Legions is an ignored war/strategy game from Mindscape, designed for Windows 3.1.
Its a simple and unique strategy game, but has some serious flaws with it. For starters, although it runs in Windows 95/98, the age of the game shows, as the graphics are simple and you move around the map with the scroll bars, and ONLY those bars. The main objective of the game is to pick a nation and conquer the world with it. You can select from a number of historical or random situations, from 1200 BC to 800 AD. Each turn, you can manage your economy (deciding what to buy or sell, although your advisor takes care of the critical needs of food and supplies), build military units, handle diplomacy, and move your units. Each nation also has an 'elite' unit that includes the ruler. This unit is very powerful in battle, but if it is destroyed, your ruler is killed. Here's where one of the unique ideas comes into play, though -- you automaticaly get a heir to continue the game as long as you still have a major city. To destroy another civilization, you need to take all their major cities AND kill their ruler(s). Also unqiue is the fantasic help menus in the game (with easy to understand information) and the great history sections in the manual. More games should have this! Plus, your nation needs to have a strong economic infastructure to support your military, since your towns/cities supply your economy, and supplies are needed to keep your units in the field. Without a strong economy, you will be forced to disband units and can not buy materials to build more. This is a feature more strategy games should have.
It's also quite easy to learn how to play. However, after playing the game for a bit, the flaws come to the surface. In a nutshell, the game is too SIMPLE. Comabt is handled abstractly, by selecting a tactic when you engage enemy units. You have no control over your cities/towns and can only move military units. Diplomatic options are limited, the AI is horrible, and even at the highest difficulty levels the game is easy to win once you know what you are doing. It will keep you amused for a while, but does'nt have the gripping 'one more turn' feature. Players who are starting out with war/strategy games and/or looking for a game set in the ancient world will enjoy this, for a while. Everyone else is advised to stear clear.
Review By HOTUD
Comments and reviews
Any advice on how to get this package to run on Windows 8?
Can this work on modern windows I loved this game way back when.
Loved this game when I was in Junior High. Pre-internet used to set this game up with 5-6 friend who would Magic the Gathering and Hero Quest in the next room as everyone took their turns. Graphics were basic, but the level of strategy that one could employ and the amount of historical research that went into its design makes me wish this one would get re-released. Two of the best features were the interactive Economy that allowed you to drive up prices on items that affected nearly all players, and the fact that it took a full turn for a message to arrive to another player and you could type in whatever you wanted into the message. The amount of diplomacy going on nearly ruined all my friendships! Want to play it again!
ITS BAAAAD
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.