Games published by Clockwork Software
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Begin: A Tactical Starship Simulation
Begin 2 is a classic shareware space combat simulation set in the Star Trek universe. Inspired by the Starfleet Battles board game (which also served as inspiration for Interplay's Starfleet Command), Begin 2 is the best game I've played that uses turn-based gameplay with simultaneous combat execution, featuring combat between up to 50+ ships at a time.
What really makes this game shine is the complexity of the orders you can give your officers: you can dock at space stations, lock tractors on friends and foes, launch probes and try to take control of enemy ships by transporting marines. You can also communicate with your allies, ordering them to escort a friendly ship or not to fire (whether your allies feel like following your orders is quite another thing: an Orion pirate ship on the verge of disintegration will opt to leave you to take care of the enemies, while a Romulan warbird will ignore your order to retreat and self-destruct, trying to take as many enemies with it as possible).
The 1984 version is text-only, while the far superior 1989 version (the downloadable version here) has simple graphics. There is no mouse interface: all user commands have to be typed in, which is part of the charm of the game, as the commands have a very Trek feel to them. 'Lock phasers on the Enterprise' or 'Tell the Excelsior to torpedo the Whirlwind' are valid commands. Despite the complexity of the game, the learning curve is not as steep as it could have been, as you only have to learn a few maneuvering and weapons commands to start playing. A comprehensive manual and a handy command guide make learning this game enjoyable.
It's a game dying to be updated with a mouse interface, a campaign/mission mode, and better graphics. It is a true underrated classic with a small but loyal following. Highly recommended.
