The irony of Tropico 4's theme is that, more often than not, it makes more sense to create a genuine paradise. In creating your self-serving utopia, you're required to manage the population, the economy, and the job market, all while trying to raise some extra cash for your offshore account.
You take the role of El Presidente: the ruler of an island banana republic, and a minor player in the realm of international relations. The cheeriest city-builder about corrupt politicians, poverty and social oppression you could hope to play-unless you've played Tropico 3 or 5, both of which are pretty similar. It's a great playbox for internet mischief, and lets you properly relish the feeling of growing in power and skill. Here, you also have the use of a brilliant sandbox filled with missions, story strands and the chance to break out into your own objectives. It's a trick that Introversion would again use to great effect for DEFCON-another great strategy game that you should play.
Uplink is great because it's so singularly dedicated to its theme. All simple stuff, but it's accompanied by the trappings of illicit action: the beep of the tracer the threat of FBI intervention. You're making connections across modems, editing data and downloading files. It's that atmosphere that makes for such a great challenge. Uplink is in equal parts tense and ridiculous, and probably the best implementation of a hacking system in any game. Prev of 16 Next Prev of 16 NextĪ little bit of strategy, a little bit of RPG-all filtered through the perspective of '90s-era net culture. Amplitude's 4X can't compete with Civ 5 (plus expansions) in terms of breadth or complexity, but Endless Legend's streamlined and easy-to-grasp structure makes for a fine alternative. It's as if every part of the genre has been re-evaluated, shaking off the old, long-standing traditions in favour of something that works slightly better. It streamlines and tweaks systems to seem less abstract and impressionistic. Or maybe you'd prefer to play as the peace dragons, or the trade nomads, or the drug elves? Even the simplest factions have a quirk or two that make them unique.Īs a strategy, Endless Legend is impeccably designed. They can only ever build one city, and so their growth is dependant on converting and assimilating minor factions. They're a strange, long-necked bunch led by a Queen locked in an indestructible cube. Endless Legend is their finest attempt so far-a strategy that mixes beautiful presentation with some of the most interesting factions you could ever hope to conquer.įor instance, there's the Cultists of the Eternal End. Since Endless Space, Amplitude has been trying to inject new life into the staid 4X genre. The idea felt like a potential turning point for RTS design-Dawn of War 2 would later accomplish something similar with its squad-based co-op campaign-but sadly World in Conflict never quite received the dues it deserved. The dream was that in multiplayer players would take control of various aspects of an army-artillery, air support, heavy armour-and enact strategies co-operatively against other human-controlled armies. There are no bases, instead you requisition forces directly to the battlefield and work alongside AI allies to seize points and melt tank columns. Working alongside the bumbling Captain Bannon, you must co-ordinate cover for retreating civilians and counter-attacks against invading forces. Set in 1989, WiC imagines that Soviet forces have mounted a major invasion of Europe and the US. It’s hard to find a multiplayer game of World In Conflict these days, but a surprisingly affecting solo campaign and some top-drawer nuclear explosions make this a good pick-up if you can find a copy.
Get really good and you can move up to dark mode, which hides enemy movements with a fog of war.
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Learn to use shotguns well and you can clear maps at close range like a crack SWAT team.įrozen Synapse comes with a 55-level single-player campaign, but shines in multiplayer, which lets you keep several matches on the go at once. Rockets can blow apart walls to allow for slick breach-and-clear manoeuvres or open up sight lines for a sniper. The presence of certain weapons can change the balance of a map significantly. You command your squad members by plotting routes, angling sight-lines and fussily dragging out pixel-perfect grenade throws.įrozen Synapse is great because there’s a lot to master, even in this small-scale format.
Encounters are resolved speedily in digitised cobalt-blue environments that mimic industrial combat zones. A tactical squad shooter that unfolds in five second increments, Frozen Synapse combines the immediacy of a Counter-Strike bout with the thoughtful positioning and tactical consideration of a turn-based strategy game.