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Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares ('''MOO2''') was the first sequel to Master Of Orion . Like the original, it was developed by Simtex . The Windows 95 and DOS version of the game was published by Microprose in 1996 , while the Apple Macintosh version was published a year later by MacSoft . Among other changes, it added multiplayer gameplay and updated the graphics. One of the major changes in MOO II from its predecessor was the introduction of leaders. Leaders had special abilities that allowed, among other things, better efficiency in production on planets and better ship management such as better attack, defense etc. The sequel also added three races, as well as the ability to make custom races. Each race's proclivities towards certain fields of research were removed, making research more homogeneous. The degree to which the player controlled a planet's agriculture, industry, and research was greatly expanded, allowing the player to construct specific buildings to increase production or to assign individual units of population to other sectors. These game elements came almost directly from an earlier Simtex game, Master Of Magic . In 1997 , Master of Orion II won the Origins Award for ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game of 1996''. Although MOO2 was a hit, it was received with mixed reviews by fans of the original. Some liked it more because it offered additional gameplay elements, while others preferred the simpler gameplay of the original, finding the more extensive Micromanagement in MOO2 unnecessary, and counter to rapid learning of the game. It was however seen by most as a worthy sequel to the first game. BACKGROUND STORY In Master of Orion II, it is learned that the Orions were not the only ancient progenitor species to traverse our region of space. The Antarans are the mortal enemies of the Orions. Long ago, a war between the Orions and the evil Antarans raged across space. The Orions won by sealing the Antaran homeworld Antares into a "pocket-dimension". Unfortunately, this act left Hyperspace lanes crippled for hundreds of years, and during this time the Orions mysteriously disappeared. Meanwhile, Master of Orion II assumes that the Human Federation conquered all other races in Master of Orion I, and led a "Pax Humanica" of many thousands of years. However, this empire fell through apathy and decay. As Master of Orion II begins, a new age of rediscovery and exploration begins as the old races, including the humans, reach out to the stars once again to reclaim their glory. At the same time, the Antarans have made breakthroughs in dimensional physics which allow them travel to nearly any point in the Orion Sector directly from Antares in the pocket dimension. All races present in the original game reappear here, albeit changed in many ways. Some of these changes include the following:
In addition, three new races were added:
The game ends with one race either conquering all others, being elected President of the New Galactic Republic, or by destroying Antares in the legendary Battle of Antares. In addition, defeating the Guardian and colonizing Orion will grant the player a new ally: Admiral Loknar, the Last Orion, preserved in suspended animation. Loknar brings with him his ultra-advanced Orion Battleship, the Avenger. Strangely, Admiral Loknar, the only Orion ever seen, very closely resembles a human. EXTERNAL LINKS
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