Dark Colony
| Dark Colony | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | GameTek | ||
| Publisher |
 Strategic Simulations, Inc. Acclaim Entertainment
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| Erstveröffent- lichung |
August 31, 1997 September 2, 1997 |
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| platform | Windows , Mac OS | ||
| genre | Real time strategy game | ||
| Subject | Military science fiction , Mars colonization | ||
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer | ||
| control | Mouse , keyboard | ||
| system advantages preconditions |
Pentium 166 MHz, Windows 95 , 8x CD-ROM drive, 16 MB RAM , DirectX compatible graphics and sound card, 60 MB hard disk space | ||
| medium | CD-ROM | ||
| language | German English | ||
| Age rating |
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Dark Colony is a real-time strategy game released in 1997 by the US game developer studio GameTek (owned by Take 2 Interactive Software Europe in Europe ). It was distributed by Acclaim Entertainment and Strategic Simulations, Inc.
action
The action takes place in the year 2137. On Mars, mankind found a new, high-yield energy source in the form of the gas Petra-7 , which the overpopulated earth urgently needs. Then Mars was colonized and terraformed for over a hundred years . The atmosphere of Mars is breathable and it is partly overgrown with jungle and has fauna. A handful of large corporations, which cooperate together, were commissioned with the colonization. As the Mars project progresses, the hostile alien race of the Taar - known as the " gray " - suddenly appears on Mars. The Taar come from a declining world and have chosen Mars as their new home world and are now going to destroy the people there. The companies commissioned with the colonization of Mars mobilize their armed forces to face the alien invaders.
Game mechanics
The campaigns of Menschen and Taar are available to the player. For the real-time strategy, the player starts with just one basic building in the form of a five-sided platform, which can be expanded with other buildings such as factories and research laboratories, which is not typical for the genre. The attachments can be upgraded to produce more advanced units. As a money-making raw material, Petra-7 has to be mined and defended from geysers by means of refineries. The gas reserves are exhaustive.
Each side is entitled to a commander who is particularly strong in combat, can heal themselves and, among other things, give nearby troops a short-term bonus. Each side has mostly "mirrored units", which means that there is a corresponding counterpart in the enemy arsenal. While humans use ruffs , armored vehicles and bombers, the Taar units are made up of genetically bred war beasts. Their bases also consist of biotechnology. The armor and firepower of the units are upgradeable. In the game there is a change of day and night, in which humans have a combat advantage during the day, the aliens in turn at night. Ancient alien artifacts of a lost Martian culture can also be found on the map, which bring playful advantages.
The multiplayer mode is designed for up to eight players and AI opponents.
reception
Reviews in German PC game magazines:
extension
| Dark Colony: The Council Wars | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Sold-out software | ||
| Publisher | GameTek | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
January 8, 1998 | ||
| platform | Windows, Mac OS | ||
| genre | Real time strategy game | ||
| Subject | Military science fiction, Mars colonization | ||
| control | Mouse keyboard | ||
| medium | CD-ROM | ||
| language | German English | ||
| Age rating |
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On January 8, 1998, the expansion Dark Colony: The Council Wars by Sold-Out Software was released. It was distributed by GameTek. The add-on brings other missions.