Dominions review up at Gamespot

[diamondspider]

[repost from same topic 1/25/04]

I found out about Dominions 2 on Gamespot and, after playing the demo for 20 hours and loving it, still agree that the review was reasonable.

Why? Because to the vast majority of people, graphics, slick user interfaces, and a lack of complexity will be their preference.

Any diehard TBS gamer who reads that review and hears about the free demo will give it a look and love it.

The typical GS user who loves to ROXXOR UR SOXORS in counterstrike would hate this game and they make up GS's primary readership.

What they said about the graphics and interface are true: they are far below even something like Disciples II.

On the other hand, what they said about micromanagement being too much was totally off-base. ALL TBS games have a ton of micromanagement. They all are, at heart, management games.

All that being said, what shines about Dominions, and what makes it one of the best TBS games in history, is hard to quantify. The thought and care put into the game and the flexibity and depth that come into playing it are simply amazing.

The guy did say that more games should have the depth of Dominions II, and in that regard, he is certainly correct

[Targa]

No worries. Whenever I read a Gamespot review I always look at the reader review score. On this particular one it's an 8.9 ATM. If I recall correctly, it was that page that made me check this game out in the first place.

And you can always do as GP has done and post your own Gamespot review of Dom2.

[ January 29, 2004, 03:52: Message edited by: Targa ]

[Lunaticus]

I agree with the recent Posts and actually am very very thankful for the Gamespot review (although disagreeing with the rating): Otherwise I would never ever have heard of this great game...

[Kristoffer O]

There is a review on IGN, whatever that is, as well. It follows gamespots pattern of a so so score by the reviewer and high reader review score, in this case 8.8.

Johan O, just to confuse you.

[ceremony]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
There is a review on IGN, whatever that is, as well. It follows gamespots pattern of a so so score by the reviewer and high reader review score, in this case 8.8.

Johan O, just to confuse you.

IGN.com is one of the "Big Three" Online videogame sites that is now the "Big Two" since IGN and Gamespy merged. (The other "big" is Gamespot.) This review spends a lot of time on the interface setup issues, and very little on gameplay. Plus it makes a couple minor but not unimportant factual errors.

EDIT for link: http://pc.ign.com/articles/489/489136p1.html?fromint=1

[ February 03, 2004, 22:19: Message edited by: ceremony ]

[Bowlingballhead]

I'll have to read this review. I cannot imagine this game being described as having too much micromanagement. Maybe these people don't play turn-based strategy games much, but it's blatantly obvious that the micromanagement was stripped to the barest core to allow for smooth, swift multiplayer play without sacrificing diversity of options.

And I have to say, Illwinter, you succeeded perfectly. In almost every way I am staggered by the subtle and precise game balance.

[diamondspider]

Originally posted by Bowlingballhead:
I'll have to read this review. I cannot imagine this game being described as having too much micromanagement. Maybe these people don't play turn-based strategy games much, but it's blatantly obvious that the micromanagement was stripped to the barest core to allow for smooth, swift multiplayer play without sacrificing diversity of options.

And I have to say, Illwinter, you succeeded perfectly. In almost every way I am staggered by the subtle and precise game balance.

Well, yes, for the first 50ish moves the micromanagement is no more than other TBS games. However, the time can come by turn 50-75 that the amount of STUFF you have to twiddle with becomes pretty intense.

Simple solution: use smaller maps.
Another solution: play PBEM and plan on spending an hour a move later on.

Since there are ways to play that don't take more micromanagemnt than other TBS games, I agree that this critique is a bit weak.

[ February 03, 2004, 22:49: Message edited by: diamondspider ]