Fragile Allegiance

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In "Fragile Allegiance," players manage a high-tech corporation, mining asteroids, researching new technology, and engaging in corporate espionage and warfare. They must balance resources, production, and diplomacy with rival companies while dealing with unexpected events and challenges. The game features real-time strategy gameplay, with players building and upgrading facilities, managing personnel, and directing battles in a dynamic 3D environment.

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Play Modes

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 140 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

A unique and engaging gameplay experience that combines resource management, strategy, and combat.
Strong nostalgia factor for players who enjoyed it in the 90s, with many finding it still enjoyable today.
Offers a high level of replayability with various alien races, trade dynamics, and strategic options.

The game suffers from outdated graphics and interface design, making it feel clunky by modern standards.
Micromanagement can become tedious, especially with the inability to pause the game, leading to overwhelming gameplay.
AI colony management is poor, making it difficult to effectively manage multiple planets and resources.

story
26 mentions
8 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, with some users noting that it doesn't require a strong narrative to succeed, similar to how "Detroit: Become Human" doesn't need multiplayer. While there is a basic premise involving a federation treaty that ended a war, the focus remains on gameplay rather than storytelling, with players finding satisfaction in the core mechanics and mission structure. Overall, the narrative is considered secondary to the engaging gameplay experience.
- “This game really does stand the test of time and still offers excellent gameplay and an awesome story. I was so glad when this ran straight out of the box and I could relive my days in the fragmented sector.”
- “The story is that a federation treaty that was signed ended the war between the races, but that the 'trade war' has continued between the races (but these battles are governed by 'rules').”
- “There's little to no plot, but the game needs a plot about as much as Detroit: Become Human needs a multiplayer mode.”
- “It doesn't even have a story to speak of either.”
- “Little story lesson about the game... I started playing K240 and later on Fragile Alliance where released, but the two games had much in common.”
graphics
24 mentions
25 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting the era it was created in, yet they are still deemed decent and enjoyable by many players. While some reviewers express a desire for a graphical overhaul similar to modern remakes, they acknowledge that the game's charm and strategic gameplay can shine through despite the visual limitations. Overall, the graphics are not a major deterrent to the enjoyment of the game, as they contribute to a nostalgic experience.
- “The graphics and animations speak for the time but are still good.”
- “If you're old like me, you might remember an Amiga game called K240; this is basically the exact same game but with larger maps, more aliens, and better graphics. It's really good.”
- “K240 was succeeded by Fragile Allegiance, which is essentially a PC remake of the game but with improved graphics and user interface.”
- “In today's world, Fragile Allegiance graphics look dated.”
- “The graphics may be dated, the music a bit poor, and the premise all a bit old hat, but this game is damn good fun.”
- “The graphics and sound are clearly not going to be the same as today's games.”
gameplay
22 mentions
18 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its timeless mechanics and strategic depth, offering players the opportunity to continually learn and engage with the game. Many users appreciate the core gameplay loop, which provides several hours of enjoyment through both single and multi-racial missions, while the combination of updated graphics and classic elements enhances the overall experience. Despite some technical adjustments needed for modern systems, the gameplay remains fun and satisfying.
- “This game really does stand the test of time and still offers excellent gameplay and an awesome story. I was so glad when this ran straight out of the box and I could relive my days in the fragmented sector.”
- “Core gameplay loop is satisfactory enough that you will, at the very least, get 3-6 hours out of a single mission (if that mission is easy), more so out of multi-racial missions with aggressors and an active diplomatic routine.”
- “Looks great (well, you may need to play around in the dosbox .conf file to get it to look great on modern machines -- see the community hub discussions -- but it's well worth it) and the gameplay is lots of fun.”
- “They shouldn't have remade Starcraft; this is what they should have redone, leaving all the gameplay elements intact just with updated graphics and networking (maybe a super huge map type with 32 players or more).”
- “There are also gameplay differences resulting from ships being given limited range as well as espionage.”
- “Core gameplay loop is satisfactory enough that you will, at the very least, get 3-6 hours out of a single mission (if that mission is easy), more so out of multi-racial missions with aggressors and active diplomatic routine.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find the extensive tasks and layers of complexity engaging, others feel overwhelmed by the tedious micromanagement required, particularly due to the inability to pause the game. This leads to a sentiment that grinding can become a chore rather than an enjoyable experience, with some suggesting it may require excessive time investment.
- “The game becomes impossible since it can't be paused and managed, and there are just too many things to do - not fun things though - mostly tedious management of many planets.”
- “Obviously, there are other tedious things to do (like simple random graph-based trading of 'unique resources') which you can't focus on due to every aspect of the game requiring micromanagement.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
music
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as having a spacey, meditative quality that enhances the gameplay experience, despite some opinions labeling it as somewhat outdated. While the graphics and overall premise may feel old-fashioned, the soundtrack remains a notable aspect that contributes to the game's enjoyment.
- “The spacey soundtrack does give it meditative qualities.”
- “Music still stands the test of time, as do the game mechanics.”
- “The graphics may be dated, but the music adds to the overall fun of the game.”
- “The graphics may be dated, the music a bit poor, and the premise all a bit old hat, but this game is damn good fun.”
- “The first part of the game involves searching for new asteroids to mine, protecting them, optimizing production (mainly by buying new stuff), or staring at the stars (no, seriously, the spacey soundtrack does give it meditative qualities); the other part of the game is warfare.”
- “The first part of the game involves searching for new asteroids to mine, protecting them, optimizing production (mainly by buying new stuff), or staring at the stars (no, seriously, the spacey soundtrack does give it meditative qualities); the other part of the game is warfare.”
replayability
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its infinite replay value, attributed to its unique approach to RTS gameplay that deviates from conventional formulas. Players find the interface easy to learn and the gameplay engaging, contributing to a strong overall replayability.
- “Great game, infinite replay value, a symbol of a time when RTS games didn't have to follow the formula exactly.”
- “The interface is easy to learn, the gameplay is absorbing, and the replay value is good.”
- “Which raises the replay value for anyone with the American version.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is described as challenging, particularly due to the AI's increased difficulty even in neutral settings. Players recommend engaging in custom games with a hostile atmosphere for an enhanced challenge.
- “If you like a challenge, buy this, and play a custom game with all races and a hostile atmosphere.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game largely stems from the chaotic and absurd scenarios created by combining various missile types and tactics, such as launching asteroids and executing massive carpet bombings. The comedic effect is amplified by the unexpected outcomes of these strategies, leading to entertaining and over-the-top moments during gameplay.
- “It is also hilarious to send asteroids crashing into your enemy.”
- “When you get in range, you can send them flying to the enemy asteroid, and it gets really funny if you mix in a few nuclear missiles in your barrage of cheap explosive missiles.”
- “When you sneak in a stasis missile and then, once it wears off, all missiles that have been waiting strike at once, carpet bombing the entire asteroid.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game lacks depth, as players are limited to purchasing blueprints from a tech company to enhance their performance, rather than engaging in a more complex research system. This approach has been criticized for its simplicity and lack of strategic depth.
- “There is no research system to speak of - you just pay a tech company to deliver you blueprints for better gear, which increases your performance.”
- “The optimization mechanics feel shallow and uninspired, lacking depth and engagement.”
- “The game relies too heavily on microtransactions for optimization, which detracts from the overall experience.”