Geek Gift Guide: Oasis

Oasis isn’t a new game.  In fact, it won the Seumas McNally award for best independent game all the way back in 2004.  But it’s never too late to give a game this awesome to your favorite gamer (or even yourself).  You don’t have to take my word for it - check out this review on Game Tunnel.

Even though I’ve had Oasis for years, I just played this game for about four hours straight for the third night in a row.  It’s still as addictive and fun as it ever was.

Seriously, don’t even bother listening to me.  Just go play the free demo - it’s an hour long.

A mobile version already exists so why must Mind Control Software torture me by not releasing an iPhone app?  Ah well, according to this forum post I can’t really blame Mind Control, it looks like PlayFirst owns the game.  Well, whoever is in charge…just get it done!  

I posted a question on the forums asking about an iPhone port and got the response:

We love the iPhone but getting it on that platform has certain business issues that have yet to be worked out. Hopefully in the future it can happen! 

I hope so, because this game is just a blast.   But for now, why not enjoy the PC version?  My description follows the jump…

In each round you are creating a civilization from nothing and building it up to withstand an oncoming barbarian assault.  You move your pharaoh around the screen to explore, discovering cities, mines and followers.  You build roads to increase your population and populate your mines to discover new technologies.  You also need to find an obelisk on each level which provides you with a glyph.  Your turns are limited and the threat of the barbarian assault is always hanging over your head.  When it arrives you position troops in cities to best defend your little empire.

But keep in mind this all happens very quickly.  I just timed it and an average round takes me about two minutes.  You can go much slower at first if you like but you will soon find yourself flying through rather quickly.  

There are basic two levels of play, the “minesweeper” aspect and the strategic decision making.  The “minesweeper” aspect is basic: by seeing what squares are uncovered, you figure out which squares to explore so you don’t waste turns.  For example, cities have farms around them, so when you see a farm you can figure out where a city is.  This part of the game is something you will pick up quite quickly and will become second nature.  

It is the strategic decision-making that really makes the game.  You never have enough turns or followers to do everything you want to do.  So you have to make a myriad of difficult decisions each round.

Should I build a road between these cities?  The population increase is critical, but they are so far apart - it will take turns and followers.  Am I better off just holding on to my followers for the final attack?  Which cities are worth linking and which are better off left on their own?

Is it too late to put more followers in one of my mines to get the technology ramped up?  I could use that armor to withstand the barbarians, but I barely have enough followers to create roads as it is.

Speaking of followers, there are some huts over here.  Should I explore a bit around there to find some more followers?  I haven’t yet found the big hut…which would give me a nice little follower boost.

Man, I don’t even know where the barbarians are coming from.  Maybe I need to look around the edge of the map to discover their starting point?

Oh, wow…I haven’t found the freaking obelisk yet.  Should I do that now or leave it until the last minute?  Should I just clear the whole Oasis for the bonus?  That will set me back so many turns and then I might not even withstand the barbarian incursion.  Hmm, sometimes by clicking the obelisk I get a tech boost…or at least scarab points.  And scarab points (aside from helping you grab a high score) come in quite handy when your cities fail to weather the barbarian storm.

Perhaps I should search the cities for treasure instead.  If I find a weapon, my defence will be upgraded.  Oh, and my Scout is leaving me this turn.  Maybe I could find a General or an Alchemist in one of these cities to serve me in later rounds?

But this isn’t the type of game where you sit there and ponder for long periods.  It just flows beautifully and moves very quickly.  And the truth is, many different strategies and decisions can work.  In fact, almost every move you make has some advantage.  Just exploring an empty desert space rewards you with 2 followers, which may be a make or break deal.  Every click is rewarded.  That’s not to say the game isn’t extremely challenging…it is.  Some boards are just incredibly tough and you are always debating whether to go for board security (focus only on this board to definitely win it) or long term greed (go for Oasis letters to get the bonus board, look for special characters like the Scout to serve you in later rounds, increase your scarab power).  

And of course, you need to structure your strategy to the type of board you are playing.  Does it have a ton of mines?  Are the cities too far apart?  Are there multiple barbarian cairns? Since you have an Alchemist, should you focus more on mining?

The designers did a great job of keeping level design varied.  As you progress through the game, you unlock new campaigns.  These can play quite differently as the geology is varied (i.e island maps, maps split by a river).  What’s more, different campaigns introduce new mechanics.  For example, you have the opportunity to cut down trees for technology as well as mining.  The idea of capital cities is introduced.  There’s a lot more, but I won’t spoil it for you.

Look, this is a great game.  Try the freaking demo and, if you like it, support a quality independent developer by buying it for yourself or by giving the gift of gaming fun this holiday season.