Rating: 
Summary: You have no control
Review: The game has great potential, but so many things are automated that you CANNOT do what you want. It is very difficult seize control from the automation. Unfortunately, the automation is stupid and prevents you from carrying out interesting or reasonable strategies. The game needs to provide much more support for user strategies. I got so frustrated that I injured my elbow by banging it on my desk.
Rating: 
Summary: Greatest Strategy Game Ever
Review: For those who have freqented the worlds of Sid Meier before, this purchase should come as second nature: you will not be disappointed. Alpha improves all of the original concepts of Civilization 2 and adds some of its own- such as borders, social engineering and unit design. Territorial borders is a simple improvement that is just plain wonderful. Social engineering takes some getting used to- I was a sceptic -but after a few tries it is a necessity and adds a new standard to the genere. The technologies also will confuse those of us who are not physics and advanced microbiology/genetics majors; however, the general idea will not take long to grasp. Trade is improved and varies in ways that the far surpasses Civ 2. Unit variety is, well. . . amazing. The Graphics in game play are well done and the cinematics that appear throughout are top notch. One slight downer is the diplomatic relations: a few more choices, but not much change overall. When advancing the difficulty setting Alpha still falls into the old trap of just making the computer's units stronger, which can be frustrating. On the other hand, perhaps it is just reducing the advantage the player's units hold in easier settings.A word of warning: this game can be detrimental to one's GPA if not used with caution. Addiction will follow quickly if moderation is not enforced. I recommend having a friend or roommate hide the CD on occasion. Few games will provide as many hours of enjoyment as this one will. More fun for your dollar!
Rating:
Summary: Just Another War Game
Review: I had anticipated more building, more great projects such as in the Civ games. Basically, you spend all your time making a bigger war machine than the Joneses. Diplomatic relations are simple, boring, and moot, as the real goal of the game is that you have to conquer everyone else before being able to live peacefully... and then there's nothing to do. I regret I shelled out 40 bucks for this game that's collecting dust.
Rating:
Summary: The best strategy turn-based of the year.
Review: If you need action,war,and thought this is the game for you if you have start to play the alpha centauri just only for 1 hour and you are still in front of your computer monitor then you are one of the many people that they don't suffer from the alpha centauri maniac or syndrom call it what ever you like.But do this buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Perfection
Review: Doesn't the word say it all? Alpha Centauri is an ideal climax to the Civ series. Containing unique unit creation, a plethora of base facilities, *much* improved diplomacy from Civ II, plot, and even some minor character development in the form of faction ideology, Alpha Centauri has to be the best yet.
Rating:
Summary: Superior game!
Review: Awesome game from Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds. The division of factions by ideals instead of nationality, the great AI and diplomacy, the complex technology progression with its divisions of Explore, Discover, Build, and Conquer, the thousands of options available, and all the differing levels of management from almost complete automation to micromanagement make this game enthralling. I am not particularly into science fiction and wondered if I would like this game, but they did such a great job with it that it is very fun. There were several things they could have improved, including the tech tree, making more ways to win, and some slight improvements to the factions, especially the religious faction, but it is worth 5 stars nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Best ever! The one true heir takes its place!
Review: I LOVE Alpha Centari! It is the most indepth game I have ever played. It has sucked hours of my life away.(Once I had a game that lasted 14 hours!) I think it is the rightful heir to the Civilizations throne, for it is improved with, I feel a new and more interesting storyline and with a plethora of new buildings. One of the nicest things though, is the unit workshop.
Rating: 
Summary: Missing a Key Ingredient
Review: Alpha Centauri, though not technically a sequel, extends and broadens the Civ series. The graphics are good and--this being a Sid Meier game--the gameplay is almost perfect. Centauri is a tremendously addictive game, with action, adventure, and a sci-fi backstory that will keep you in your chair until you lose the feeling in your legs. But it's missing an important element, one that made the Civilization series so successfull: The ability to change real-world history, to wonder 'what if?' The Alpha Centauri world is fake, fictional in the truest sense, and all the cool technologies and compelling writing in the world can't stop a player from noticing. Still, the game is well worth your money.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging, elegant, well-rounded game
Review: This is easily my favorite computer game of all time, and I have logged the countless hours to prove it. What I find so compelling are the defining differences between this and other resource-based war games. 1)war is incidental, as in the real world, and not the sole raison d'etre; 2)the philosophical orientations of the factions, which have individual strengths and weaknesses based on their core behaviors; 3)the technological advances and terraforming are very thoughtfully constructed, forming a cohesive continuum that is as plausible as any advanced in science fiction literature or theory; 4)you can allow your bases and units to be computer "governed", or micromanage on an almost SimCity scale; I could go on but you're probably getting bored... I did not give the game five stars because 1)the gameplay gets bogged down as you proceed (although I don't know how the designers could have done a better job); and 2)at least on my computer, the game gets "hiccups" sometimes, especially in the sound (I have an AMD version of the Pentium MMX microprocessor and 32 MB DRAM). Overall, I love it! I can't wait to get the sequal "Alien Crossfire!"
Rating:
Summary: Don't play it unless you've got plenty of time
Review: Which isn't a bad thing. The gameplay is extremely addictive, the graphics detailed and enthralling, the technology fascinating to read about and the mind worms truly worrying. You feel genuinely worried when you see another faction edging towards your least defended outpost, or when a demon boil edges onto your territory. Above all, the ongoing story encourages you to keep playing until the very end.
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