Author: scharfschutze
Type: PC Game
Released: 2000
Designer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: Aspyr Software (Electronic Arts)
Genre: Turn-based strategy (Expansion for Alpha Centauri)
Let me establish one thing: Alpha Centauri was an awesome game. The blend of gaming elements came together to create one hell of a game that should be rated as one of the top strategy games of all time.
That said, there were some definite bugs, not the least of which being the rather repetitive nature of the AI-controlled factions in single-player games, as well as a few little pet peeves. So, one year after the release of Alpha Centauri, Sid Meier, Brian Reynolds, and the folks at Firaxis games went back to Planet, to create one of the best expansion packs around.
Alien Crossfire takes its name from the deadly developments that have unfolded on Planet since we last visited. In the course of the original game, the player uncovered many strange Monoliths and Artifacts, clearly left behind by an advanced space-faring race. But the race was no longer on Planet, and both the human colonists and we as players were left to wonder exactly who made them. Needless to say, our questions are answered in Alien Crossfire.
In the intro video, we see a space battle between two alien ships, during the course of which both are damaged and sent spiralling down to Planet's surface. We learn that they are called Progenitors, and they are the race that created Planet and the artifacts left behind. Now they seek to unleash some kind of power called the Manifold Nexus, which is hidden somewhere on Planet. Both of the two alien factions will stop at nothing to prevent their opponent from seizing this power. Unfortunately, our poor human colonists are caught in the crossfire (hence the name…).
One of my peeves about the original Alpha Centauri was the repetitiveness of the AI and the course of the game. The seven original factions were definitely cool, but it was difficult to play due to the fact that you were always fighting the same six opponents. In Alien Crossfire, not only are the two alien factions added to the mix, but five new human factions have also sprung up in the years since humans arrived on Planet. Each of the seven new factions has its own ideological agenda (as in the first one) and it certainly livens the game considerably. There can only be seven factions in any one game, and with fourteen to choose from, it's infinitely easier to customize a game based on who you feel like beating up. To top it off, the boys at Firaxis added a random-nation feature: rather than choosing your faction and your opponents, you can simply set everything to random and let the computer set up the game for you. This is perfect for players like me, who just enjoy sitting down and taking whatever the game dishes out.
In order to ensure a minimal amount of adaptation from the original to the expansion, the designers at Firaxis limited the aliens to using the preset tech tree. However, to respect the fact that the Progenitors are super-advanced aliens, they added several new technologies that correspond to the Progenitors' superior technology and completely different physiology, in addition to their ability to adapt to Planet, a world completely of their own making. For example, human factions must research Progenitor Psych before even being allowed to talk diplomatically with the new arrivals, and there is a whole new field of Resonance weapons and armour, corresponding to the alien's technology in weapons and defences.
The entire field of units have been revamped, and a larger amount of variation in unit appearance has been added. I hate to be picky, but the fact that all the vehicles looked like Rovers got on my nerves… As well, the alien players can locate battle droids to further their cause. The native Mind Worms have not been left out: new units have been added to their repertoire to make the player's life even more miserable. Artillery units, stationary units capable of dishing out severe punishment, and sea units that can attack units on the shoreline have all been added to Planet's already deadly arsenal.
Elsewhere, the game is pretty much unchanged, although the addition of the new factions and their radically different philosophies will force any experienced Alpha Centauri players to change their strategy. For example, the new Nautilus Pirates are almost guaranteed naval superiority, forcing players to find alternate routes between continents; the Data Angels are superior hackers, and anybody finding themselves near a Data Angel base had better be prepared for repeated infiltration by computer-hacking Probe Teams.
Seeing as these two categories haven't changed much between the original and the expansion, I didn't rate these categories.
Gameplay: 9/10Alien Crossfire suffers from the same choppiness as Alpha Centauri, and I don't think that can be fixed. However, performance issues that were omnipresent with the original game have finally been fixed, and if you have enough memory (which most everybody does these days) the game runs like a dream.
Replayability: 10/10The ever-present bug of repetitive AI has been alleviated in Alien Crossfire, significantly improving the replay value of the game. The additions to the already massive tech tree and unit components can only be a good thing, allowing players even more options with which to customize their units.
Overall: 9/10This game is just as good as its parent, and adds a great deal to the gaming experience of playing Alpha Centauri/Alien Crossfire without dragging the player down the path of information overload. The game remains a complete favourite in the turn-based strategy category.