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Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great
Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great is
another jaunt into the realm of bringing table top gaming to the
computer gaming crowd. (This one actually comes before Tin Soldiers
Julius Caesar, read that article as well here on Impulse Gamer.)
This
game thrusts the player into the world of Alexander The Great and some
of the most famous battles of his life. In some rather interesting
styles, much like table top gaming only on the computer. The battles are
interesting and for the strategy buff there is a lot to keep them
entertained. But be warned unless you’re into strategy type games, your
not going to get into this one. Table top and strategy and even
historic battle buffs will find a lot of entertainment here.
The
game re creates the battles from Alexander’s campaigns from the battle
of Thebes and on to such battles as the conquest of Darius III and the
Persian Empire and all the way to the final battles in Asia.
Tin
Soldiers: Alexander the Great is a turned based game, but not in the
strictest sense of the word. The game has an engine that allows
simultaneous planning, orders and actions from both sides. A simple
press of the play button sets things in motion, there is a interesting
part of the play engine that allows for a reaction kind of faze, during
this time there can be adjustments done in the middle of a turn. This
comes in handy when you may see things not going your way. In between
battles the player can make choices as to what units to reinforce, train
units and even recruit new ones. After all the conquest of the known
world is at hand and you have a large legend to live up to.
The
games graphics are not too bad at all, rather pleasing to the eye
really. The units all have that miniatures painted look to them paying
homage to the table top strategy gaming that must have inspired this
whole series. If you liked tin Soldiers : Julius Caesar, you may well
enjoy tin Soldiers: Alexander The Great since this game pre dates the
Julius Caesar Game.
As
with the other game in the Tin Soldiers series there are Battle Cards
that can be used to give the player some advantages against the
opponent, and with these opponents the players is going to need every
advantage they can get. Going against such opponents as the Greeks,
Persians, the Indian Army with those awesome Elephants and even the
Egyptians are contended with. The game is ripe with historical and
legendary battles.
There
is a lot to the game that makes it worth playing more than just once.
The ability to become victorious by more than one means brings a bit
more playability to the game. Breaking an enemies army or by achieving
objectives during a battle can bring the player to total victory. Add in
some alternate victory conditions and you have yourself a rather
interesting game indeed. As the battles are unlocked during the
campaigns, that battle becomes available for skirmish mode. Ya have to
love that. The whole reward by achievement thing makes it all feel so
much more worth while.
Best
of all the game is pretty simple to learn. But if you’re tired of the
computer opposition there is always support for multiplayer over the
internet or local area network using TCP/IP. All the battles can be used
during multi player or there are two special two player scenarios to be
had. Bactria and Elysium. While the computer does do a fair good job of
pushing the player through the paces, there is nothing like going
against another thinking opponent.
Koios
Works did a darn good job with this game and looking at the series past
(this game) and the later game Julius Caesar, the tin Soldiers series
can only have good things coming its way. While it is true there are
many titles on the market along the same vein in regards to mass
strategy, such as Rome total War and it’s new Expansion, and games like
Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle Earth, and these other titles are
by far more graphic intensive… one could possibly bypass this Diamond in
the rough Tin Soldiers: Alexander The Great. But you would be missing
out on a very satisfying game.
Tin
Soldiers: Alexander The Great. Is Strategy table top Gaming at its best
and most simple, and sometimes you just want something simple and
direct. This game delivers on so many levels of satisfaction it’s hard
not to highly recommend it. For an additively good time check this game
out. Trot on over to the Matrix Games site and check out some of the
free download Demos. Or if you get the full game make sure to download
the update patch for the game.
Have
fun, play games
Edwin
Millheim
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