Deadlock: Planetary Conquest

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: 1996
• Genre: Strategy
• Style: Empire-Building
• Similar Games: Deadlock II: Shrine Wars (IBM PC Compatible), Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Deadlock: Planetary Conquest is an empire-building game that features both single and multi-player formats. As the player, you can choose to represent the human contingent in this planetary free-for-all or you can opt to be one of six alien races. In either case, you'll compete against the other six opponents for supremacy of rule and the right to colonize a single, resource-laden planet, Gallius IV.

You and each of the other races land a single contingent of only five hundred colonists on the surface, with laser pistols as the only weapon. Then, using all the tools of the management trade, establish mines, power plants, farms, factories, military might and more to secure the planet as the home world for your species. With food, energy, iron and wood as available resources, you must beat the other colonies in the race for survival of the fittest.

Two main avenues of victory are possible: win through superior economic prowess by building a pre-determined number of City Centers quicker than your opponents or win by sheer military might, with a war machine your colony builds to drive the other races off the planet.

Exploration, growth, exploitation of resources and your opponents' weaknesses, cultural or economic domination and the capacity to get the most out of your particular race's strengths and unique abilities will enable you to end the Deadlock on Gallius IV.

Review: Overall

Deadlock: Planetary Conquest is an interesting, yet simplistic world domination game. In the beginning, you choose one of the six races and launch a colony ship onto the planet Gallius IV. The races you do not choose will do the same and from that point on anything can happen. Your basic objective is to build up your colony and expand your technology while keeping close relations with or destroying the other five races. When you do this, the planet is yours to keep.

As each race differs in strengths and weaknesses, the growth of your colony will be affected commensurate with the race you choose to command. For example, the ChCh-T can produce colonists at a very fast rate and steal resources. To balance this out, they cannot produce very effective or strong units because of their poor research technology. The Maug are known for having great research facilities and scientists but, since their public relations are so poor, their citizens often revolt and try to take over the government. Each one will provide you with a set of challenges and obstacles to overcome, a necessity in resource management games.

Regardless of which race you pick, you will then have to start mining for resources (iron, wood, energy and food) and researching new technology. New technology leads to better establishments for your colony and improvements to your attacking and defending units. Some races are dependent on a certain type of resource and are more prone to gather it than others. At times, you'll have difficulty finding the resources you need and this leads to either diplomacy or war.

This is basically the game in a nutshell. You continue to build up your units and resources until you're powerful enough to rule the planet. In order to win the game, you either have to eliminate every other alien race on the planet or overpower and subjugate them. The method you follow is entirely up to you and the strategy you choose. You can try to sabotage other colonies by spying on them and stealing information or you can try to build up a massive army and wipe them off the planet.

Some may argue this simplicity detracts from the overall experience of the game, but it doesn't. Deadlock is a nice diversion from the other world domination games on the market. Some are just far too advanced and complex whereas this one has a nice pace and rarely feels overburdening. If you're tired of games that are far too serious to be enjoyable, try your hand at Deadlock: Planetary Conquest.

Review: Enjoyment

Oddly enough, because of its simplicity Deadlock is a very fun game from start to finish.

Review: Graphics

Each unit is represented by a sprite-based character. Some tend to be a bit pixilated while others look very good. The isometric view of the planet works well here and the terrain is nicely detailed.

Review: Sound

The sci-fi soundtrack is well done and all of the unit sounds are intact.

Review: Replay Value

There are six races to choose from, each with their own method of playability. The result is ultimately the same, but it's worth playing with some of the different races. Also, the multiplayer support is solid.

Review: Documentation

The instruction manual is well written with history and weaknesses of each race. There's also a technology chart that helps you know what you need in order to upgrade your units and structures.

Production Credits

---

Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Game Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.

---