Top Secret Magazine Dead Lock II

Some games don't look very good at first glance. In this age of state of the art 3D graphics, wizz band 3D audio and multiplayer games from hell, some games can get left behind. Deadlock is one such game. At first it looks confusing and the graphics look a little outdated but the addictive gameplay wins out.

You assume the role of the leader of your race of choice (I always picked human) and set out to conquer a world in the name of your people. The game plays much like Caesar but with more depth and excitement. Depending on how you play you could be on your way to glory or to a crushing defeat.You need good management skills, military planning and a bit of luck. The game is complex but not so complex that you get bored. The interface is not very easy to understand at first and it put me off. But after a few hours with the game I began to use it with ease. You control every aspect of your colony. From food production to the military and the arts. Keeping your population happy, well fed and out of harms way is taxing to say the least.

Stupid humans

THIS is your army?!

You play more of this game against yourself than you do against the bad guys. Controlling one small colony can be a chore, controlling 3 or 4 of them can be down right time-consuming.Thankfully the interface has a short cut mode that makes management a little easier.You will struggle at first just to keep your people alive and happy. You worry about taking over the planet later.The moves are all turn based so you have time to think out what your are going to do ahead of time so their is no panic. This allows you to take your time and think of your next move unlike a action strategy game.

The game has moody music and very odd voice acting. Some of it is quiet good but some of it sounds, well, silly. It can thankfully, but shut off.I found the game very speedy on my system but those with a slow CD may want to do the Maximum install to keep the CD access down. Later on in large games, the game does begin to slow down quite a but but not so much that it doesn't become playable.

All in all, this game has some potential and it is addictive. Try it and give it some time, you will be rewarded with a great game and a lot of lost hours.

Company:
Accolade
www.accolade.com

Category:
Strategy

NOTES:

Interest: 92%
Maniability :90%
Graphics: 93%
Sound : 92%
Originality : 95%

TOTAL : 93%

Requirements:

Operating System:
Windows 95/98

Processor:
Pentium 200MHz or better

Memory:
32 MB of RAM

Hard Drive:
70+

Sound Card:
Windows compatible sound card

Video:
2MB SVGA video card OR 3D card

Matthew Dussault

TSM'
CHOICE