This Game Sucks!!!
 

(This is my first post on this board)

I bought the game without trying out the Demo, because I am adventerous like that. I was looking for a new turn-based game and really wanted a fantasy game since I am unable to get MoM working despite my best efforts (XP suks too!). I bought Master of Orion 3, thinking it would be like the 2nd one; stupid me. So, I got Age of Wonders Shadow Magic, and wasn't to impressed. Some one on another board told me to try Dominions 2, so I ordered, and about a week ago I got it.

I spent almost two days going through the manual and the walk through, and then, I loaded the game.

I wasn't to impressed with the graphics I saw, but I figured who cares, I was willing to settle for MoM. So I started to play. The interface took some time to get use to, and I don't think I still completely understand it. Yet, 35 games later and over 100 hours of my time wasted I finally got a realm with more than 4 provinces!!! Yaaay!

Anyway, to get to the point, here are some reasons why This Game Sucks!!! (feel free to add some of your own)

-Too many starting options; If I wanted a game that took me 500 years to figure out how to best begin the game I would of just got a chess set! God shapes, dominion, stupid little scales, themes, castles, and then the magic!!! WTF!!! All these starting options will just give the game even more play time, which really adds nothing to the game.

-Too many spells; Come on who needs all those spells? I say one spell per path, and it can just go up in strength per level. That should be enough, right? And they should all be "ball" spells. Fire dude a fireball , water dude a waterball, death dude a deathball, etc...easy. It really takes a lot from the game when you have to sort through all those spells.

-Too many units; Do you really need more than a guy who shoots missles and a guy who swings a sword? It really confuses me when you have like 100 guys who can all swing a sword but this guy can do it under water, this guy does it faster, this guy has better armor, blah blah blah. Really! Enough with all the units!

-Too many magic sites; Yeah it's nice to have little discoveries now and then, but do they all have to be different? All this does is make you anxiously run around trying to uncover magic sites to find anoter 1 of the 10000s of troops or help you get 1 of a billion gem combination to let you cast 1 of a trillion spells... Really takes away from the butt kicking nature I thought this game would be about.

-Too many random event; everytime I hit the end turn/host button SOMETHING HAPPENS!!! What's up with that?! The game really slows down when some superhero dude wants to join my army or my people killed a stupid witch and stole her gems.

-The SFX in battle mode are lame; Come on guys, why make a sucky game even suckier by putting in 3D graphics. Everyone knows that all the good games have tiles that represent units and they just girate to pictate a fight... Really, was any development put into the game?!

-To Many Things To Do; This game is micromanagement hell! Everytime I want to play a turn, especially late in the game, I have to go through every province and double check to make sure I am not wasting money or resources, or that they are defended well enough, or that I have spells being cast, or that I have dudes moving around, or that I am recruiting the right people. I think if you take my other comments and just give 2 units and 1 spell and then make everything earn the same amount of gold and resources and recruit the same and cast the same no matter what, the MMing will work itself out. Also, make the map and the provinces linear, that way you know which way would be the best way to go and you don't have to worry about building the right buildings in the right spot.

-This Game is Not Relaxing; Games are suppose to relaxing, this game is not. I'm always stressing over that "host" button; did I catch everything, am I going to die? What the!!!

-The Music is Too Hypnotic; It's as if your trying to lure us into the game with your happy little tunes. It's saying come play me, I have happy little tunes, play the game!!!

-The Game is Too Addictive; Seriously, this is a big problem.. no, it's a HUGE problem. How are you suppose to stop? It's like there's crack cocaine in the programming or something. Someone should really report the programmers to the FBI, CIA, FDA, ATF, AFA, or some Federal agency that can't put an end to these types of games. When my wifey leaves me for playing this game too much they will surely be hearing from my attorney!


Well, that's all I got so far. Oh, and in case you couldn't figure it out... ah, nevermind. I have already wasted too much time posting here; I need to go play Dominions II!!!!

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Jesus, you seem to dislike the game for the very reason that I like it. I bought the game and love the game, because it has enough options to keep me interested.

I honestly am tired of playing games that cater to the lowest common denominator. I want my brain to be challenged here.

I mean, honestly, are you simply just hopeless bad at strategy games? 35 turns and many hours and you only got 4 provinces? ... what? The first time I played the game I did pretty good and got a decent sized empire..!

I love the huge list of spells. I love the variety of units. I love the varied magic sites. I love seeing what crazy stuff happened between turns.

The battle sequence is graphically simple, thats true. But the terrain looks good enough, and frankly, I like the fact the battles are completed fairly quick. Although, the missile speed should be adjustable for the love of god!!

Micromanagement? In Dominions II? Hardly. You should see Space Empires 4, it has ten times the micromanagement. Which, incidently, is the #1 game that sharpnel produces. And not relaxing? .. I mean, you worry about if you missed something that much? Forgetting something doesn't ruin your empire, dude.

I agree the music sucks, I turn if off and listen to mp3's.

Addictive. Well, yes. Does your wife know you make Posts like this?

I donno what exactly your complaining about, since the game is exactly what it was advertised as. Like yourself, I just bought it on whim. But I at least read what I was getting into. If Dom2 was missing the spells, units, options and what else, it just wouldn't be 1/10th of the game it is now.

If Dom3 didn't have everything that Dom2 had and whackload more, I wouldn't bother to play the demo even.

--SD

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

I think he was being sarcastic. It was creatively done but the post is what is known as a "troll". Posted to get a reaction.
Ive fallen for a few like this before.

[ January 23, 2004, 21:35: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

I am pretty sure the poster actually likes dominions.... It was a jocular post laced with sarcasm.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Actually, I think if you read him a little more closely, you'll find that he likes the game for exactly the same reasons you do. He just chose an odd way of expressing it.

Sounds to me like he was parodying the gamespot reviewer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif (And if you were - why not go post this on gamespot as well? Just be sure to make it a little more explicit that that is what it is - most of their readership would never figure it out otherwise)

For example, I find it hard to beleive that anyone could seriously suggest that a game should only have 1 spell per path and 2 different kinds of combat units....

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Just what we need - sarcastic troll Posts from fans of the game. Too much!

PvK

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

The initial reasons listed would confuse the reader if they don't read the entire thing - there are people, and quite a lot of them, out there who would see those as genuine faults.

But that Last reason tells you for sure that it's a joke post. This kinda post'll have trolling effects (on folks that don't read the whole thing, or are unconvinced), but hard to say if it's an intentional troll without knowing the poster. Probably not, imo.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Bah, anyone who says he spent 2 days going through the manual and reading the walk through before installing the game and then Posts something like this must be joking.

Note he did say he was hooked, if he really had that many problems with the game he would just uninstall.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Sorry for the confussion, I hadn't intended it to be so obscure... I thought it was funny, and did not mean it to be a troll (though I have been know to do that;))

I just wanted to introduce myself and state why I like the game, and thought I would try and incorporate some humor into it... Yet, as they do say "saracsm does not work on the internet".

I am actually thankful for all those things, and this a game I can surely sink my teeth into...

oh, and yes my wife knows I post things like that, sarcasm works better in real life.

One honest complaint I did have was that the computer managed the battles. I found this to be a litte bit of a let down. Yet, after realizing all the variables you DO have to control battles as well as the mounds of other MMing you need to do within a turn I was rather thankful that I didn't need to control the fights as well. (Plus, simultaneous moves are awesome for Multiplayer) Also, I am not to crazy about the graphics, but as I said that is not what I buy games for or I would settle for boring games like Myst.

Sorry once again about the pseudo-troll, I will try not to feed them.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

I found it pretty amusing, because by the end you are certainly revealed as sarcastic.
I used to not like the idea of losing control over battles, but then I realized that Dominions II has more control over battles than many games because of the combat system.
You cannot give direct orders, but your indirect orders matter because battles are more strategic and less of a "large army beats small army" slugfest. I much prefer the Dominions II system than having to give the same orders every battle to my army because there's no strategy and the designers threw in a bad combat AI/autocombat. Nothing worse than battles with simple strategy where you can still abuse the AI battle after battle.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Too many of the reviewers dont seem to understand (and therefor dont mention) that this is a game built around PBEM (play by email) which has its own pros and cons. Not managing battles is usually one.

You know if you go to the original post you made and hit "edit" you can change the subject, and add a note to the bottom about sarcasm.

[ January 23, 2004, 22:31: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Really? I am having fun with it as a single player game, for now... Maybe when I get better I'll be up to a PBEM game, though that could be a while. I only have one AI I am playing against right now. The indies are giving me enough of a challange. (though a beefed up pretender fixes that)

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Guess this means I'm on your ignore list http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Did some one say something? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

How long have you been playing Quantum?

Probably the best recommendation I have received since CIV2, and before that MoM...

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">About a month, I tried setting up a multiplayer at apolyton a week or so ago but for some reason Dominions seems almost totally unknown there. So hopefully we will start a chain reaction and in no time Dominions will have it's own forum http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif .

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

But I have to agree with one point...

I mean come on... why had it to be "sancta maria"? Praises to the mother of jesus are not exactly what I want to hear while my blood fire moloch brings doom to the living http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I guess, you haven't met any AI programmers yet http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

About the only thing I can think of that could really use some improvement *IS* the battle orders. Order queues for all units, just like commanders, would be nice, as well as "move to waypoint" orders. Conditional IF/ELSE orders would also have been nice. And, of course, some more basics, like "Hold and Fire", and "Stand Ground". Hell, I'd settle for an order queue with an order which consists entirely of "MOVE FORWARDS". Who needs attack rear, when you could instead queue an order like "MOVE FORWARDS, MOVE FORWARDS, MOVE FORWARDS, MOVE FORWARDS, ATTACK CLOSEST"?

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Bah, Japher forgot to mention the fact that the game is waaaaayyy too inexpensive ! A game like that, sucking 100's of hours, should cost at least 500$ ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Damnit, sarcasm is to complex for me to understand in the mornings ;(

That, and my creeping doom phobia, where I have this unnatural fear that the authors of my favorite games are going to make the sequels lame. I imagine Illwinter guys randomly logging in and only seeing "to complex!" type stuff. Heh heh. whew.

--SD

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I guess, you haven't met any AI programmers yet http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">ROTFL Its sad but I totally understood that statement. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That is exactly what I proposed to developers just before they released the game. I said that they should put a "Highly Addictive" label on CD cover to make sure they don�t get lawsuits from people whose personal life is ruined by Dominions II addiction. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Btw. this was the most interesting and surprising post I have red in long time, well done. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thats why I keep jumping in when someone wants to suggest things to speed up turn processing. NO dont speed up turn processing! Thats the only thing keeping us from losing players to starvation or exploding bladders.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

I have to totally agree with this one. Though the game is probably too complex for many "casual gamers" out there, for those of us who want something a bit more challenging, and to be able to get hundreds of hours of play time out of a game rather than a few days...I'd liken Dom2 to the Quake epidemic that had office workers all over the nation playing quake rather than working. I laughed at that Last comment in particular, Gandalf...can't count how many times I really had to pee but kept saying "just one more turn..." (same goes for the wee hours of the AM, LOL). Dom2 is one of the few games ever made in the history of computer gaming to be so great. Other game developers can only cry and drool that this wasn't their idea.

The only major (though not too major) change that I'd like to see, which I may work on myself, is better-looking maps. Bryce 3D or something for truly realistic looking topographical maps would make the game a bit more of a delight to play. It would also be nice to have icons for magic sites. Wouldn't it be cool to see a skull-shaped cave entrance, or a Stonehenge-looking riun when you search/find a magic site? Nothing big and fancy (as some provinces have many sites/buildings). Or even just ruins and things that don't have to be magic sites....just "graphic-enhancers". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If your wife leaves you over that, you should count your blessings for being finally rid of that annoying harpy. There's obviously something wrong with your marriage to begin with if your wife is not there playing Dominions II with you!

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If your wife leaves you over that, you should count your blessings for being finally rid of that annoying harpy. There's obviously something wrong with your marriage to begin with if your wife is not there playing Dominions II with you! </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Beware, I found out the hard way that if you get your wife involved with Dominions II, she'll be playing it all the time then! Or worse, she'll be kicking your butt in MP!

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">WARNING: swallow all food and drink before reading further

But it makes such interesting love names for each other when you are out in public. "Oh you are such a [insert pretender here]"
Titan, Monolith, Lord of Fertility, Great Black Bull, Great White BUll, Divine Serpent, Wyrm, Freak Lord, Crone, Vampire Queen, ***** Queen, Naga, Dragon.

Heehee we have a new cartoon for the "Dominions for Dummies" book. A husband and wife calling each other pretender pet-names.

[ January 25, 2004, 13:03: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

I HEREBY RESSURECT ONE OF THE OLDEST THREADS!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

Raising the dead, Argitoth? Been playing a bit too much Desert Tombs lately, huh? You should find yourself some time and join my New Game. I want to see how that disintegration strategy of yours does.

[ March 10, 2004, 02:40: Message edited by: Norfleet ]

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Bah, ok. even though I'm involved in 3 games, 4 will be even better!! Hmm, well I won't even think about the disintegration strategy if ermor, caelum, or r'lyeh... well we will see what happenes. I'll be using "disintegration" format for my stragey, but this format is very flexible.

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

This game IS horrible, no matter what you say,

I fear i wont complete my education now! I only need 3 months, but it is the most critical period as the final grades are given. Yet all the books just gather dust next to the computer, because of this cursed game!

DAMN YOU!!! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!!

Re: This Game Sucks!!!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">DAMN YOU FOR DAMNING ME!!!

[ March 11, 2004, 03:36: Message edited by: Argitoth ]