🚀 go-pugleaf

"Logiman" <jn...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:bc1269ba.0202260157.38874be6@posting.google.com...

> Wow. I didn't know so many people loved this game as much I do.

Yea, the game doesn't get as much talk anymore because of its vintage, but
it still holds up very nicely on all counts (gameplay, graphics, sounds,
general atmosphere). It's a classic, old style TBS, with a solid, detailed
manual that you will carry around and read everywhere, and a nice lean
profile that works as well on my laptop as my desktop.

> I still think it's the best turn-based, wargame-like strategy game
> around

Based on my current obsession, I'd have to agree. ;-) One of the things that
probably limits its market potential is one of the things that I also like
about it: games are epic in scope and even at the Easy level take many hours
(days) to play. It's incredible how well the game develops without bogging
down into excessive micromanagement. Most aspects of the game are dealt with
on a sufficiently global basis so that you're easily able to focus on the
big picture. But it takes a real committment to play this game.

(I throw in that "wargame-like" because it's hard for me to put
> Imp II in the same category with X-COM, which I think is the finest
> game of *it's* kind around).

I hear you. I don't think of either X-COM or Imp II as "wargames" yet both
involve combat in a greater context. Both are outstanding turn based games
that have managed to weave a grand strategic campaign with a fun tactical
engine and a backstory that contributes successfully to the mix. Although I
think X-COM was far more accessible, I put Imperialism II in the same
category of gaming goodness. ;-)

> At the risk of getting flamed, last time I looked Imp II was available
> for free download on Underdogs.

I bought my copy from a fellow usenet member for $5, and I feel like I've
cheated someone. If I ever see it in a computer store, I'll buy my own
original copy (although the one I got was in pretty good shape).
GameCopyWorld has the latest patch and a no-CD patch as well and they both
work well. I haven't tried the underdogs version, but I hope more people
will experience the game and create some demand for a sequel or adaptation
using the game engine.

> I'll also second the good word somebody put in for the strategy guide.
> It's one of only a bare handful that actually contains useful
> information, and it contains a lot. I still read it from time to time
> to see if I can pick up any hints I might have missed the first
> hundred times through.

Yep, it's an old-style strat guide with actual strategies. ;-) The first 3/4
of the guide focuses on providing the inside scoop on game fundamentals
(with liberal doses of real opinions, like "don't build this unit", "start
researching this technology as soon as you can", that kind of thing). Real
advice, very well-written and well-thought out reasoning. The latter 3
chapters provide guiding principles for:

a) Initial development of your empire;
b) The Golden Era of expansion once your infrastructure is in place; and
c) The End game - achieving Victory.

A far cry from the current crap that sells as strategy guides, and another
good reason to get this game.