER!! What!! how dare they end my game it was just starting to get interesting. Time after time this would happen to me and I would go back to try to go further. Sometimes it would work sometimes it wouldnt. But I could never conquer the whole board.

The Bottom Line
I am a big strategy freek. (Civ, Age of Empires,Homeworld) However I am very very picky about what games meet my standard. This game came so close to being one of my top 3 favorite games that it is sad to see how far it had to fall at the end. Overall I would recommend this game to people and have given it as a gift before. But the bottom line is that with just a small fix this could have been a true giant of a game. --pity-- It has such great moments but be ready to face the cruel fate of the counsel. wsm