Pandora: First Contact

1. AndreasN

   Jan 25, 2014

   9

   As a long term strategy fan I've bought the game around Christmas and played it quite extensively over the last weeks. I've to admit the gameAs a long term strategy fan I've bought the game around Christmas and played it quite extensively over the last weeks. I've to admit the game has really grown on me, not only does it seem very polished, but the devs (a small indie team) also post a lot and keep releasing updates based on player feedback.
   
   While there are a lot of similarities to Alpha Centauri (one of my all-time favorites), it's definitely not a copy since quite a few mechanics work differently (random research tree, operations, global resource pool, etc.). What I miss the most from SMAC are the awesome secret project videos (anyone remember The Ascetic Virtues?) which brought the faction leaders to life and made it truly epic. However, considering this is an indie production I guess it's kinda expected, and at least the Pandora leaders have long background stories and dialogue.
   
   I also had some pretty cool matches in multi-player against my brother, even on large maps with several AIs the turns go surprisingly fast compared to Civ 5 (not sure what's the reason for that). The AI seems fairly competent compared to other games (it does some flanking/hidden attacks and uses operations), but nothing special. Especially later in the game you can do some really evil things with operations (e.g. drop units and bombard cities), and I remember a funny moment where I was racing against my brother for a Leviathan kill (massive alien unit that provides a combat bonus to all your units when killed) and I snatched it away with a nuke which had recharged just in time.
   
   Anyway, overall I'd say the game isn't as good as it could have been, but I definitely had a good time and can recommend it to other strategy fans. If the devs keep working on it, it can become one of my favorites.… Expand

   • 10 of 15 users found this helpful
2. Jinzor

   Jun 3, 2014

   9

   To all turn-based strategy, 4x lovers (such as myself), I highly recommend this game. It's the best thing out before the release of SidTo all turn-based strategy, 4x lovers (such as myself), I highly recommend this game. It's the best thing out before the release of Sid Meier's: Beyond Earth.
   
   Anyone who is wondering what this game is like, I'll give you a brief idea on what it is like by saying that it feels like Civilization V with a few major differences, such as:
   
   1. Random tech trees for each faction - you also discover new technologies after every era you pass through, to give a sense of wonder of the future
   
   2. Unit stacks - infinite number of units per tile; like Civilization IV's stacks of death. The game has actually balanced it so that attacking with stacks is less beneficial; bombardments hurt all units within a stack, flanking (putting units next to each other in separate tiles) gives an attack/defensive bonus.
   
   3. Customisable units - yes, you have a unit workshop and can fit different weapons/bonuses/abilities on them. There are a lot of different chassis to research (e.g. infantry, fast-attack vehicle, tank, watercraft, and more).
   
   4. Planet wildlife - at the beginning of the game, they are not hostile. However, the wildlife can get more and more aggressive if factions fight against them, or produce a lot of pollution. They may then become the equivalant of barbarians, or even worse (if aggressive enough, they can launch a full-scale invasion on humans, threatening everyone. It could prove to be a good tactic, for militaristic players, to annoy the local wildlife so that peaceful players are threatened with annihilation). There are multiple types of wildlife, ranging from practically harmless little xenomorph drones to gigantic aquatic monstrosities.
   
   5. City management - it works something like this; morale (happiness) is local, rather than national. Local morale has an affect on local growth, and local growth depends on whether or not you have enough food stockpiled (food pool is national). Growth is also affected by habitual space; if you don't have enough space, migration to other cities (ones which have more habitual space) will occur. Production requires minerals (also stockpiled nationally). If you run out of minerals, production will be hindered but not stopped completely. Science is gathered normally (1 scientist = +1 science). There are buildings, natural resources and tile improvements which produce percentage increases and/or a small increase in that stat. You can also move your citizen's roles (there are four roles; farmer (food resource collector), miner (mineral resource collector), worker (city producer) and scientist (science producer)) around manually, and they will automatically go to the highest yielding tile. There are other factors as well (such as wars, pollution etc), but that's just the gist of it.
   
   6. Alien invasion - around turn 200 (normal pace), an alien force (size depends on how difficult you set difficulty level/alien aggression level) invades the planet and the world has to rally together to fight them off. It's a nice twist and a breath of fresh air, especially if the local wildlife is almost extinct by that time or if you have been playing a peaceful up until that time.
   
   In addition, the game's presentation is very nice (introduction video, graphics, artwork, quote voice overs), soundtrack is great, UI is intuitive and smooth, optimisation is smooth as well; never lags or crashes (runs a lot better than Civilization V). The game is, amazingly, roughly 500MB, so it's a very fast download.
   
   What can I say which is bad about the game? Well, currently, the game has more focus on combat than Civilization. The game still needs, in my opinion, to add more content which aligns the player to a more non-combat style of gameplay (e.g. something similar to culture with wonders). There are multiple victory conditions other than conquest, such as economic and research victories, but it'd be nice to have more. There is also no indication of how far ahead you are when compared with your opponents, until the last few turns before your, or your opponent's, imminent victory, warning the player.
   
   The good news is that the developers have pledged to add more content to Pandora: First Contact, maybe in the form of expansions, if it proves to be successful. So far I think the game has been successful, hence the Steam release (the game was released months before Steam).
   
   For people hoping this to be the next Alpha Centauri, I wouldn't get your hopes too high. The game is good, and it is very similar to AC in some respects, but it's not exactly the same (e.g. no mind worms). Judge it for what it is. I played a lot of AC back in the day, and I thoroughly enjoy this game for what it is.
   
   If you're still not convinced, or somewhat unsure whether or not to pay for the full price of £22 or $36, just wait for the eventual sale. I'd definitely call you a madman for not getting it then.… Expand

   • 8 of 10 users found this helpful
4. Nemund

   Jun 2, 2014

   8

   Enjoyable game, not a 'perfect' game, but still very good, Graphics style is clear. Research ages are nice, good pedia to describe in gameEnjoyable game, not a 'perfect' game, but still very good, Graphics style is clear. Research ages are nice, good pedia to describe in game things. Resource gathering is smooth, with the ability to harvest more distant resources via builder units, and promotes a good balance between the area's. Alien life is challenging with two stages of alien life, so once the first becomes easy the second will be a challenge again. And all this without even fighting another nation, so if you add that into the mix you have a real struggle on your hands at times. Diplomacy feels like it works well.
   All in all, a very solid game.… Expand

   • 4 of 6 users found this helpful
5. ave

   Dec 23, 2017

   6

   Pandora : First Contact was on my wishlist for a long time, and it was a pleasant surprise.
   
   It took me a while to figure out how thePandora : First Contact was on my wishlist for a long time, and it was a pleasant surprise.
   
   It took me a while to figure out how the underlying system works (since there is no manual) and test different strategies, with different factions. This systemic exploration was fun and my first military and scientifc victory really felt great.
   
   Unfortunately, even if I find the micro-management of units and cities during the early game is really engaging, past the Messari invasion, most of the progression is mostly "+ something" or "+ %" hitting "End turn" many times because I don't have to move units anymore, cities are on autopilot and everything works as planned.
   
   So after 100 h I can see this game as a nice 1 to 2h engaging early game trying to beat you own achievement, but not that rewarding during the mid and end game (that's personal). And raising difficulty will just give the IA more potency, but won't make it "smarter" actually.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. titannet

   Feb 12, 2014

   6

   The game is a remake of Alpha Centauri in all but name. Unfortunately the only thing it does besser are the graphics. As for the rest it holdsThe game is a remake of Alpha Centauri in all but name. Unfortunately the only thing it does besser are the graphics. As for the rest it holds its ground on the first 100 turns but looses very fast afterwars.
   
   AI? -> Good at colonizing but completely sucks at warfare
   Warfare -> Did they even test this?
   Technologies -> Playing the numbers game of +1, +2, +3 and so on techs with little innovation
   The Planet -> After a huge part in Alpha Centauri it only gets a minor role for the first 50 turns in Pandora
   
   But I also don't want to judge too harshly. Pandora is not a bad game. If they could patch the AI to actually fight wars instead of putting all units into the city closest to the border (seriously!) it could actually become quite good.
   
   But to match Alpha Centauri? Not by a long shot.… Expand

   • 6 of 9 users found this helpful
7. Junuxx

   Jul 14, 2014

   5

   Overall, a soulless and bland rehash of Alpha Centauri that won't last nearly as long. I did like the gameplay innovations like a worker onlyOverall, a soulless and bland rehash of Alpha Centauri that won't last nearly as long. I did like the gameplay innovations like a worker only harvesting a single yield type from a tile, and global resource stockpiles; these were surprisingly fun and sensible deviations from the Civ standards and made the game as a whole more interesting. I also liked the initial struggle against native life, but it becomes irrelevant pretty soon, even with the expansion and even on the hardest setting.
   
   Artwork like the unit models and leader portraits get old really fast. The story is very lame, the leader backgrounds are exaggerated and annoying stereotypes. While this game directly copies the personalities of Alpha Centauri's faction leaders, it changes two non-white leaders to Caucasians (Morgan→Preston and Santiago→Heid), and drops another non-white (Lal). For such a similar game, this change from 3/7 to 5/6 white characters is very obvious, and I can't think of any excuse for this other than blatant racism on the part of the devs.
   
   Finally, victory was unrewarding and lacking. No end game cinematic, no replay, not even a high score table to make my playthrough memorable. Entertaining for maybe one or two games, but too empty and disappointing to have real replay value.… Expand

   • 2 of 2 users found this helpful
8. WellWellWell45

   Dec 15, 2017

   3

   I bought this game with such hope and excitement, only to quickly relise that the replay ability is lacking, the tech tree is the mostI bought this game with such hope and excitement, only to quickly relise that the replay ability is lacking, the tech tree is the most confusing thing i have ever seen and is not helpful at all, and that the game play is weak later on in game.
   
   If you want a game like this then go buy Sid Meirs Beyond Earth, it is better in every way, encounters are interesting, game play is varied throughout and i thoroughly loved that game.
   
   This game was so unmemorable that when beyond earth came out i completely forgot i had it. I know that a lot of time was put into this game and i hate to just slander it like this but it is just a bad game, and it is definitiy not worth any money.
   
   Please look at reviews before you buy this game as i regret my purchase.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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