Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy Critic Reviews

A gem of an expansion for a jewel of a game. It improves upon the original without rethinking it too much. The basic mechanics are maintained and the improvements serve to make the game more playable.

Until the sequel arrives, however, we now have even more GalCiv goodness, adding more addictiveness and content to an already insanely addictive game.

For twenty bucks, this is a great deal for fans of Galactic Civilizations. It doesn't really add much to the game mechanic, but the added content definitely extends the live of the original and makes a nice way to pass the time until "Galactic Civilizations II" is released.

The story of this expansion may, at first glance, appear to be relatively brief, but what this expansion brings to the series on a whole is a solid online resource, and editors that will give players tremendous freedom in creating their own scenarios and campaigns.

The replay on this game, much like other games of this ilk, is huge.

The editors alone are worth the cost, but what really sells it is the community. That’s right, the community. This is exactly the type of tools which can infuse a game community with drive and passion.

If you buy Altarian Prophecy to play the new campaign you’ll be happy with it, but otherwise don’t expect major enhancements to Galactic Civilizations from this expansion.

You’ll find yourself playing involved games over a period of months rather than days, as you come and go from the computer. On more than one occasion, my wife has asked me why the GalCiv icon is always displayed on my task bar.

If you were a fan of the original game you’ll enjoy this expansion, especially if the idea of creating custom missions appeals to you.

The real bonus here is the campaign editor, which allows for the creation of linked campaigns.

True multiplayer support could've nudged this expansion over the top, but as it is, it's mostly a tinker tool and not for those seeking substantial new content.