I know what you're thinking: A game released in 1992? How could it possibly compete with the games of today? Well despite being originally released 13 years ago, Master of Orion is better in many ways than most strategy games released today. If you are a strategy fan, and haven't tried Master of Orion, I think you're missing out on a really great game. MOO was made in the days before PC games had grown so different from the board games they had originated from. I like to think of Master of Orion as inter-galactic chess, as in chess, one wrong move can totally ruin your chances of winning. How does one win? This game is all about galaxy domination: Starting with one world, and trying to conquer the entire galaxy.
Before you begin your game, you must choose a race. This is a big choice, as the gameplay experience and difficulty change drastically depending on which race you choose. There are 10 different races to choose from, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Plan to conquer the galaxy with expert diplomacy? Your best bet is the Humans. Want to invade other worlds with hordes of expert foot soldiers? The bear-like Bulrathi are your best choice. Want to create a vast space armada of death? The mechanical Meklar are a race so cruel they make The Matrix machines look like Furbys. Take into account the strengths and weaknesses of each race before you select one, as computer will choose other races to oppose you. Your opponents will use their strengths and your weaknesses to their advantage.
Choices like these are what make Master of Orion such a fun game. The AI always makes the game very challenging, and the absence of any over-arching story means a totally different outcome each time you play. In one game you (as the Humans) are allied with the Bulrathi, working in perfect harmony to destroy every other race in the galaxy. In the next game, the Bulrathi are your mortal enemies, in a war so bitter it can only end in genocide. You may also select a number of options which influence what kind of gameplay you experience. For instance: there are 5 difficulty levels, ranging from "beginner", to "impossible". You can also choose the size of the galaxy you want to play in, galaxies ranging from small (around twenty stars), to huge (over a hundred stars). Finally, you can choose how many races other than yours inhabit the galaxy, anywhere from 1 to 5. This choice will likely affect gameplay the most. For example, choose 1, and from the beginning of the game you'll be in a constant struggle for territory with the only other race in the galaxy. Choose 5, and you'll have to use expert diplomacy to keep the other races from banding together and destroying you.
So, what makes these stars worth fighting for? For starters, almost every star has one planet that is open for colonization. When you find a star with a habitable planet, you can start a new colony, and depending on the planet, the colony will have different potential. For instance, find a planet with some alien artifacts, and technological research conducted on the planet will double. Find a planet rich in minerals and the colonists on that planet will be able to construct starships twice as fast as those on your other worlds. Competitive technology and a decent fleet are essential if you wish to have any chance of taking over the galaxy. This gives you an idea of how important planets are. The jealousy of alien races knows no bounds; they will try to take what you have, so you must defend your empire always. Whether you do this by forming diplomatic alliances and non-aggression pacts with other races, or building a massive space fleet feared by every race in the galaxy, is up to you.
If I have described the game adequately, you have some impression of how much fun it can be, that said, there are a few things you should know before picking this game up. Master of Orion was made for DOS, not Windows, so it can be a little tricky figuring out how to get it running on Windows XP. However, there are some great guides out there for getting DOS games running on Windows XP. I suggest googling "DOSBOX" for starters. I should also mention that the graphics, obviously, can't be compared with those of today's games. Released in 1992, Master of Orion is entirely 2D. That said; the graphics are excellent for their time, being clean, crisp, and totally functional. The user interface is very good and easy to use, with a little practice. Despite these issues, Master of Orion certainly is worth the trouble.
Master of Orion is one my favorite games of all time, I still find myself playing it, twelve years after my initial purchase. How many games can you say that about? The combat systems and resource management systems are without equal. The technology advancement system is very interesting, even allowing you design your own ships (how cool is that?). There is even a neat little espionage mini-game, allowing you to steal technology and incite riots on opposing worlds. This game has had two sequels: Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares, and Master of Orion 3. Both of these games don't compare with the greatness of the first MOO, but are decent in their own right. If you like great strategy games, put forth the effort and find the original Master of Orion. You won't regret it.
I’m a 23 year old game developer. I’ve been into video games since I played Nintendo at a friend’s house when I was 5. I grew up in a small city in Canada, so I guess naturally that means I’m really into hockey, too (damn NHL strike!). I also really enjoy reading and writing fiction in my spare time.
I’ve always been pretty good at all genres of games, I like some genres more than others; but I play pretty much all of them. I was recently into MMOs but haven’t been playing much of them lately since I can’t find PvP that I enjoy anymore, (UO spoiled me).
