:From: Hugh Schoenemann [email removed]
:
:I was in my local Games Shop here in the UK on Saturday and
:noticed a boxed computer game, MegaTraveller, The Zhodani
:Conspiracy (or something like that) - sitting on the shelf.
...
:My question therefore is quite simple : has anyone tried
:this software out ? If so, what are your thoughts, opinions,
:omments ? Is it worth parting with a few million credits to
:buy it ?
Wellll... (sorry this is so long)
I got it for the Amiga about a week or so ago. It plays well.
It's fun. I could get addicted; then you'd NEVER see a PBEM
turn again. :=) Actually, here's a more serious review:
Hosts: I *know* this came out for PC's and compatibles first,
but I haven't seen it played on one. The version I
have is for an Amiga. While it handles other processes
running concurrently, it doesn't use multi-tasking
advantageously. No surprise. The screens are mainly
overhead view things. Look like about EGA quality for
smoother movements. Sounds are fairly limited. Again
no surprise, but I'd rather have a fun game with
limits on the bells and whistles.
You might want to find out a little more from someone
who has a copy running on the same host you're planning
to buy for. If it's PC, I understand a second adventure
is out already, too.
Docs: The manual goes into great lengths explaining MT, the
various races, the various craft, weapons, skills etc.
and leaves out lots of information that would be really
useful to someone who knows MT and wants to know how
they implemented it on the machine.
For example, here is the description of the skill "Tactics":
The character is experienced in small unit tactics.
What does this mean? We know, because we're MT'ers, that
in the game, tactics modifies the party's reaction time
for surprise value, and the skill level is a die modifier
on a difficult task. It would be nice if the game writers
would tell us what things *mean* for play.
Characters: You get a party of five characters (or less). With
them you must fight, learn, fly, and all the other associated
MT activities. Character generation is pretty good. At
least you have the option of infanticide before trying
to enlist that 35453B brat. :=) Make sure *all* your
characters have a vacc suit and gun of some kind before
you start the game, though.
Play: It took me about four days to learn the basic interface.
:=( It is one of the most frustrating things I've
ever tried with a computer. Better docs would have
helped. Now that I know it, it sorta makes sense. The
Ami version has the "old" interface with the real-time
combat (which I don't find that bad) and an in-system
flight thing that is heinous. Gravity don't work that
way folks! The planets you want to get to are all
ringed by unbelievably dense asteroids capable of
sending your ship into the void, at maximum opposing
thrust. I heard the PC version is better.
Overall: I really like it, despite it's shortcomings. It's
about time we had a computer game that at least
tried to get the flavor of MT. With "The Zhodani
Conspiracy" we might not have the full flavor yet,
but we certainly have some nice aromas from the kitchen.
Richard Johnson