Gives the impression that it will excel MOO2, but not even close :(
First of all i never understand; there is a perfect example in front of you. A game that shook the world and became a best seller, besides it was 10 years ago. Why dont you just take all you can from it, and give all your efforts move it further? They failed in MOO3 because they lost the spirirt, here that is another example what not to do.
*Anyway, GC2 is not a bad game and have to admit there are good parts also. So i will start with the pros:
+Overall improved graphics. Universe looks nice , interface, colors and ambience, gives the feeling of quality.
+New variable alignment of the races, good & evil , good empires tend to close up to eachother: this is new and very nice feature. Adds to flavor.
+Very nice simple and clean planet (surface) view, quick way to see what is in a planet. Easy que windows and different buy options.
+Quite impressive AI, they surrender to other races, they perform clever moves (in higher intelligence levels)
+Cinematics during gameplay. Adds to spirit of the game.
+Random events increases realism. +Custimizable ships.
+United planets is a nice feature of the game. Very hot issues are discussed.
*And the Bads:
-Space Combat is horrible, just a movie to watch. Player has no effect at all. MOO has offered not the option of manually commanding combats but also disabling ships & boarding other vessels.
-Radar view is ridiculous, this is a 4x game eh? where is the exploration then? I already see who is where.
-Land combat is similar to Moo2 however, i prefer Orion's little running soldiers and battloids in combat. GC2 barely manages to give it. Fighters were soldiers you train In Moo2 , Fighters are population in GC2. This way, there is no enslaving (and assimilating) the population possible in GC2.
-Diplomacy screen is a totally useless screen. You can finish the game easily without a single click to diplomacy screen. Your options are highly limited and usually you exit the screen without achieving anything. -Trade? Why should i research trade? Humankind knows it since 200bc!!! You have to send a freighter all the way and establish a trade route? bah! in Moo2 it was a single click in diplomacy screen.
-There were special governers and pilots for hire in Moo2. There is not such a detail in GC2.
-Technology names & tree. Sorry guys but the "WORST" part of this game lies here. Research is totally screwed up. Laser1, Laser2, Laser3?? What the heck is that? "Mini balls"?? what kind of a technology name is this? Why dont you call it "Hyper accelerated particles" or "Tachyon Armor piercing teqnique" I dont know!? Names are just not realistic. Miniaturism? what happened to -common name for it- "Nano- technology?
Also, we should be researching "scientific names" rather than "item names" Example: "atomic reactions theory" rather than "Nuclear bomb"
MOO2 offered better view of the tree, it was plain and clear. You get lost in the tech tree of GC2. Also when you get tech by combat, a warrior (of the race you have chosen) introduced the tech to you, if it was by espionage, a spy was displayed on view. Now we are informed by an ugly emotionless robot, making absurd moves like drunk.. how shoddy!
It was very disappointing for me, that long wait for such a game... I wonder when they will be able to excel Moo. Or, just improve graphics of Moo2, and sounds, add some fancy cinematics its ok with me really. Somebody please do it.