|
|
SuperPower 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graphics & Sound:
To quote Tears for Fears, “...everybody wants to rule the world.” While few of us will ever get the chance to actually live out that want, Dreamcatcher is giving us the next best thing with SuperPower 2. Starting with the basics of military strategy games, SuperPower 2 gives players the ultimate in power rushes as they not only dominate the world with their military might, but also with politics, religion, and the ultimate weapon of mass destruction, the legal system.
Parts of me really liked the game’s presentation, while the innate graphics junkie in me wanted a little more. The game isn’t a graphical powerhouse, although it really doesn’t need to be in order to get the job done. The overall presentation is reminiscent of games like Master of Orion and, in some respects, Star Wars: Rebellion. Everything is presented via a global view where you can zoom in on certain areas to check out your command and control. Other than checking out locations, the only other time you’ll see detailed view are during battles. Even in this view, there isn’t much to see since battles are static and more of a numbers game than anything else. This is where my graphics junkie side kicked in because it would have been neat to see battles unfold in a little more dynamic manner rather than what’s given. Love it or hate it -- it works for the game.
Sound is about as exciting as the graphics. Sound effects are limited to explosions during battles and little else. The music fits the game and works, but still left me wanting more. I realize I tend to put this on my gaming wish lists a little too often, but I would have loved some kind of option to place my own music in the game, even if it were as simple as an option that let me set my own national anthem. Surely I can’t be the only person who would like to hear the Imperial March or a little Tom Jones while clasping their iron grip over the world... right? |
|
|
Gameplay:
In the most basic of terms, SuperPower 2 is kind of like The Sims, but on a much larger scale. As the name suggests, the game puts you in control of a country and lets you run it however you want. You have to manage the country and try and keep your citizens happy, or at the very least under your thumb. Rule by freedom or fear – it’s really up to you.
At its core, the game is primarily one of military strategy where you try to conquer areas and add them to your growing empire. But the experience you have during the game is really all up to how you play it. As open-ended as that statement is, it’s the best way to sum up exactly what the game is about. This, of course, is also the game’s biggest flaw in a way since it can be, and is, a little overwhelming for some gamers. Those with a bent towards action in strategy games probably won’t get a big thrill out of the game, but those who love management and logistics will find that SuperPower 2 delivers just want they want. I found myself on the fence as far as this went. I will usually find myself attracted towards action, but the idea of setting up my own laws and country also intrigued me and helped me to stick out and learn some of the more complicated elements of the game.
Getting back to the game’s scope and how it’s played how the gamer wants, it goes like this. Players are given full control over a country’s policies -- from military to government, and even economics. You can choose to run your country as an economic powerhouse or as an iron-gripped military regime. You can even try to shut yourself off from the rest of the world and start your own little peaceful “Care Bear” society where everyone flocks through the magical meadows with the wood nymphs. It’s all about what you want to do. How you go about creating these societies is also in your control. Want to focus on the economy? Set up trade with other countries. Want a powerful military? Increase spending. The available choices are very deep and will even go so far as to let you manage corruption in your government or dictate ideals to your people though laws (even managing hot-button topics like same-sex marriages). |
|
|
Difficulty:
Depth is always a good thing, but it’s also a double-edged sword that ends up cutting SuperPower 2. The game can be an overwhelming experience for some gamers. There’s really no “easy” way to go through the game. While you can customize certain aspects to play into your strengths, such as focusing more of your time on economic policy rather than legislation, there are still confusing aspects that must be dealt with. In addition, getting “good” at the game is mainly an exercise in patience, so gamers who expect a rush to power won’t find it. Instead, it’s a long, slow crawl through many learning experiences. Those who stick it out will find a surprisingly deep and fun game that is well worth the effort.
|
|
|
Game Mechanics:
Part of what makes SuperPower 2 so confusing is its interface. Rather than the problem being in how you interact with the game, which is a simple point-and-click system, it’s a question of how you interact within it. The world is constantly changing, other countries are just as busy as you are at amassing armies, setting policies, and making treaties. Those who choose to view the game through a narrow perspective will have a hard time managing things, while global thinkers will get into things much quicker. An in-game tutorial is offered, but it only covers the bare-bones basics of what can, and will, go on within the game.
Interface faults don’t reside only within the player. The general interface of the game is still a little too cluttered and hard to read. Menus pop up everywhere, requiring a new level of management when you have to not only manage what is going on within each menu (in regards to setting up policies), but also manage where each menu is. For example, when setting up a treaty, you can’t just handle it through one menu. Instead, you have to open up another menu that overlay the original. There are simply too many menus to navigate, which will lead to frustrating moments of gameplay. There are better ways things could have been handled, making for a much more streamlined experience.
There is definitely an audience for SuperPower 2, but the number of options available in it might be a little too much for a majority of gamers -- limiting its appeal. Armchair politicians will certainly get into the game, as will those with lots of patience and a desire to rule the world. |
|
|
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker |
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 98/2000/ME/XP, 1.5 GHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 64 MB Video card, DirectX 8 |
|
Test System:
Windows XP, Pentium 4 1.7 GHz, Radeon 9100 128 MB, 40 Gig HD, 640 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
