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Master of Orion 3 Image

Master of Orion 3 (PC)

Release Date:
64
Metascore
 24 reviews
4.2
User Score
 79 ratings

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Developer: Quicksilver Software
Publisher: Atari Infogrames Atari SA
Game Details: On Master of Orion 3, you become the controlling force behind an entire galactic civilization. It is
On Master of Orion 3, you become the controlling force behind an entire galactic civilization. It is not enough to be an able economist or a great captain to succeed; political, administrative, and espionage skills must be applied to craft your civilization's glorious chapter in the annals of time and space and claim the rightful title of "Master of Orion".
Developer: Quicksilver Software
Publisher: Atari Infogrames Atari SA
Genre(s): Strategy Turn-Based Sci-Fi 4X
Number of players: No Online Multiplayer
Cheats: On GameFAQs
Rating: T
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Critic Reviews
(24)
64
Metascore Mixed or average reviews
8 Positive Ratings 33%
12 Mixed Ratings 50%
4 Negative Ratings 16%
Based on 24 Critic Reviews View All
100
Cincinnati Enquirer
"A perfect pick for those who prefer strategy over action." ... Read full review
81
netjak
"A game just waiting to be discovered. It does have its problems even beyond those involved in learning to play it, but they are minor in the grand scheme of things and, for lovers of the genre, it is the grand scheme that Master of Orion 3 captures best."
79
Gamezilla!
"One glaring problem is the 165 page manual. While holding an interesting background storyline for the game, material inside is poorly organized and not extremely helpful." ... Read full review
60
Game Over Online
"The computer AI is just a mess, and for a game that is mostly about interaction with alien races, to have all those races behave like mental patients, isn’t as much fun as it’s cracked up to be." ... Read full review
60
Adrenaline Vault
"The elements for a great game are present, but the focus and execution of those elements is not." ... Read full review
50
All Game Guide
"In spite of Master of Orion 3's countless detail-oriented improvements, connoisseurs of the series may also find themselves pining for the personality of the earlier games, wishing to trade some of the new intricacy and erudition for a better sense of interaction and consequence." ... Read full review
10
GMR Magazine
"Then there's the weak, arbitrary enemy A.I., the impenetrable interface, and the absurdly incomplete documentation. [June 2003, p.70]"
User Reviews
(43)
4.2
User Score Generally unfavorable reviews
19 Positive Ratings 24%
15 Mixed Ratings 18%
45 Negative Ratings 56%
Based on 79 Ratings and 43 Reviews View All
10
kingj0n
May 23, 2015
I've played every MoO to date. I've started sneaking on my dad's PC when I was a child just to play MoO. Then played MoO II. I loved thoseI've played every MoO to date. I've started sneaking on my dad's PC when I was a child just to play MoO. Then played MoO II. I loved those games.

Once I heard MoO III was coming out, I bought it once it went on the shelves.
Right out of the box, I was able to play just fine.
As with many "complicated" games, I just start the game and try to learn as I go.

I've learned all there was needed to know as I played. Then the game became very enjoyable for me. I read that many people thought it was so overly complicating and gave this game a poor review.

The thing is, you can let the AI do it, or you do it. People complain that the AI does it all. THing is, you can do it yourself. But now, it's sooo overly complicated to those people. For me, it was not that complicated. It was easy to manage and didn't take much time. You do not need to stay on your planet for hours. Just play the game....

The game is very similar to MoO II. If you loved MoO II, you should love this. However, if you're slow, you might not enjoy it and join the bandwagon as the rest of the people.

It doesn't take much to know what to do and be efficient with it.
The combat is fun, the ship building is fun. The UI isn't bad and the graphics are okay for this kind of game.

There's no other game like it. Many 4x space games don't even allow you to space battle. Which is very off putting. Other 4x games are extremely boring and too easy. Like all Civ games.

I really wish there was an updated MoO game. But, the only thing similar is Star Drive II.
But that game isn't as good as any MoO game.

I give each MoO game a 10. Nothing compares to any of them.… Expand
9
Adanu
Feb 27, 2014
just 4 at start it was unplayable, but now 9 with patch/modes. Good game but on real time battle suxx. I spending many time playing it, in notjust 4 at start it was unplayable, but now 9 with patch/modes. Good game but on real time battle suxx. I spending many time playing it, in not so good like 2-nd part, but newer.… Expand
8
NikolaN.
Apr 13, 2004
After one year, I can say that this game is more complex that it looks at first glance. If you choose right difficulty level and BIG system, After one year, I can say that this game is more complex that it looks at first glance. If you choose right difficulty level and BIG system, you will see that AI is not that bad as it seems, and automatic micromanagment is real helper after some 200 turns...… Expand
3
ScottL.
Apr 8, 2003
They tried to take out all the micromanagement in Moo3 to mke it a better multiplayer experience. They also took out the feeling thsat your They tried to take out all the micromanagement in Moo3 to mke it a better multiplayer experience. They also took out the feeling thsat your actually involved in doing anything. Ship to Ship combat, although as uninteresting as anything in teh game at least tried to be realistic and in truth wasn't all that bad but very little else in the game is worthwhile. Can anyone just take the combat from Moo3 Not the ground combat which was festooned with useless options) and update Moo2 with it.… Expand
2
RyanS.
Sep 25, 2006
Just not fun. The interface is unimaginably complex, and while you start off fairly well, understanding most of it, you'll soon be Just not fun. The interface is unimaginably complex, and while you start off fairly well, understanding most of it, you'll soon be utterly lost, trying to remember to give a hundred different commands before you hit the next turn button. And the manual is glaringly flawed.… Expand
1
JasonL.
May 6, 2003
Waste of 45 dollars. worst game of the year. Trust me.
0
Ender
Mar 16, 2003
I dunno... maybe i missed something. i thought i was gonna be playing a high tech game. Was expecting some decent graphics. (Mind you,I dunno... maybe i missed something. i thought i was gonna be playing a high tech game. Was expecting some decent graphics. (Mind you, i've never played any other MOO games) what i was faced with was menus... menus menus menus... there was absolutely NO motion whatsoever. Their idea of graphics is a totally low budget screen that looks like something from the pre-commodore 64 era.… Expand
User Reviews