Parents' Guide to Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander

Old-school graphics and elements combine to bring out a strategy game that has potential but isn't innovative. Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander merges features of tactical and strategic turn-based/role-playing games, but it's a simple rehash of titles that have gone before. Visuals aren't very detailed and look somewhat basic, which puts the emphasis on the story and base building, technology research, and turn-based tactical combat elements. These are handled well, but there's a sense that something's missing to tie everything together and create a deeply satisfying game experience. It could well be that nothing here is new and it's all rehashed from other similar titles, but give Halcyon 6 credit for trying to create something deeper with both space- and land-based elements.

On the plus side, Halcyon 6 focuses on the story, and a lot of elements cry for attention. There's building the base, which amounts to selecting a room and choosing what goes there. You'll have to pay attention to the needs of the crew and not only to powering up. With three commanders to initially select from (science, tactical, and engineering), you can set the tone for the focus of your base. Fleets can be created and sent to nearby galaxies to explore and perhaps bring back resources. There's the chance for diplomacy, but it seems that most of the time is spent either in researching and building or fighting. Selecting the right crew to manage areas presents the chances to decrease research and building time. But eventually, what holds this game back is that it had a lot of potential but lacks any innovation.