Help me decide what game to get

[BigCat]

Hi folks. I'm thinking of getting a new game for my laptop, but I no longer have the time to follow the news about what's out and what's good. Can you make any suggestions for things I should look at? I'd be interested in exploration/building/strategy games as well as any good rpgs.

Stuff I liked: the Civilization series, Master of Orion 2, the fully patched ToEE. I'd love to have a sci-fi version of Civ or ToEE.
Stuff I don't like: real time games or anything else that depends on fast-twich reflexes. I suppose real time with a pause button would be ok. MMO stuff is not at all appealing, although something I could play hotseat would be good. I rarely am able to play for more than 2 hours at a time.
My laptop: Gateway M460 running XP2, 1.5 GHz, 1 GB RAM, ATI Radeon X600. Upgrading is not really an option.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

The games you mention should have no problem running on your laptop. I've got Moo2 and CivII: Test of Time runiing on my computer right now. My processor is 2.52 GHz. The only abnormality you will have is the combat mode for MOO2, the scrolling will be lightning fast.

Both excellent games, both highly recommended.

 

[Thanee]

Spellforce 2 (it's realtime, though, but not too hectic).

All-in-one - exploration, building, strategy and RPG.

Note: I have only played Spellforce 1, but tests say that Spellforce 2 is a great successor.

Bye
Thanee

 

[BigCat]

The games you mention should have no problem running on your laptop. I've got Moo2 and CivII: Test of Time runiing on my computer right now. My processor is 2.52 GHz. The only abnormality you will have is the combat mode for MOO2, the scrolling will be lightning fast.

Both excellent games, both highly recommended.

Yep, I've got all of them and they all run fast. Any similar games that I should look at?

 

[CarlZog]

I'd love to have a sci-fi version of Civ or ToEE.

The sci-fi version of Civ is called Alpha Centauri, also by Sid Meier.

Others along the same lines you might like are:

Europa Univeralis series, if you've never played either of them. Civ-style game based in real, historical Europe. Gorgeous interface.

Patrician II, if you can find a copy. Trading game set in the Hanseatic League. Very good.

 

[trancejeremy]

You might try Galactic Civilzations II. It's sort of a combination of Master of Orion and Civilization (actually more like Ascendancy than anything else). (And although his name is on it, Alpha Centauri is by Brian Reynolds, not Sid Meier)

 

[cybertalus]

I recently picked up the original Galactic Civilizations for $9.99 at Target. I was a pretty big fan of Civ II and Master of Orion I, and I'm enjoying Gal Civ so far. There's a playbale demo for download at their website.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Pax Imperia is an oldie but a goodie as well!