TheMacMind

Gaming

iConquer by KavaSoft

iCame, iSaw, iConquered. Here's your chance to conquer the World without leaving the comfort of your desk. Sounds like a recipe for success to me.

When you first start up the game you are presented with a simple Aqua-like interface a lot like OS X. The game provides you with 2 different types of play, against the computer AI, or against other people via a network.

When you begin a new game you are offered the choice of 5 AI opponents with 6 different strategies, or you can create your own. The default opponents are some famous leaders in history, with the exception of Bill Gates who also makes the list. You also have the option of being randomly assigned your territories or manually choosing them. Once you begin your game, attacking another territory is as simple as selecting it, and then clicking the territory you want to attack. Surprisingly enough the AI in this game is stellar, and you can even select Anti-Human as one of the AI player's strategies to specifically make it more difficult for you.

However iConquer's network games are where this game really gets to shine. On a local network iConquer uses Rendezvous, Apple's zero setup networking built into Jaguar, to make setting up a quick game with a few friends a snap. iConquer also allows you to use iChat to chat with other players in the game simply and easily by clicking the iChat icon in the toolbar.

By default iConquer has only one map built in, but KavaSoft includes a simple way to get many more maps, via plug-ins. Literally all that is necessary to get nearly 25 more maps is click the Plug-Ins icon in the toolbar, and then double click the name of the one you want to install, the map downloads and installs by itself, to use the map, you don't even have to restart iConquer! The selection is wide, ranging from world maps designed to fit Cinema Displays, to maps of the Swiss Canons. You can also develop your own maps in Photoshop!

To put it simply, iLove this game. But is it worth your $13 dollars, 140 pesos, or 8 Pounds? While its no Unreal Tournament, I would say a resounding, yes, it is. For iConquer's painfully simple, yet extremely addictive game play, I give iConquer a 4.5 out of 5 Macheads.

- Matt Woleske
mwoleske@themacmind.com
AIM: TWW909