Allegiance has been in development for so long that you would think the whole project had been buried. Although looking at the large scale of genres this game covers, one can easily guess why it took them such a long time to release. Microsoft's latest game title is a space combat sim, where you get to fly ships or gun turrets. Oh no, I am sorry. Its actually a real time strategy set in space, where you gather resources and upgrade your weapons and ships in order to take over the universe. Ouch! I am wrong again. This product is a multiplayer game in which you can either choose to command a campaign or become a pilot. Confused? So am I, but lets me try to wrap this up for you. Allegiance is all of the mentioned genres combined into a successful game title which mixes action, real time strategy, and multiplayer game play.
Game Play 10/10
If you do not like playing online games, stop reading this review now and go on to other games. The best way to play it is through Microsoft's Zone. Don't worry, you get a 1 month free subscription with the box, and you can choose to discontinue if you don't want to pay for it after that. The start up is simple. You select a team and poof, you are inside a cockpit. You can either choose to play in one of the many deathmatch modes, or go into an all-out war and try to take the universe from the other team. Best part of Allegiance is that it is a mix of space combat and strategy. If you wish, you can be a gunner in one of the turrets of a capital ship, blowing some sorry lads off of the sky. Flying a war ship is my favorite part in the game. Moreover, you can choose to be a star base commander, giving out orders to human pilots back from your home. Oh yeah, don't get surprised when someone doesn't obey your orders. These aren't some stupid computer generated units, they are actual humans.
Innovation 10/10
This game is too much fun for words. If you are into online games, than you must go out and try Allegiance. The experience has no equal. The overall campaign setting makes you feel like a part of a war, unlike Quake or Unreal where strategic planning is hardly ever required. Games like this have been tried out before, but never with the same success as Allegiance. Microsoft has really done it right this time. (gush, I hope my stock goes up thanks to this review:>)
Graphics 9/10
For an online game, Allegiance has more eye candy to offer then any other. Explosions look sweet, with debris scattering in all directions after a ship blows up. Damaged ships drizzle and emit strange electrical charges, indicating their need for repairs. The usual dark, empty space looks very colorful here, black holes and planets visible in the far away distance. Nevertheless, its graphics aren't quite as good as other space combat titles, but for an online game it has no equal.
Story Line 9/10
The story line here is highly reminiscent of Alpha Centari. Earth blows up into ragged scraps because of a meteor, leaving out a human race that is not so eager to get along with each other. The remnants of earth are divided into 3 different sanctions: Iron Coalition, GigaCorp, and the Bios Faction. Each sanction have their own specialties. For example, Bios Faction works on genetic engineering and builds stealth ships. As you may have expected, peace is nothing but a far away myth between the humans. Each race battles each other in order to accomplish the ultimate goal -- becoming the ruler of the entire universe (or get a whole bunch of frags).
Conclusion 9.5/10
If you like space sims, or if you like real time strategy, than this is the game for you. The fact that all the ships you just gave orders to are actual people is simply outstanding. And there is also the mindless task of flying your ship around to score some kills, so the entire package offers enough variety to satisfy all. Chilling...and a definite must have.
This NEW boxed Allegiance for Windows 95/98 by Microsoft from 2000 is still factory sealed.The scanned picture in this listing is the actual item you ...More at eBay
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