Pandora: First Contact Gameplay Review

I'm playing Pandora: First Contact, a turn-based 4X strategy game by Proxy Studios, Slitherine, and Matrix Games. The game's clear inspiration is Alpha Centauri, and it takes a lot of cues from that heralded strategy title. Games take place on randomized hex-based maps with varied terrain, and can be played against the AI or online using real-time simultaneous multiplayer. Factions provide different bonuses and vie for military, economic, or scientific victory. The interface is generally done well, with city and unit lists, a turn action reminder (like move units, research, or build), and likely combat results before battle starts. Each city expands as the population grows, and you can assign workers to different resource-producing tasks. Buildings can enhance city attributes, and excess gold can be used to instantly produce units or structures. High pollution from industrial operations can reduce morale, and formers can automatically improve surrounding terrain. Basic units can be customized as research is conducted, assigning specific weapons, armor, and devices to use during combat. Units gain experience with combat, resulting in more effective attacks and higher health. A randomized technology tree shuffles research options, and diplomacy can cultivate trade pacts, non-aggression agreements, or war. AI factions are quite adept at the game, and the hostile aliens provide an interesting common foe. While the game lacks significant innovation, those looking for a modern take on Alpha Centauri will not be disappointed.

[GlassDeviant]

Contrary to the poster's claim, food is NOT used to grow population, only to sustain it. City growth has nothing whatsoever to do with food supply.

[julionfix]

Holy crap Mr Allen I wasn't looking on your channel and found this

[Andersl]

Review = Lets Play? Anyways enjoying the video!

[Xloub]

TBS (Turn Base Strategy) is another aspect of strategy game and to some people it's as exciting and fun as RTS. So stop complaining, eventually you'll get your awesome RTS, e.g. C&C Online....hahahaha!

[Kimix]

Feels like Civilization 4-5, is Alpha Centauri

[magiciangob]

Great gameplay video, but I did hope for more "review" in it. Not much commenatry on the AI or the game length or replayability or other things I'd be looking for in a game.

Like I said I did really enjoy the gameplay and watched it all the way through, and I am inclined to buy this, but I'm worried that there may be problems the first thirty minutes don't address. Even the way the factions were distributed on this video bothers me, with one having that giant island to themselves, and you with three close opponents. And the world map looked small, does it function well on larger maps?

Anyway thanks for the gameplay video anyway, I'll hold off on buying until I get those other questions addressed.

Edit: Upon further review I see you did bring some of these things up around the 33 minute mark, I do admit I let this slip into the background after 20-25 minutes of gameplay. I'll watch the last ten minutes or so more closely and see if you go into any detail, but your confidence in the game in general regarding these topics will probably put me over the top despite my balance concerns.

[StojanceM]

2013 and 2014 the years where strategy games die 

[mrbalazs]

this looks like Civilization series, just in the future.

[tinotrivino]

Beyond Earth was better, but just because of the good Soundtrack!!!

[Smola]

Is music that good as in Alpha Centauri ? I mean in sort of dark-ambient and electro stuff ?

[TomaszBielski]

How many opponents can I choose on the biggest available map?

[pubert]

@Mareșalul Alexandru Averescu: The other way around.

[Fuerza]

Come on, guys...get this uploaded to The Pirate Bay so I can take it for a demo spin. Since Matrix doesn't want to put out an official demo for people to 'try before you buy', I'm waiting for this one to show up on TPB.

[tomas]

yes damn ! a realtime a la c&c and i play that . but this move big units on a little terrain with move rounds no thx !

[Fuerza]

I''ve played it for about 6 hours and my initial take on it - definitely not worth the $50+ price tag. (DVD, boxed version + shipping. I don't "rent" the privilege to log onto some company's server to play a game)

What's the problem? It's SMAC Lite. You won't get the depth you had in SMAC - no deep society control, no deep economic management, no miracles, no wonders to build, anemic diplomacy options, and the customization of units is also a bit light. Of course, we all know why they made the game like this...so they can sell you an expansion pack in a year or two that has all these missing features. Bottom line, get the torrent version and check it out first before you feel good about giving them $50 for a 'lite' version of SMAC.

[DylgotoNeto]

civilization but in the future.... not verry creative -_-