Expand, explore, exterminate!
The original Deadlock was a decent enough entry into the science fiction 4X genre, something like Master of Orion but perhaps not up to that classic's standards. This follow up is pretty much on the same level as its predecessor and is just as interesting but the biggest disappointment is that it's almost the same game again, with very little in the way of new elements. Once again, you find yourself in control of one of several alien races, stuck in a state of war on a single planet. As is typical for the genre, your choice of race depends on how you want to play, with certain species better at combat or politics for example. Once you've picked your race, it's then time to start expanding your territory, creating places for citizens, factories for constructing machines of war and so on. Of course, you're soon going to come into direct conflict with the other races, which is where combat comes in, while there are also political and diplomatic elements which also need careful consideration. If this all sounds familiar, well, it's because this is pretty much the same as every other game in the genre. However, if you can get past the lack of originality, there's a solid game here, with some decently executed mechanics that might veer a little too much of the side of micromanagement for some players, but which are generally sound. The visuals and audio are nothing special but do the job well enough, with some reasonably detailed environments and units. Overall, this makes for a solid if unspectacular addition to a crowded genre and which is worth adding to your collection if you're a fan.
