Like many Sid Meiers titles, Alpha Centauri is the rare type of absorbing game which can make the minutes turn into hours, the hours turn into days and the days turn into weeks. The spiritual successor to Civilisation II (which ended with humanity leaving the strife and conflict of Earth behind for a new start on Alpha Centauri), the gameplay hinges on the familiar combination of exploration, building, technology and conquest. This new world isnt exactly the same as Earth though. The surface of the planet plays host to the hazardous Mind Worms (we told you the influence of Dune was far-reaching, didnt we?), which can be used against your ill-fated enemies. Though at its core the RTS elements of Alpha Centauri makes it a similar game to its earthly predecessor, the sci-fi elements and its refined, deeper technology tree make it the superior title. The seven factions of Alpha Centauri each feel extremely distinct with their own differing priorities - from the militaristic Spartan Federation to the knowledge-obssessed University of Planet, the factions feel exceptionally well-crafted and are deviously controlled by the intelligent opponent AI. Sid Meiers Alpha Centauris deep narrative elements and even deeper gameplay make it one of the greatest sci-fi games ever made.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
