Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager Reviews

Let's start saying that the game is pretty broken. The real space race had 5 missions that ended in loss of life and here you can have the highest possible reliability and still you get a catastrophic failure in one out of 3 missions, no matter the Tiger teams, or whatever. Apart from that, the game is entertaining. Honestly I liked BARIS way more than this, as it was more historically accurate, but let's face it, BARIS is abandonware and even the open source version available in Github looks ridiculously tiny with the high resolutions we use today. Still, if BARIS was a 10, SPM is still a 6 or a 7.

As a lifelong aficionado of space exploration, and many strategy games, I found myself immersed in how this little gem merges the two in a delightful package. From the outset, I was struck by the game’s authentic representation of the space programs from the thrilling days of the Space Age. The attention to detail and the commitment to historical accuracy transported me back to an era where every launch was a leap towards the stars. What truly stands out is its reverence for the intricacies of the space race. The game faithfully mirrors the challenges and triumphs experienced by NASA and the Soviet space agencies, allowing players like myself to relive the era’s most iconic moments. The depth of the game’s research is evident in every mission, every spacecraft design, and every policy decision. It’s a rare and commendable feat to craft a game that is both educational and thoroughly engaging. The mechanics of the game deserve high praise for their accessibility and intuitiveness. As someone who has navigated countless strategy games, I found the learning curve here to be refreshingly gentle. The interface is user-friendly, making it easy to manage resources, plan missions, and progress through the game’s intricate web of technological advancements and budgetary constraints. It’s a testament to the developers’ skill that a game with such depth is also welcoming to newcomers. However, as much as I revelled in my journey to the stars, I couldn’t help but feel a longing for a more modern visual experience. The game’s graphics, while functional, left much to be desired in terms of immersion. In an era where high-quality 3D CGI has become the norm, the dated visuals of Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager stood out starkly. The flat, 2D graphics lacked the dynamism and visual flair that could have elevated the game from excellent to extraordinary. Which brings me to my plea: this game is in dire need of a remaster. The core mechanics and historical authenticity are already stellar, but a visual overhaul could breathe new life into this gem. Imagine the same meticulous attention to detail, but with cutting-edge graphics that do justice to the awe-inspiring nature of space exploration. A remaster or a completely redone version for the modern era would not only attract a new generation of gamers but also delight long-time fans like myself. While Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager remains a cherished part of my gaming library, I can’t help but dream of what it could become with a bit of modern polish. Here’s hoping that the developers hear our collective call and take this great game to new heights. Until then, I’ll continue to journey through the stars, cherishing the authenticity and easy-to-learn mechanics that make this game a true classic.