Horizon provides a deep turn-based 4x experience
L30 Interactive has been developing a new turn-based 4X space strategy game called Horizon. It is currently available as a pre-purchase beta from Steam for $24.99. I had the opportunity to play the current build and thought I would write a preview article based on my first impressions. Please note that this article is not a review and refers to the beta version; specific details may or may not change before final release.
In its current build, Horizon allows players to play as the human race, although it seems from the interface that more playable races are planned. The game starts as humanity discovers an alien probe that allows them to discover the secrets of interstellar travel. Now humans can join the intergalactic community, which is pretty diverse. Each race has an interesting back story, a unique look, and a theme song that plays during diplomatic negotiations.
In a unique mechanic, contact with other civilizations is at first rather limited. Horizon requires that you develop more and more advanced methods of interstellar communication in order to maintain contact with other races. If your interstellar range is too low, you cannot interact with another race unless your ships are right next to one another or you are orbiting one of their planets.
Another unique feature of the game is the galactic story line. As you progress there are events that affect every race in the game and create a narrative. I suspect that this feature will be limited on final release to playthroughs using specific races, but it is an intriguing feature that adds something most 4X titles do not have: a story.
Gameplay involves several layers of interfaces. The outermost layer, where most of the action will take place, is the galactic map mode. This mode shows all sectors of space, both deep space and various solar systems, as a grid, allowing easy movement from one part of the galaxy to another. My one frustration with this mode is that clicking on a sector brings up a window with the list of ships and fleets in that sector, and this window often gets in the way of clicking on sectors I would like to move ships. This is easily remedied by dragging the window out of the way, but it would be nice if the window moved out of your way when you are issuing a move command.
From the galactic map, the screens for various planets can be accessed when a sector is selected. These screens allow the construction of buildings, troops, and ships on various planets as well as access to planetary survey data and archaeological information. While these two concepts of surveying and archaeology sound intriguing, the tutorial does not explain them, so I could not figure out what they actually do during my playthrough.
Combat is another engaging part of the game. It involves maneuvering ships, star bases, and planetary defenses in turn-based battles. The unique aspect of Horizon‘s combat system is the attention to ship orientation. The ship design screen allows the placement of weapons at particular points that affect which sides of the ship can fire a weapon. Combat requires careful attention to which direction ships are facing to avoid not being able to fire a weapon. This concept is reminiscent of the tactical feel of FTL, especially since different weapons can fire on different targets or be disabled. Damage is also incurred based on direction, so taking a shot on the right side will destroy weapons mounted on the right side of the ship. This design makes combat very tactical, while the turn-based structure makes it also very strategic, a nice balance for a 4X game.
Overall, Horizon is certainly an exciting 4X title for fans of the genre. It strikes me as a spiritual successor to such titles as Master of Orion, and Galactic Civilizations (more the first one than Galactic Civilizations 2). Many in the 4X community have been waiting for a modern turn-based title since the real-time model has dominated the past few years.
With a few tweaks to the interface for convenience, Horizon can certainly fulfill this expectation. It combines classic gameplay with a modern graphics engine and enough unique characteristics to tempt those who still play Master of Orion to try something new.
