Differences between Pandora and Civ V or Warlock?

[eyegore]

I agree as well. i have SMAC...and the A.I. is awful. As is Civ5. I have never been challenged by either game. In my beginning games with Pandora the A.I. has walked over me like a wet noodle. I've never had so much fun getting my butt kicked.

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: mikeCK

It is a less complex SMAC with updated graphics...or Warlock in space. I'm ok with that. It is what it is. If you are happy plaing SMAC And don't mind the dated graphics, then don't bother. For me, I am willing to give up some complexity for updated graphics as SMAC makes my eyes hurt

For me SMAC graphics are just fine. They aren't pixelated like some games matrixgames releases even today. John Tillers Campaigns anyone?

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: eyegore

I agree as well. i have SMAC...and the A.I. is awful. As is Civ5. I have never been challenged by either game. In my beginning games with Pandora the A.I. has walked over me like a wet noodle. I've never had so much fun getting my butt kicked.

I have to agree with you on the ai in SMAC and CIV V. Both are easily beat, I don't know about this one yet because I don't have it, I'm still on the fence. It's hard to decide because one guy says it's easy and another guy says it's passive and another guy says it's easy and another guy says it wipes the floor with him (he must be an awful player lol). Too many answers. I'll have to read around some more wait for more professional reviews.

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: Ajantaka

SMAC was, and is, the finest turn based strategy game ever made. Among its many extraordinary features were the Social settings and their interactions with the diplomacy. If you opted to be a democracy the Religious and Hive factions did not like you and would eventually go to war with you. The UN faction, of the other hand, would love you for it. These likes/dislikes weren't absolute but often had great bearing on the game. Each of the factions had very individual 'characters', even to the way their leaders spoke during diplomacy. Why jettison all this?

One person said that Pandora was a simplified SMAC. Why simply? Another said it was only SMAC with better graphics. What could possibly be wrong with SMAC with better graphics? Developers, whatever you left out from SMAC, please put it back in. Don't worry about those who say it is only SMAC with better graphics. The legions of SMAC followers who still have vibrant forums 14 years after release of SMAC want nothing better than SMAC with better graphics. If you also want to add you own concepts, like the 'attractive bases' one, do so. But we don't need a simplified SMAC.

While I'll agree with you that SMAC was a great game idea, it was far from the greatest MOO 2 as the ai was just as pitiful in SMAC as it is in most other games. I liked it for the graphics and atmosphere but the game challenge was hardly there for me. It's still in my top 10 library of games but hardly number 1. That still goes to Medieval Total War origional w/Viking Invasion and the XL mod.