Spacesector review of the game

[Vishniac]

Not sure whether it's the place to post this but...there's a first and very long review of Pandora in the Space Sector:
http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2013/12/pandora-first-contact-review/

Including a long comparison with SMAC.

[BlaneckW]

I don't get the feeling that the reviewer played Alpha Centauri much, but i have confidence that the game could be modded into a replica of AC.  Which it should be, before taking creative license.

It's amazing how dumb the reviewer is.  The first thing he mentions in comparing the games is the graphics, but then goes on to say "I think SMAC is perhaps a more immersive game overall."  Given this development you would think he would revise his thinking, but then he may not have a mind, but instead a clock with turning gears which succeeds in churning out text.

SMAC is a much less accessible game and it’s definitely a more demanding, complex and time-consuming experience. So, at the end of the day, and depending on your mood, you may be more inclined to play the quicker, easier to play and more fluid experience of Pandora, perhaps.

If I am that tired, there are a number of things I can do other than gaming. 

But if all you are interested in is time-wasting, you have to figure that you ought to be drunk too.  If the beer, pot and pizza could be paid for with taxes, then we might not have to suffer through such reviews.  I don't think taxes would go up either, since you have to figure that the efficiency of government would go up with the overall improvement in the intellectual sphere of life, less devoted as it were to the question of time-wasting.

[Buster's Uncle]

Jeeze B, harsh.

[BlaneckW]

I think I was fair and generous.  I'm not without sympathy.

[SenniTreborius]

Not sure whether it's the place to post this but...there's a first and very long review of Pandora in the Space Sector:
http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2013/12/pandora-first-contact-review/

Including a long comparison with SMAC.

The link no longer works.

[sisko]

Works fine for me.

Here's the verdict:

I highly recommend this game to all fans of 4X games in general as I think this game is a safe bet to experience something fresh but that feels quite familiar at the same time, and I’m sure you’ll get much from this game, like I did. If you’re a Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri fanatic I think it can go both ways for you though. If you loved SMAC in the day but are now looking for something fresh and more accessible, perhaps not as complex and immersive but much more fluid and war-like, then Pandora is the right game for you to try. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an experience similar to SMAC in what complexity and immersion are concerned, then there’s a good chance that you’ll still prefer to play SMAC. However, I suspect that you still have a good chance to enjoy this game since it offers an interesting new take on the alien planet exploration theme that you love so much.

[SenniTreborius]

Takes me to a blank page

[sisko]

If you don't have any restrictions (like browsing from work) then you should try another browser..

[SenniTreborius]

That's funny it worked in IE but not in Firefox. Lost me there. Have to remember that trick.
Actually Firefox seems to have a problem with some blogs, investigating further.

Yes, definitely Firefox, reported in forums, maybe I'll go back to chrome.

[SenniTreborius]

Not sure whether it's the place to post this but...there's a first and very long review of Pandora in the Space Sector:
http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2013/12/pandora-first-contact-review/

Including a long comparison with SMAC.

Very good review.
Could not access it via Firefox had to fallback on IE, or use firefox to go to the website and find the blog manually.

[Green1]

SenniTreborius, I had also read that review during my hiatus from AC2. I believe the reviewer was very in depth and more in depth than some of the dreg reviews on Gamespot, Gamespy, and other "mass market" game review content mills.

Was it enough to make me buy? No.

It lacked deep diplomacy, which is forgivable for some games, but not an AC "spiritual successor". Also, the development house did not have an established cred and a long list of obscure titles which made me leary of plopping down money for possible buggy/ weak AI and no community or dev support after release.