Top 10 Strategy Games for a Lower-End PC

Not too long ago, I had this officemate who has not upgraded his PC to current-day standards. It doesn't even run on a Core Duo, neither does it have a top-of-the-line graphics card, nor does it have broadband access to the internet- a real basic workstation.

Now that I think about it, most homes with personal computers probably have the barest of the bare; after all, the typical consumer probably uses the PC for basic word processing, surfing, searching and email, and basic media playback. Out of those, I would estimate 25% would be using their PCs for more advanced functions (photo/video/audio editing, 24/7 downloading, etc.), and probably only half of that percentage would have top-of-the-line gaming gear.

Nevertheless, there are a lot of great classic games out there- games that are so well-made and well-designed, which can, even to this day, provide hours and hours of entertainment. Much more so if you play them over and over again.

Anyway, said officemate asked me to hook him up with a few good classic strategy games, so I rummaged through my old collection and came up with this list of recommended titles:

• Starcraft (1998).
• Jagged Alliance 2 (1999).
• Hostile Waters: Anteus Rising (2001).
• Tropico (2001).
• Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (1999).
• MechCommander (1998).
• Emperor: Battle for Dune (2001).
• Age of Mythology (2002).
  
• Freedom Force (2002).
• Master of Orion (1997).

Starcraft (1998).

To this day, Starcraft remains one of the best-selling titles for the PC of all time. And with good reason: when Blizzard came out with Starcraft, it raised the bar not just for real-time strategy (RTS) games, but for all games in general.

The game revolves around three species: the Terrans, the Zerg and the Protoss, and their ongoing conflict for dominance over the known universe. Each faction has its own pros and cons; in fact, the game has been praised for coming up with three totally different but balanced factions available for play.

Starcraft is top-notch in terms of production: it has a compelling storyline, user-friendly interface, memorable characters, and one of the most-well designed games you will ever lay your hands on.

Jagged Alliance 2 (1999).

This game remains as one of my personal favorites of all time. Who else ever thought of coming up with a good squad-based strategy game, where you can hire (and fire) mercenaries, buy weapons and have a great time wresting control of an island nation from the hands of a despotic dictator?

You lead your team of mercenaries and take over the country one city at a time- in the process, raising citizen militia of your own, and gaining more support (as well as funding) so that you can get better weapons, equipment, and even hire better mercenaries to aid your cause.

I have it installed on my PC to this day. At least until Jagged Alliance 3 comes out this year.

Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising (2001).

In the distant future, man has built the perfect utopian society. War was a thing of the past, at least until a cabal of old-school dictators decided to change the status quo.

Enter Antaeus- one of the last Carriers ever used in war. Equipped with powerful nano-robot creation engines, your job as commander is to take the Antaeus and bring the fight to the enemy- in a chain of island-fortresses where they are amassing their weapons of war.

As commander, you use the supercarrier Anteaus to build your own war machines: make choppers, hovercrafts and other vehicles, and plug in your pilots- stored personalities on special "soulcatcher" chips- and take on the enemy one island at a time. You can pilot these vehicles all on your own, or leave the driving (and the fighting) to one of your pilots- it's all up to you.

Tropico (2001).

Speaking of islands and dictators, how would you like to be a dictator of a third-world island nation?

Poptop Software came up with Tropico- the Carribean Island-building classic in 2001, where you get to play "El Presidente" and rule your island-country as you see fit: determine what kind of industries you want, provide housing for the people (or not, it's up to you!), sign laws and policies, control the media, curry favor with the church (or the communists- whoever you want!), even skim a few million to put away into your -ahem- retirement fund.

Whether you choose to bleed your country dry, or lead your island nation to a prosperous future is totally up to you.

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (1999).

Picking up from where Civilization II left off, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri allows you to play as one of seven fictitious Earth leaders out to colonize a brand new planet.

Firaxis came out with the game in 1999, and I have to say: for a game that came out almost 10 years ago, I have yet to see a 4X game (a strategy game where you explore your world, expand your territory, exploit resources and exterminate your enemy) that has just the right amount of depth and options for customization.

Also an added treat for me: the cutscenes that play whenever you complete a Secret Project. Great voice-acting, and tremendous replay value.

MechCommander (1998)

You want intense mech-on-mech action? MechCommander is the first ever MechWarrior game of tactical command. Set in the BattleTech Universe, it's one of the first games that lets you concentrate on a fixed number of units at the start of a mission, and you gain more Resource Points (RPs) as you accomplish specific mission objectives.

It's really more of a squad-based strategy game than a traditional 4X RTS. You decide which mechwarriors to take with you to a mission, which mechs they get to take with them, and even what kind of weaponry you want on your mechs: Long-range missiles? Particle projectile cannons? Heavy lasers? It's your unit- just bring em all back in one piece!

Emperor: Battle for Dune (2001).

From the same guys that gave you Command & Conquer- here's an RTS game set in the Dune Universe.

Play as one of the three great houses: Atreides, Ordos or Harkonnen. Watch out for those massive sandworms that can eat entire armies whole, run over infantry with your harvesters, and choose your allies among the other unaligned factions- The House of Ix, The Imperial Sardaukar, The Tleilaxu, The Spacing Guild and The Fremen.

Great RTS gaming whether you're a Dune fan or not- this game will at least get you interested in Frank Herbert's literary masterpiece. The Spice must flow!

Age of Mythology (2002).

Here's another bestseller from Ensemble Studios: Age of Mythology- a great RTS game which brings into play elements of Greek, Egyptian and Norse Mythology.

You play the role of Arkantos, an Atlantean admiral, on the trail of an evil cyclops named Gargarensis who managed to turn Poseidon against Atlantis. Your hunt for the villain eventually takes you through Greek, Egyptian and Norse lands, as you enlist the aid of powerful units- centaurian archers, huge axe-wielding minotaurs, mighty sphinxes, lumbering mummies, noble valkyries and packs of Fenris wolves to defeat your opponent.

Gain favor with the powers-that-be, and call upon the powers of the gods to bolster your army or smite your enemy- but remember, your opponent can pray to his gods to work against you as well!

Freedom Force (2002).

Wanna play superhero for a change? Freedom Force by Irrational Games provides a welcome change of atmosphere as far as strategy games go.

Lead a team of Silver Age-inspired superheroes fight criminal elements as well as super-powered villains in Patriot City. Build them up and unlock new powers, or you can even make your own superhero. Pokes fun at the campy superhero shows and comics from the 60's and 70's, but has some really intense and immersive gameplay elements.

The game has been so popular that complete DC and Marvel mods (in addition to regular fan-made mods) are available for downloading online.

Freedom Force is real fun to play- at least when DC and Marvel come up with their respective MMORPG's in the near future.

Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares (1996).

Why rule the world when you can rule the universe instead? Master of Orion II allows you to play an alien civilization (or human, or you can go ahead and make your own) and pit yourself against other alien civilizations to rule the known universe.

Colonize planets as you explore the galaxy, build up your colonies, research new technologies, and design your own battlecruisers and pit your fleet against the enemy's. Or you can go all diplomatic and pursue trade and research treaties. Eventually, the Antarans come raiding, picking out colonies at random, at least until you take the fight to them.

You think your new Death Star can handle those Antarans? Let's test the new Stellar Converter on that hapless planet over there...

What other classic strategy games can you recommend for a low-tech gaming rig?

Cheers everyone!