Republic: The Revolution

Roman Yepishin
	24.09.2003

Game Title: Republic: The Revolution Platform: PC, Xbox Genre: Political Strategy Developer: Elixir Studios Publisher: Eidos Interactive Release Date: August 27, 2003 Minimum system requirements: Pentium III 800 MHz, 512 MB RAM, 3D-graphics card with 32 MB RAM, 1 GB HDD Official site: http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/gss/republic/ Everyone knows that politics - the most slippery and dodgy people on Earth. It would seem, are doing what they say is so beautiful, but life is not getting any better ... It looks like the developers of political strategy Republic: The Revolution have adopted this line of the mighty. The game, which was published after three years of development, has once again confirmed the postulate that "the expectation of a holiday better than the holiday itself." So, from the screens of our monitors we are transported straight to the ruins of the Soviet Union. As conceived by screenwriters Elixir, after the fall of Soviet power in the new state Novistrana got tyrannical Stalinist Karasov, whose work went against the views of most of the population. In the end all and sundry, are beginning to create their own political associations (ie, party) and come up with alternative ways of development of the country and society. The player, of course, is just one of those "who are not lazy." Having begun his political career in a provincial town with the great title Ekaterine ('m not a hint at Ekaterinburg developers?), You pass the laborious path of another two much larger cities, which, in theory, should end in a chair ruler Novistrana. However, there will be a ghost and a bright future, but first have to get hold of supporters even in a remote province. The first step - to develop an ideology. However, the design - it loudly. World Republic: The Revolution, there are three basic values: Strength (Force), Influence (Influence) and Wealth (Wealth). The ratio of your party to these three parameters determine its strengths and weaknesses, as well as methods of influence on others. Interact with a sufficiently large, diverse and, to honor the developers, stylish world of the game are two basic ways: through Actions (analog special abilities in RPGs) and conversation. The latter is most often used to recruit helpers in the apparatus of personal power, and the notorious Actions (whose number rose past fifty) are used to directly influence the game space. For example, having the ability to organize rallies, you or your attorney will be able to gather a crowd and make a massive ideological pressure. And the ability to Hitman, which appears, unfortunately, just nearer to the end of the game, will make it possible to hire a hitman and remove high-handed opponent. True, do not expect to enjoy a spectacular roller with a shot in the head and spreads over the asphalt brains of victims. For all his effort to maximize reliably reflect the messy world of high politics, Republic: The Revolution retains ultimate political correctness. Minimum stiffness, the minimum of violence - this seems to be the motto of the game.Numerous commercials on the engine often demonstrate peaceful meetings, handshakes and conversation. Fortunately, talking characters are not reduced to a mere dull splash, and are fairly original mini-game where you need to distribute a points between its arguments, the sides agreed to go to your party. Needless to say, that for successful recruitment need to learn more about the object of their interests? With complete information, you can always act in several ways: by bribery and persuasion, to the threat of force. Overall, the gameplay looks pretty fresh and unusual (although sometimes tedious), which is not the game on the schedule. Making peace is undoubtedly a stylish: the developers have well studied the architecture of the Soviet period. But the engine itself, three years ago, which looked almost revolutionary, today looks mediocre. To observe the gaming space are several ways in the mode of 3D, as well as to examine it in two-dimensional projection. The most functional just 2D-view and three-dimensional landscapes with strolling people and vehicles scurrying play rather an aesthetic role. Although here we are waiting for a nasty surprise. Plenty enough of living their lives inexorably hinder the city going forward the time at which to perform a series of actions to strengthen its political position. Game day is morning, afternoon and evening. At each of these periods, there is one of your action (Action). As a result, much of the gameplay takes place in a schematic two-dimensional mode, leaving behind the scenes is not too pretty, but still three-dimensional space of "live" World Republic: The Revolution. Another question - whether you need these same 3D-space? Yes, and whether the game at all? Before us is a classic case of protracted, who missed the point behind the realities of today and went out when a unique, fresh and interesting content has been left on the order of magnitude smaller than predicted. An unusual gameplay for some reason did not involve, and the schedule leaves me cold. Add to that the problems with the interface and the absence in the game any intelligible training regime. If at the beginning of the development of Republic: The Revolution saw the conqueror of the hearts of millions, then after the release of "army" of fans of the game was reduced to a small group of stubborn young politicians, who may have it and prepare for future careers. Private as a gamer, give money for the opportunity to spend time in an exciting virtual universe, unlikely to be happy need a long and tedious to understand the vicissitudes of political life Novistrana.

Heaven and Hell

Ognerezov
	23.10.2003

Heaven and Hell Platform: PC Genre: God Sim Developer: MadCat Int. Software Publisher: CDV Software Beginner god job seekers sex does not offer. For some reason I always thought: to be a god - a pleasant occupation, and perhaps even exciting. Thou doest thine own worlds, you want - with the magic you want - with the technical progress, or, more generally, deserted. Sunrises, sunsets - beauty, sitting and admiring. Well, at least, the laws of nature podredaktiruesh. Desired to humanity is the heliocentric system - sent elephants to turtles in a parallel project, a crystal set at ryumashki dismantled, land on the globe and pulled around the sun started. Lepota. But there it was - brave German boys from MadCat put me in place. Like, all these fairy tales: there is no God, the universe has turned into a big bang, people descended from apes, and have always been atheists. After that there were gods: bad and good. Or do they just moved away to smoke, while the amoeba upgrade? In general, it is dark. One thing is clear: an urgent need to pay presumptuous of humanity in their faith. It is hard to be a god, especially the god of atheists. First, it depends entirely on people - precisely because of their religious fervor turns mana, and without any lightning metnesh or earthquakes are not vyzovesh. Secondly, we have to rely on the prophets. Moreover, these paltry unwashed bigots clearly labeled alternate Almighty. Zam. neophytes to recruit supporters for military recruits for the army, caretaker monitors the buildings, etc. Total these guys seven. Property, incidentally, also participates in the divine: some building issue on the mountain of Manu and other help to strengthen the faith of population. In short, Heaven and Hell by God himself does not feel, maximum - unimportant deity of unknown origin. However, and this role would be arranged for me personally ... in any other case. The product of German developers lame in every limb. Graphics - merry, puppet and does not inspire feelings of divine power, to the same animation creatures slurred. Management uncomfortable. The left button rodent and allocates a unit, and gives the task. Pixel to the left pixel to the right - and instead choose a conspiratorial in the ideological camp of the enemy saboteur, you can easily send their "Pope" in the den of Satanists. On the right-click the same trouble, the unit it is, of course, cancel the selection, but a small mistake - and may lightning, for example, shandarahnut. Gameplay - guileless, without any strategic depth, periodically turning into a routine clatter. All games load borne by a pair of the most important prophets taldychaschih good (or, conversely, harmful) message. Sometimes the process is, of course can be revived, using some alternative solution to the divine, but this does not spoil.For example, rush in your heretical preachers in the settlement of stale fruit - added one more prophet to the ideological power, or, say, the enemy suffered activists to distant lands. Especially not encouraged me personally identity of good and evil. Heaven and Hell - twin brothers. Well, changed the colors, replaced the carrot sticks, renamed a couple of spells and buildings. Is that all? Why then do two campaigns, for good and for evil? AI does not shine in IQ, is obsessed with obsession - hand-carry a reasonable-good-forever (stupid-evil-momentary) in a village, not give up. Even if (with the filing of your instigators), the prophets will be there waiting for only painful death. And if the campaign, he somehow keeps from land originally granted, then the game with a random alignment of forces does not leave him no chance. Just start the promotion in the same hole and the divine power to move all the boobies on his place of trade face to his. Common diagnosis was not comforting: It is recommended as an atheist vaccinations to the victims of totalitarian sects. Hold on a fanatic for Heaven and Hell mesyatsok, you look out, instead of mumbling mantras: "There is no God, no God, no one would undertake such work." Happy one - no one has yet undertaken to localize this dubious theology.

EverQuest II: Desert of Flames

Author: Ilya «GM» Weiner
Source: Country Games № July 2006	19.04.2006

In a magical world it is time to leave. Good-bye the sleepless nights at the bench, head of the guild and notation opostylevshie skeletons. I'm going to the south! Rest, sunbathing, buy souvenirs, or even better - plundered. Under the magic carpet is endless sands and swim lazily roam the giant creatures. Hey, can I say - still small, there is below the 45 level and there is none. Gina because here only some desires are fulfilled - posthumously ...

Harvest Moon DS

Constantin «Wren» Govorun
	16.12.2006

In life in the village has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the merits - a herd of girls of marriageable age, fed on cow's milk doubles and millet porridge with pumpkin. In faults - everything else. At the protagonist Harvest Moon DS is no choice: it anyway went to live in dreary hut next to the cluttered debris field. Lake, plow, scythe, ax and a hammer in your teeth - and forth to work.

Mage Knight: Apocalypse

author: Alexander Trifonov
Source: Country Games № 20 2006	15.10.2006

Sooty and covered with potholes the carcass of the tank, snatching them out clouds of steam and snapping machine-gun fire, pushing last-minute logjams and crushing the bodies, slowly crept through the streets Silverholta to the main gate. The efforts of the defenders in vain: no golems kamikaze or grenades did not slow down the machine. And even the vaunted "Murder Room" has not stopped a mad invention of the dark dwarves: security turrets one by one turned into a pile of crumpled metal. Last, the most powerful shot from the turret guns - and the only remaining obstacle in the way of the besiegers fell. The fate of the city was sealed. Or not ...?

Grand Ages: Rome

Author: Andrew Okushko
Source: Country Games № August 2009	04.05.2009

Barbarians tremble at the mention of our names. Traitors to the Republic of the grease heel fat. But the good citizens of nothing threatens - we just harsh enemies. And, with its turn politely, in every way they please and indulge. What can you do - is mayor of a hard fate in ancient Rome.

Cooking Mama

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № March 2007	15.02.2007

Collection of mini-games on the DS is often wrapped in different wrappers: some go on big names, others invent something new. Found such that the game would undertake to teach them something. Or is it fiction? Cooking Mama is hardly a benefit for the person you dare to go to a cook, but as a master-class treatment with a stylus, it is even nothing.