First, to quote from a different kind of
fantasy … “The power is yours!”

Secondly, to steal from pop culture, with the
Altarian Prophecy, you can “boldly go where no one has gone before …”

Stardock and Strategy First have released the
first expansion for the space title Galactic Civilizations for the PC. In the
Altarian Prophecy, the story line delves into the human connection with the
legacy of the Altarian race. The game also introduces new races – the Korx and
Drath, which hold the key to the mystery of the Altarian past, a mystery that
also foretells of the end of the universe.

The Altarian Prophecy is rife with new
features but paramount is the Editor features and online connectivity, which
allows players to creature their own race, share maps and create a totally new
gaming experience from the ground-up (or stars-up, as the case may be).

Not having played the original game, this
particular voyage began with a visit to the prequel game – Galactic
Civilizations, a sojourn that presented quite a learning curve while in
preparing for the expansion.

To understand the nuances of this expansion,
which does require the original to play, you have to first understand the
premise of the original title. Galactic Civilizations is a game that is more
cerebral than anything else. The graphics have a tendency to be static, and much
of the game’s actualization comes from planning, giving orders and then issuing
all those orders to have them begin to run through when you end your turn. There
are technologies to discover, sectors of the galaxy to explore. This is a
strategic affair that while solid graphically presents the real challenge in how
you approach the game and the decisions you make along the way.

The Altarian Prophecy is a campaign that
traces the thread hinted at in the original title. It provides more back-story
than it advances the main story thread of the original title, but it adds depth
to the universe.

Sure, the game comes with the two new races,
four new ships, new focuses for the 10 new scenarios, new technologies, a new
united planets screen – among its other attributes, but what really sets this
expansion apart, and makes it a must-have for fans of the original title, are
the editors.

There is a map editor, a scenario editor and a
campaign editor – and all three are supported online with connectivity to a
library built by other fans of the game. Apart from these features, the Altarian
Prophecy is a solid campaign that adds depth to the game. The new features roll
over into the main game, and give added replayability, but the power is placed
squarely in the hands of the gamers by way of these editors. In short, you can
make or remake the universe in any manner you wish. This essentially does for
the Galactic Civilization title what the Aurora Toolset did for the Neverwinter
Nights games.

The Altarian Prophecy campaign is enjoyable,
but the power of the expansion shines with the editors. They add depth and play
value to this game.

The graphics are antiquated, even with the new
screens, and while solid, the sound is not going to bring people to this game in
droves. There is no simple way to describe this title other than this:

If you are a fan of Galactic Civilizations,
you must own this expansion.

Review Scoring Details for Galactic Civilizations: The Altarian Prophecy

Gameplay: 7.0
This still looks like the original game, and plays like it. This expansion
does little to improve the way the game plays out, which is essentially
turn-based, and depends more on cerebral gaming than on interactive real-time
adventuring.

Graphics: 7.0
Not bad but definitely not one of the strong points of this game.

Sound: 7.0

Also solid, but not something to get overly
excited about.

Difficulty: Med/Hard
This is a game with a good learning curve, and if nothing else, the Altarian
Prophecy makes the original game even more challenging with the features it
brings to increase replayability.

Concept: 8.3
This game has a campaign that is really not all the extensive. But what this
game brings to the Galactic Civilization world is excellent editors and online
support to expand the worlds in whatever direction the players wish.

Multiplayer: 8.0

Solid online support for this title with a
growing collection of maps and scenario ideas.

Overall: 8.0
This is a back-story to the original title, but more than that, it also advances
the main story by adding new features, which in turn allows for a new experience
if gamers which to revisit the original program. The story of this expansion
may, at first glance, appear to be relatively brief, but what this expansion
brings to the series on a whole is a solid online resource, and editors that
will give players tremendous freedom in creating their own scenarios and
campaigns. This is a solid and well-done addition to the world of Galactic
Civilization.