A staple for the nerves
I had, shall we say, a bad experience some years ago.
Several days of lying in a darkened room eating cold party leftovers were to be expected.
The amount of comfort I got from playingAlpha Centaurithroughout, though, was a surprise.
It’s less about mere familiarity than you’d think, given how late I first played it.
Its high concept story asks for interpretation, for a philosophical response.
Earth is gone, uninhabitable thanks to centuries of human exploitation and war.
A UN ark launches to Alpha Centauri, but Things Go Wrong.
Seven factions, only and always seven.
Planet, always Planet.
Even the secular and cynical call it Planet, and discuss it with some hint of reverence.
Everyone has a notion of how humanity should relate to its new home, and each feels sincere.
Planet itself is a character of sorts.
The native life is a sinister pink fungus, home to mind worms who overpower your units with terror.
Not just mining and pollution, but your very presence is a threat.
Teeming with horrifying monsters as Planet is, I’m the invader here.
What right do I have, really?
Humans have, of course, far more advanced technology on the new planet.
Its diplomatic model is less advanced today, since the available deals and trades are limited.
But it’s also a matter of shared ideals.
Most unusually, even today, is howhelpfulallies can be.
Truly aligned friends will actively aid you.
It encourages less gamey thinking.
Well, grateful allies are more useful than subjects, but moreover…
I can’t crush the socialist workers.
They’re good lads.
They came to reinforce me when the Pirates inevitably turned on us.
It had me picturing the propaganda my late 90s hackers would have flooded them with to discredit their leader.
When talking to leaders, a corner panel cycles archive pictures.
It’s limited use of voice acting remains among my favourites.
onto which you bolt a weapon and armour… and later some special perk or two.
Double morale, or anti-air weapons, or boarding vessels.
Because it’s the vibe that really marks it out today.
Civilisation’s most optimistic ending abdicates responsibility for earth.
It’s a race, an indulgence of imperialism, manifest destiny, linear and unidirectional “progress”.
Its most famous bit of character design, Gandhi’s nuclear obsession, is a myth.
Alpha Centauri is about ideology, about who is right.
And sure, mechanically it’s the same race, but itfeeldifferent.
Everything is contextualised to stimulate the imagination not visually, but philosophically.
It’s about science fiction not as raw technology, but about the future of humanity culturally and psychologically.
