Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Triple Conflict offers a remarkable journey through three distinct strategic universes, each with its own gameplay mechanics and pacing. WarCraft: Orcs & Humans lays the foundation with classic real-time strategy elements—resource gathering, base building, and army management—that defined the genre in the mid-1990s. Its straightforward mechanics make it accessible to newcomers, while the orc vs. human skirmishes still demand careful micromanagement and tactical unit positioning.

Conquest of the New World: Deluxe Edition shifts the tempo entirely, presenting a turn-based colonial strategy experience. Players explore uncharted territories, establish settlements, and negotiate with indigenous tribes and rival European powers. The focus here is on long-term planning—managing supply lines, balancing trade, and deciding when to press military advantage or pursue diplomacy. The turn-based structure encourages thoughtful deliberation over every move.

M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration revives the real-time format but adds a hefty layer of technological progression and planetary exploration. The customizable mech units and research grid let you tailor your army for direct combat or defensive fortifications. Whether you’re probing alien environments for resources or leading mechanized battalions against rival factions, M.A.X. blends exploration, base construction, and skirmishes into a cohesive and deeply engaging package.

Graphics

Visually, Triple Conflict is a showcase of how far strategy games have come—and a reminder of their pixel-art roots. WarCraft: Orcs & Humans sports charming, if rudimentary, 2D sprites and tile-based landscapes. Though its color palette is limited, the distinct silhouettes of units and buildings make identifying enemy Orc barracks or Human farms an intuitive process.

Conquest of the New World: Deluxe Edition offers a more refined 2D aesthetic, with detailed map tiles representing forests, rivers, and colonial settlements. Unit icons and city graphics are crisp for their era, and the UI panels are laid out clearly, ensuring you can quickly assess your settlers’ needs, production queues, and trade routes.

M.A.X. pushes the envelope with pre-rendered isometric sprites and dynamic lighting effects that were impressive at release. The mechs clank across rugged terrain with smooth animations, while explosions and weapon fire come alive with pixel-perfect flair. Though none of the titles rival modern HD graphics, each retains a nostalgic charm that strategy enthusiasts will appreciate.

Story

Though primarily gameplay-driven, WarCraft: Orcs & Humans weaves a straightforward fantasy tale of conflict between two rival races. Campaign missions introduce lore snippets about powerful artifacts and warring factions, setting the stage for the expansive universe that would follow in later installments. The narrative may feel simplistic today, but it laid the groundwork for Blizzard’s epic worldbuilding.

Conquest of the New World: Deluxe Edition casts you as a colonial governor in the Age of Discovery, tasked with claiming new territories for your European homeland. The scenario branches based on your choices: forging alliances with native tribes can yield strategic advantages, while opting for brute military force leads to different story outcomes. These narrative forks add replay value and a nuanced take on colonial-era power struggles.

M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration immerses players in a future where humanity scavenges distant planets for resources. The story unfolds through mission briefings and in-game events, revealing rival corporations, rogue AI threats, and mysterious alien artifacts. While the plot isn’t deep character drama, it effectively contextualizes each mission’s objectives and keeps the stakes high as you expand your mechanized empire.

Overall Experience

Triple Conflict stands out as a value-packed collection that both preserves gaming history and delivers varied strategic experiences. Having each game on its own CD ensures quick loading and isolated installs, while the fourth CD’s PDFs of all manuals are a thoughtful inclusion—no more hunting for paper leaflets or online scans. This archival approach appeals to both retro enthusiasts and newcomers curious about the genre’s roots.

Installation and setup are straightforward on compatible systems, though modern players may need to apply compatibility patches or run the games in emulation modes for the smoothest experience. Once configured, each title runs reliably, and switching between medieval fantasies, colonial simulations, and sci-fi warfare keeps gameplay sessions fresh and engaging.

Ultimately, Triple Conflict delivers on its promise: three classic strategy benchmarks in one package. Whether you’re reliving your first RTS moments with WarCraft, plotting empire-building in Conquest, or commanding futuristic mechs in M.A.X., this compilation offers hours of strategic depth and historical appreciation. It’s a must-have for strategy aficionados and a compelling, affordable entry point for anyone looking to explore the genre’s formative titles.