Recent reviews by extrala

Highly recommended (even though it has some minor shortfalls). It provides (in my opinion) a rather unique RPG experience, both in terms of content as well in its way of game mechanics.

One of the best games I have played in the past few years. It really affects you on an emotional level. The game has some negatives, but these are easily outweighed by the positives.

Positives:
* the story is quite interesting and keeps you engaged (at least all most all of the time).
* a lot of the decisions in the game have significant effects on the later story. (Although the backbone of the story remains the same).

Negative:
* the graphics could be better (handdrawn or not)
* there are some lengthy parts in the later part of the game where you basically can't do little except following a fixed path.

Excellent Game. In the beginning the game really looked tough and hard to master. But once you get the hang of it, it's not *that* difficult. For example, in the beginning I didn't know how to abandon fights or that you'll regain sanity by criticals, and that when the light is low (and I what I mean is pitch dark) your chances of criticals increase significantly. Hence the need to do runs in the dark (i.e. do not use torches at all!).

Sure, you'll loose a party member from time to time, due to dumb bad luck and yourself getting cocky in certain situations. But where's the thrill without these situations without the occassional loss ..

I just hope that the additional content (extra dungeons & extra levels?) will be released anytime soon.

Beyond Earth tried to bring back the Alpha Centauri goodness back from 1999 combined with the strengths of the Civ 5 engine. Unfortunately the effort fails, and fails big time. There are so many holes and short comings in this game, that it's hard where to hard start. Don't get me wrong, the game has generally good mechanics and is visually appealing, but overall it just maybe good, but definitely not a must-pay-game.

• The biggest drawback is balancing. The game is way, way too easy. In any Civ game before I didn't dare to play the highest difficulty level. Not so in BE. I skipped two or three levels inbetween and played my 4th game at Apollo and won it easily within 180 turns.
  
• Currently trade-route-spamming is the most effective way to win/dominate a game. With 3 traderoutes (Auto Plant!), the bonuses you get from trade routes are eclipising any early or mid-game buildings you use in a city. And the boost is enormous.
  
• The AI is just too passive. Even on Apollo level it rarely attacks, and if so its forces are too weak to make a prolonged and effective attack work.
  
• The aliens, while interesting at the start, soon lose any appeal and become cannon fooder as soon as you build your first affinity specific unit.
  
• No proper feedback. I just build a unit or a building, but where?? I have to check the logs to find this information??
  
• No in-game videos. I build a wonder, just a textbox. I won the game, just a textbox, and so on ..

Would I recommend this game? In the current state (first version; unpatched) I would only recommend it only to the die-hard Civ fans, and even for those the long-term motivation is minimal due to the lack of balance and challenge. Maybe 6 out 10 would be a fair rating, imho.