Hannibal: Carthage in the Second Punic War

[NefariousKoel]

Yep, another demo will bring in fence sitters.

It sounds like many people are pretty broke right now. Not surprising as well as the economy has been doing.

But they'll cave. If not today, then before long.

[jomni]

Yup. Demo is a good idea.

[pjwheeling]

I always get a boxed copy of my games. $50 is just alot. I trust that the quality is top notch. I have no doubt about that. I know they are cheaper, but I'm not into the Civ games or the Total War games, and the like. It just seems that the good games (Matrix)are getting more and more expensive. I know the Developers have to eat, but the economy makes it hard on the buyers to. I'm not trying to whine, just stating the truth.

Patrick

[diablo1]

Yeah pjwheeling it's sad when the economy is spiraling down that prices go up instead of spiraling down with it. But, I realize Matrixgames gotta eat and this developer gotta eat but I gotta eat also and food comes before pleasure.

I think what makes the price of this game hard to swallow though (at least for me) is that what it offers doesn't equal the value of other games in the same price range that offer both sides of play, even multisides of play like a Paradox or HPS title, no multiplayer features like TCP/IP or hotseat or PBEM ability. No random maps, no random campaigns no empire building etc. etc. (Pickup EU:Rome for a looksee of a game that offers so much more for $15)

This game is just a one sided lopsided game of playing Hannibal and Hannibal only against an AI with in this case pretty much unlimited resources (like a cheat in most other games) and you keep taking on more an more until you take or don't take Rome. Sort of a beat your head against the wall until you concede or break the wall type of game.

Of course graphically it's not stunning either it looks like something I've seen in some of the older magazines from Strategy & Tactics of the game counters and maps included in the magazine.

I'll probably try out the demo but still highly doubt I'll pay 40 bucks for this. Add in the Persian invasions of Greece and Alexanders treks to the east and the complete Rise & Fall of Rome all in one package and I'd probably pay 40 bucks for that.

[Erik Rutins]

diablo1,

I'd appreciate if you didn't jump to conclusions given that (as far as I know) you haven't played the game.

Regards,

- Erik

[jhdeerslayer]

I tell you after picking up Battlefield Academy from Slitherine, anything they do is on my radar now regardless of initial impressions and all. Based on my BA experience, Hannibal will someday soon be added to my collection.

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

I think what makes the price of this game hard to swallow though (at least for me) is that what it offers doesn't equal the value of other games in the same price range that offer both sides of play, even multisides of play like a Paradox or HPS title, no multiplayer features like TCP/IP or hotseat or PBEM ability. No random maps, no random campaigns no empire building etc. etc. (Pickup EU:Rome for a looksee of a game that offers so much more for $15)

This isn't some EU/Total War/Whatever nation building game. I think you're jumping to conclusions without having any idea of what you're talking about.

BTW.. I've played EU Rome. And I've played this much more.

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

diablo1,

I'd appreciate if you didn't jump to conclusions given that (as far as I know) you haven't played the game.

Regards,

- Erik

Aright Erik you tell me what are conclusions here and what are facts?

1. You can only play Hannibal

2. You cannot play Rome

3. You cannot play TCP/IP

4. You cannot play PBEM

5. You cannot play Hotseat

6. You cannot play multiplayer of any sort

7. You throw your forces of Hannibal up against the forces of the Romans (like a brick wall)

8. Rome has practically unlimited resources

9. The graphics are not state of the art

10. There is no empire building up like a Total War or EU Rome

11. The only conclusive item would be the replayablity and even for me this is not a conclusion but a fact I do not see this game lasting more than a couple of play throughs before "I" become bored with it and figured out the ai.

12. It is also not worth more than 20 bucks to me that is no conclusion that is a fact.

13. There are no random generators.

So tell me where are all these jump to conclusions you accuse me of? Everything I stated is fact.

[pzgndr]

I do not see this game lasting more than a couple of play throughs before "I" become bored with it ...

It is also not worth more than 20 bucks to me

Wow. Could we get any more selfish here?? It's just a game. [8|]

In contrast, I downloaded Hannibal last night and I'm looking forward to it. Looks like plenty of randomness and replayability to make this title worthwhile. [8D]

[jjdenver]

ORIGINAL: diablo1
This game is just a one sided lopsided game of playing Hannibal and Hannibal only against an AI with in this case pretty much unlimited resources (like a cheat in most other games) and you keep taking on more an more until you take or don't take Rome. Sort of a beat your head against the wall until you concede or break the wall type of game.

Ah well I have to say that this statement is completely wrong. The AI does not have unlimited resources. Every province in the game has a limited manpower for recruiting that can be exhausted - whether by Roman or Carthaginian recruiting in that province. The AI is constrained by this manpower and constrained by which provinces and cities it controls to do the recruiting just as the Carthaginians are. The Romans start with more recruiting potential as they hold more cities/provinces and thus more manpower - but it is not unlimited, and an aggressive Carthaginian can take this recruiting base and use it against the Romans. Of course Italian units serving the Carthaginians can desert by Roman card play so they aren't 100% reliable.

Carthage has to use aggressive strategy to turn the tables on the Romans - at least that's how I won a game last night - by aggressively disrupting Roman recruiting and marching consistently south with Hannibal and other Carthaginian generals, seizing cities, and recruiting there.

[jjdenver]

ORIGINAL: diablo1
Aright Erik you tell me what are conclusions here and what are facts?

1. You can only play Hannibal

2. You cannot play Rome

3. You cannot play TCP/IP

4. You cannot play PBEM

5. You cannot play Hotseat

6. You cannot play multiplayer of any sort

7. You throw your forces of Hannibal up against the forces of the Romans (like a brick wall)

8. Rome has practically unlimited resources

9. The graphics are not state of the art

10. There is no empire building up like a Total War or EU Rome

11. The only conclusive item would be the replayablity and even for me this is not a conclusion but a fact I do not see this game lasting more than a couple of play throughs before "I" become bored with it and figured out the ai.

12. It is also not worth more than 20 bucks to me that is no conclusion that is a fact.

13. There are no random generators.

So tell me where are all these jump to conclusions you accuse me of? Everything I stated is fact.

Points 1-6 are all the same point - you can only play Carthage. That's correct and I don't like it either.
Points 7-8 are completely wrong. See my other post about this.
Point 9 - I like the graphics a lot. I think they look good. I guess it's POV but your POV is they aren't good. Ok.
Point 10 - this isn't an empire builder game. This is a game just about a single war - the 2nd Punic war. You do have to build a recruiting base and seize provinces. If you don't do that you won't win. Period. You have to defend Africa, defend Spain, and seize parts of Rome's territory - Syracuse as a distraction and Roman provinces to take away their recruiting base and increase your own recruiting base.
Point 11-12 - ok that's your opinion and I see no problem with that. However I don't really see how you can draw these conclusions so strongly without playing the game.
Point 13 - Yep this game wouldn't work at all with random generation.

I personally think the system is very very fun and well done. Battles are lots of fun, the strategic decisions are deep with a lot of factors at play. But I too would like to see a bigger map, more scenarios. And I think with the system as clean as it is the makers of the game should be able to release a much larger Roman empire game quickly. That's my hope. I'd buy it and play it as I really enjoy this game. I've won once in about 8 tries.

[Toby42]

It's advertised as a "Single" player game. I don't see what all of the fuss is about diablo??? It seems everything works as designed and advertised??? It's not like they are lying to anyone!

[Johnus]

Diablo:

Exactly what kind of "random generator" would you expect from a game simulating one of the Punic Wars? I can see it now: Hannibal vs. Rommel at Agincourt.

[Rosseau]

I had some comments on the value of this game too, but I'm just going to shut up and wait for the demo.

[Titanwarrior89]

Question. How many turns is this game?

[TJD]

ORIGINAL: Titanwarrior89

Question. How many turns is this game?

20 or until Rome falls or, more likely, the AI defeats you.

Tim

[Titanwarrior89]

Thanks[:)]

ORIGINAL: TJD

ORIGINAL: Titanwarrior89

Question. How many turns is this game?

20 or until Rome falls or, more likely, the AI defeats you.

Tim

[Adam Parker]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

No random maps...

I haven't bought the game either but it's because of a lack of down time right now.

But pleeeease - do not give me a game with a random map of the Mediterranean! [:)][;)]

[Mus]

Why do people want to play as Rome? That would be like playing the game on insanely easy idiot mode.

[papajack]

Step back due to the price but finally bought it ......... my English is not good so could say one sentence ....
Cannot stop playing the game    [:)][:)]