Rating: 
Summary: The Mozart of Strategy Games
Review: Why compare this game to Mozart? They are the same: Genius in Simplicity.I loved this game. I am actually surprised that even more people have not played it. It has the highest rating ever from PC Gamer (98%). Think about that: Alpha Centauri is 2% away from being considered The Perfect Game. Why? Strategy that is detailed but intuitive. Diplomacy that is believable and matters. Game balance. A fun storyline. An intelligent AI that does not have to cheat to win. But by far my favorite part of the game is the technology aspect of the game. Each new future technology (some truly vague) is introduced with a sound byte from a faction leader, but more important is WHAT these leaders say. Philosophy, religion, literature, hard science, Emmanuel Kant, Aristotle, even Military Cadences are used to provide atmosphere to the game. This is a game that respects the gameplayer's intelligence. Additionally, the future technology tree has been well researched. Just go to the back of the well-produced Alpha Centuari manual to see the vast bibliography of Science Textbooks, Hard Science Fiction (Think Stanley Kubrik's 2001) and Soft Science Fiction (Think Star Wars or Star Trek) that the game draws influence from. I have a PhD in Molecular biology, and I must endorse the technology tree as an excellent model for speculating how humanity's future knowledge-base may be represented. Particularly interesting is how different civilizations are based on faction instead of nationality. However, nationalistic stereotypes are represented. The communist/socialist faction is represented by Chairman Yang (Chinese). The Gaia mentality is represetned by Lady Dierdre Skye (Celtic/Irish). The University faction is represented by a Russian Scientist (Academician Prokhor Zakharov), and the UN peacekeeping faction by a Ghandi-like figure in Commissioner Pravin Lal. There are others, to be sure, but these are the most egregious. Regardless, the game is an outstanding mix of fun, a stytle of gameplay that does not require excessive detail to be considered intelligent, great presentation values, and an overall attention to polish even in the smallest details. There is precious little that could be changed in this game. To quote Salieri describing Mozart's music, "Displace one note and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase, and the structure would fall."
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