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Very Bad Game!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 10
Date: April 12, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is very awful. I never got past the first level because the (1) enemy fighter was to fast and I kept on accidentaly firing at my own ships. The graphics are horible to.

A Misguided, 'Star Wars' Copy With Little Value

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 8
Date: January 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am just as aware as anyone that people do not base their opinions of popular videogames on intelligent scripting, intelligent plot, intelligent substance, and intelligent thinking, so no one has to remind me. If they did, this "Colony Wars" never would've left a single draft.

First of all, I too respect the abilities of developers of Psygnosis as much as anybody, and I would like to describe that respect, but I feel I have to say my piece about this game and come to my point.

There isn't a single idea in this game that isn't founded on generic thinking, the thievery of other games, and on movie cliche's. There isn't one single idea based in science fiction, unlike its other competitor, "Darklight Conflict," the true hero here, a little-known and original game released by Electronic Arts (EA) before "Colony Wars" was conceived. "Darklight Conflict" was a space-shooter, and the gameplay idea for "Colony Wars" merely replicated that game.

Here's the story of "Colony Wars": "You are a militant fighter pilot in space on the side of the rebel alliance who is trying to force the evil Emporer to his senses by shooting up his armies," or so says the narrational voice of an actor that sounds exactly just like James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader) during the full-motion videos (FMVs) which were made by the same company who did special effects for "Independence Day." Sounds like a direct, word-for-word copy of the plot of "Star Wars."

Here're the ideas of "Colony Wars": Large firey explosions even if they don't really exist in space because fire needs oxygen to exist and space has no atmosphere. Black holes even if they don't exist as large red whirlpools in the middle of space backgrounds because their gravity is so intense, light cannot escape. Spaceships even though they don't have wings like planes because there is no atmospheric friction to enable control using aero parts. Also, they don't make loud rumbling noises when they pass by the camera lense because sound needs atmosphere. Here, you get a future of imperialistic humans warring over the colonization and liquidation of the rest of the planetary systems in the universe for purposes of natural resources. The mission and battle drill instruction voice is male, but it is okay for a female to narrate if limited to talking about other subjects like the options menus. "Space cowboys" does not make science fiction, only unoriginal action games captivating non-thinkers.

Here's the story of EA's "Darklight Conflict": You are a Top Gun pilot in the middle of a dogfight when suddenly a beam of light surrounds you. When you awake, you are in a completely foreign environment. You realize your arms and legs have been replaced with some kind of tentacles that are biologically grafted to what appears as the console of a space vehicle. A voice speaks in English to you, but it is not the voice of any human. You have been inducted into the army of an alien race in the midst of interplanetary war to help defend their losing side, which is why they recruited you with your expert fighter pilot experience. Their vessels are signified by a symbol, a four-fingered hand. At first, you will begin with training. The small fighterships are oval, with fins protruding from what could be their sides. The weaponry is a variety involving weird plasma cannons. Your ship uses an electromagnetic field to shield itself, but it consumes a great deal of energy. You venture through the wormhole warps, and should carefully avoid the radiation waves that usurp your vessel energy during the travel.

Even the name "Darklight Conflict" is science fiction. I could connect some of the premise of the game with the old sci-fi film "This Island Earth", but not much of its premise. In that movie, a group of scientists are helping an alien race that appear about human, so the scientists don't find out they're aliens immediately. When they do, the aliens take them to their planet and the alien commander tells them their planet is being overrun by another planet's race, and they recruited Earth's best scientists to come up with new and advanced technology to help them survive the invasion. Their enemies soon destroy the planet, but the ship has enough energy to return the scientists to Earth. After their safe return, the aliens drive their ship into the sea, never to be heard from again.

But, who remembers stuff like that?

pew! pew! preow! FFFSSSShhhhew!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Totally cool 1st person space fighter. Pretty much set the bench mark for console games in this class, IMHO. Graphics are a bit crummy, but James Earl Jones providing the narration soothes my senses.

The best space-combat game for playstation

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: March 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

For while, it seemed like Psygnosis was unstoppable. Fresh off of the success of the awesome Wipeout games came this, one of the great console games of all time.

For starters, in the presentation and production values department this game is just plain awesome. Not ONLY does it feature some of the best graphics ever to be found on playstation, not ONLY does it feature a branching story and changes based on your successes or failures, and not ONLY does it feature some of the best menus, menu sounds, music, and in-game cinemas to be found in any game for any system ever... it also features a built-in encyclopedia of all the star systems, planets, and ships in the game complete with voice-narration!

This game offers great challenge, great gameplay, flawless presentation, tight controls, and a great storyline. The music is so good I wish there were a soundtrack.

This game is everything a great game shoud be, and fans of classic games owe it to themselves to buy this one A.S.A.P., especially if they like space-combat games.

WOW

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 07, 2000
Author: Amazon User

There is one simple fact that will get many people's attention, this flight sim has six endings! Aside from the sequal (Colony Wars Vengence) I have not seen such an approach to a flight based combat game. The action is fast ane the story is an epic tale of rebellion and freedom. Graphics, sound, control, all are carefully crafted. NOTE For those of you who have them, this game is analog joystick ready!

STILL the best...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 22, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game, after so many years, remains the finest space combat shooter on any console. It's depth and variety rival even the PC greats. The branching story and hours of background material provide more of an experience rather than a console game. The cutscenes and voice acting are excellent, and the pace is just right! For those who have never played this wonderful game, I highly recommend it!

Great game, greater plot

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 12, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game involves a lot of depth. The story is interwoven though mission briefings, in-game action and all sorts of background found on the games "database." The game tells the story of violent civil war between an evil Colonial Empire and the League of Free Worlds. The story is amazing with insight into what may very well happen if we continue to abuse our natural resources. The game itself is just as good as the plot if not better. On a closing note, remember that the story allows you to fail missions and even loose the war! There are SIX ENDINGS!

Great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is great! The graphics, sound, and plot are amazing. The complaints are completely unfounded, because anyone who can learn to play any game can learn to play this one. The game is even presented in Dolby Pro Logic surround! This game is well worth the price, and so are the other two.

Part one of the Trilogy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game has it ALL!! Great Control,Graphics,and Good Storyline, this game is Truly Breathtaking!!! the explosions are Awesome!, its fun,chanllenging at times,and just Gorgeous to look at! sometimes you just sacrifce yourself by getting caught up in the Gorgeous graphics!!!! and the weapons are great! the only con is that its not a co-op game, two players would make this the Greatest game Ever!and there are enough levels to make your thumbs sore,and eyes blurry!....and the multiple endings is a nice touch also!!!

Fantastic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 01, 1999
Author: Amazon User

This may just be the most impressive PSX game ever. When I first saw the game, the graphics blew me away. I never thought a Playstation could handle graphics that impressive. If you do buy Colony Wars, I suggest you also buy the sequel, Colony Wars: Vengence. If you buy them both, you'll have a better understanding of the entire story.

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