GI.net writes: "Some eight weeks ago, I began playing a multiplayer online game, and I've been hooked ever since. Yes, I hear the collective groan, "Ophelea, big deal. You're talking about half the games on the Internet!" Well, perhaps I am. But, this one is a little different, or I wouldn't have mentioned the time I've been playing - as verbose as I am want to be. You see, when I began playing, I was able to make a move every 7-15 minutes. Eight weeks later, I make maybe six to 10 moves a day. I am so hooked.
What is this mysterious game of limited interaction that keeps me riveted to my screen, you may be wondering? (Or simply wondering about my sanity ...) It's a title by Gameforge, a German company known for its Flash titles; only this one is in Ajax - meaning no real movement to speak of, just screen changes.
Called Ikariam, the idea is to build as many colonies as you can and then either continue to build and monopolize resources or build an army and conquer other colonies. The setting loosely can be considered Ancient Greece - particularly if there were a Steampunk version of Ancient Greece. The art is clean, passable and does exactly what it is intended to; I never confuse the marketplace for the tavern or the barracks for the academy.
The game is absolutely free to play, and though I did purchase $15 worth of ambrosia late in the game (partly for this review and partly because I wanted the benefits it would afford me at that stage), I honestly did not need to make the purchase. None of the content in the game is premium. There is nowhere I couldn't get to, nothing I couldn't achieve without spending money. It is, quite simply, free."
Online game publisher Gameforge's browser-based game Ikariam will offer a "Pirates" update that allows players to sail as pirates, earn gold and capture points on forays. Pirate rivals can be put in their place through raids on their fortresses. As a reward, the most successful buccaneers will receive a giant treasure trove of resources.
Ikariam is a free to play MMORTS game from Gameforge, the same developers behind other popular strategy titles such as KingsAge. Ikariam brings many unique features to the MMORTS genre, most notably the distinctly authentic Greek background setting and mythology.
The strategy genre is a much appreciated part of the free-to-play segment. There are literally hundreds of strategy games, some good, some bad, some shameless clones and finally some that are rushed with the sole purpose of getting a few bucks from distracted players. Here are some quality games that you should at least try, since they have some undeniable qualities.
