First, to quote from a different kind of fantasy … “The power is yours!”

Secondly, to steal from pop culture, with the Altarian Prophecy, you can “boldly go where no one has gone before …”

Stardock and Strategy First have released the first expansion for the space title Galactic Civilizations for the PC. In the Altarian Prophecy, the story line delves into the human connection with the legacy of the Altarian race. The game also introduces new races – the Korx and Drath, which hold the key to the mystery of the Altarian past, a mystery that also foretells of the end of the universe.

The Altarian Prophecy is rife with new features but paramount is the Editor features and online connectivity, which allows players to creature their own race, share maps and create a totally new gaming experience from the ground-up (or stars-up, as the case may be).

Not having played the original game, this particular voyage began with a visit to the prequel game – Galactic Civilizations, a sojourn that presented quite a learning curve while in preparing for the expansion.

To understand the nuances of this expansion, which does require the original to play, you have to first understand the premise of the original title. Galactic Civilizations is a game that is more cerebral than anything else. The graphics have a tendency to be static, and much of the game’s actualization comes from planning, giving orders and then issuing all those orders to have them begin to run through when you end your turn. There are technologies to discover, sectors of the galaxy to explore. This is a strategic affair that while solid graphically presents the real challenge in how you approach the game and the decisions you make along the way.

The Altarian Prophecy is a campaign that traces the thread hinted at in the original title. It provides more back-story than it advances the main story thread of the original title, but it adds depth to the universe.

Sure, the game comes with the two new races, four new ships, new focuses for the 10 new scenarios, new technologies, a new united planets screen – among its other attributes, but what really sets this expansion apart, and makes it a must-have for fans of the original title, are the editors.

There is a map editor, a scenario editor and a campaign editor – and all three are supported online with connectivity to a library built by other fans of the game. Apart from these features, the Altarian Prophecy is a solid campaign that adds depth to the game. The new features roll over into the main game, and give added replayability, but the power is placed squarely in the hands of the gamers by way of these editors. In short, you can make or remake the universe in any manner you wish. This essentially does for the Galactic Civilization title what the Aurora Toolset did for the Neverwinter Nights games.

The Altarian Prophecy campaign is enjoyable, but the power of the expansion shines with the editors. They add depth and play value to this game.

The graphics are antiquated, even with the new screens, and while solid, the sound is not going to bring people to this game in droves. There is no simple way to describe this title other than this:

If you are a fan of Galactic Civilizations, you must own this expansion.

Gameplay: 7.0
This still looks like the original game, and plays like it. This expansion does little to improve the way the game plays out, which is essentially turn-based, and depends more on cerebral gaming than on interactive real-time adventuring.

Graphics: 7.0
Not bad but definitely not one of the strong points of this game.

Sound: 7.0

Also solid, but not something to get overly excited about.

Difficulty: Med/Hard
This is a game with a good learning curve, and if nothing else, the Altarian Prophecy makes the original game even more challenging with the features it brings to increase replayability.

Concept: 8.3
This game has a campaign that is really not all the extensive. But what this game brings to the Galactic Civilization world is excellent editors and online support to expand the worlds in whatever direction the players wish.

Multiplayer: 8.0

Solid online support for this title with a growing collection of maps and scenario ideas.

Overall: 8.0
This is a back-story to the original title, but more than that, it also advances the main story by adding new features, which in turn allows for a new experience if gamers which to revisit the original program. The story of this expansion may, at first glance, appear to be relatively brief, but what this expansion brings to the series on a whole is a solid online resource, and editors that will give players tremendous freedom in creating their own scenarios and campaigns. This is a solid and well-done addition to the world of Galactic Civilization.