Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar
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| Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar | |
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| Developer(s) | Stardock |
| Publisher(s) | Stardock |
| Designer(s) | Brad Wardell |
| Engine | Custom (Lib3D, Kumquat) |
| Version | 1.80g.100 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date | February 8, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Turn-based strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E10+[1] |
| Input methods | Keyboard, mouse |
Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar is the first expansion pack to the turn-based strategy game Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. It was released by Stardock in February 2007, both as a separately downloadable expansion and the combination retail box Galactic Civilizations II: Gold Edition.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The Drengin Empire has conquered most of the galaxy, driving the Terrans back to Earth who then set up an impenetrable defence around the homeworld. The Drengin on the otherhand move their attention to the other races conquered. Krindar I'Agohl, leader of the Korath clan, a specialist military faction feared in combat even against the Terrans, urges for the utter annihilation of all non-Drengin species. When few used to survive against the Korath in battle, now none survive at all.
However there is something mysterious about the Korath, they even look different from normal Drengin species, but yet without slavelings the Drengin Empire is weaker, genocide is not their way. You, as the Drengin Dark Avatar, are sent to enslave the universe, find out the truth about the Korath and stop the extermination of it.
However as the Drengin warlords begin to turn on each other, another faction called the Krynn Consulate tries to convert the other races in a crusade to spread its religion.
In the expansion, two races will die, two more will rise.
[edit] New Features
On October 9, 2006, Stardock owner Brad Wardell announced that the release of Dark Avatar was being pushed back to February 2007.
"As you guys gave us suggestions and new ideas we realized that we didn't want to have to wait until some future sequel to add in those features. So we're going to push the release date of the expansion pack to around the 1-year anniversary of the release of Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords"
New features include:
- New parts to re-customize your ships.
- Certain species can thrive on worlds otherwise uninhabitable to other races until advancements in terraforming technology.
- Asteroids are mineable and give resources.
- Espionage and sabotage.
- New AI options.
- Diplomatic treaties.
- Visual make-over.
- Mega-events that can be set to intentionally destabilize the playing field from time to time, to keep things interesting.
- Race-specific super abilities.
- A streamlined tech tree that adds a few technologies and groups variations together on the tree view, so that e.g. technologies "Sensors" through "Sensors mark IV" take up one slot instead of four.
- Ship templates.
[edit] Release
Dark Avatar is being distributed by electronic download, however one has the option of ordering a disk as well to negate the need to re-download should it need to be uninstalled for whatever reason. Currently all purchase options are priced in US dollars, although international customers can pay using a credit card or a service such as PayPal. A retail version of Dark Avatar is available for purchase at retail locations worldwide as Galactic Civilizations II: Gold Edition, which also includes Dread Lords and "Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar".
[edit] Reviews
Initial reviews of Dark Avatar were highly favourable. Both GameSpy[2] and IGN[3] gave it it Editor's Choice awards, while UGO rated the game an A.[4] Reviewers cited the significant increase in customization options, a better artificial intelligence, and an improvement in graphics quality as decisive factors. GameSpy later named it their Game of the Month for February 2007.[5] Criticism revolved around "uninspired" ground combat, a generic tech tree, and the continued lack of multiplayer support.
[edit] Trivia
The Korath clan name bears a close resemblance to the Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah in Star Control 2. Even the ideals are the same (complete genocide of all non-Drengin species, in the Kohr-Ah's case all non-Ur-Quan species) and both are subsequent branches from the same main species, yet different.
The Krynn Consulate is a clear homage to planet Krynn, the home of Dragonlance, from Dungeons & Dragons.
[edit] References
- ^ TotalGaming.net - Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar. Stardock. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
- ^ Allen Rausch (2007-02-13). Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar Review. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
- ^ Steve Butts (2007-02-12). Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
- ^ Adam Swiderski (2007-02-14). Galactic Civilizations II Dark Avatar Review. UGO. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
- ^ Game of the Month: February 2007. GameSpy (2007-03-09). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
[edit] Further reading
- PC Gamer #152, pg. 59.
- Chat log with Dark Avatar developers at the GalCiv Wiki
[edit] External links
[edit] Official site
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