Master of Orion

Long before No Man’s Sky, the granddaddy of 4X gaming Master of Orion set the stage for conquering the universe back in 1993. Like the original, Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars is a turn-based strategy, in quintessential 4X gaming style. Playing as one of 10 races, it is your job to eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate (the 4 (e)X) your way through the universe, trading with friends and warring with foes. Having played some of the game while in Early Access on Steam, there were clear indications of what was hoping to be achieved in this reboot, but it seemed only fair to wait until the full release until final review.

When it comes to actual gameplay in Master of Orion there is plenty to like, but not much that is actually new. Anyone who has ever played a 4X game can skip the tutorial. While starting in a new game universe is akin to learning a new language, this the click-heavy detail won’t do a whole lot to help that. The only interesting detail is the battle system which, within the turn based structure, gives the option to have them given over to complete real time control, be resolved instantly or a hybrid between the two. This means that players who prefer to rely on statistics and luck can leave battle to the background, but for those willing to take the helm in real-time combat, wars can be won where lesser captains would fall.

With Michael Dorn (Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation) also narrating the game, these details could have been the triple-A dusting on top of a revolutionary title, but instead come across as a two-trick pony that has long passed its heyday. The experience was unpolished, not only during Early Access but again on release play through. And considering many of these elements have been since created in other titles more effectively, little excuse can be made for the execution. There is nothing wrong with Master of Orion, and if I had nothing else to play I might even be content. But the lack of variation in AI player relations, and my personal distaste for turn-based multiplayer, I can’t say this with full sincerity.

Since this time it would seem players got tired of waiting and developers, either experienced in other 4X games or simply looking to break into the market, found an in with the now seemingly defunct space 4X IP and begun creating clones. Suddenly we had Endless Space in 2012, StarDrive; Civ: Beyond Earth in 2014 would only serve to remind 4X gamers of what they were actually waiting for, and Galactic Civilizations, now a powerhouse of the genre in its own right, released the third in its series of titles in 2015. What do these titles have to do with Master of Orion? The answer is simple: EVERYTHING! Most of these titles were unabashed in their cloning and design, and even titles which have varied away from the specific genre, like Distant Worlds Universe and Stellaris each borrow heavily from the original Master of Orion structure, look, races and gameplay. While this is no fault of the Master of Orion franchise, it none the less has set a pinnacle that must be traversed.