I first played this game over fifteen years ago on my Commodore 64. It was first released in the late eighties. I loved the intro music [theme from Mahler Symphony Number 5, 4th movement]. This game is the prequel to the excellent game, Deuteros. Basically, this game is a personnel management game. Set your scientists to research new technology, then build it and start exploring the solar system.
It initially seems easy enough, as there are no other populated planets or moons... at least you think there are not.
When your technology reaches a certain level you should create bases on moons and orbitting stations over planets.
When resources run low, get out there and start mining the many asteroids to get those hard to find elements. This can bring you out of an economic slump.
All goes well until you meet your first alien race. Then you need to develop a strategy and decide if you are going to make all out war on the aliens or try a more diplomatic side and attempt friendly, peaceful trade. If you think peace is the answer, then why do you have all the soldiers and weaponry ?? This is where the game gets tricky. Leave your bases undefended and watch them burn. You also still have to
explore all other moons and planets because it is impossible to know how many enemy bases there are unless you investigate. Everything then has to be considered... mining can get your mining vessel destroyed if unprotected; just simply transferring goods from one base to another can be a very treacherous experience.
On the downside this game is almost twenty years old and can be quite easy for people who have become experienced with modern games of this nature. The resources are the same everytime you play you get to learn which moon gives you which resources and where the enemy bases are, but this is just part of the learning curve.
Milennium may be old and fairly easy, but that first time through, you will be totally engrossed. Spend just 5 more minutes researching another piece of technology and then another five building it and so on until several hours have passed. The ending scene is quite moving and not something you will forget easily and not something that is going to become a spoiler in this review. Play the game people!
After this game, I am sure you will instantly start searching for the sequel, Deuteros, which is also a great game. It just istn't as noteworthy as the original game, simply because there was nothing like this around when this was released. It is a super solid game that will really stimulate the brain.
