Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dark Colony places players in command of either the human Colonial Marines or the alien Taar, offering two distinct playstyles that keep the experience fresh. The streamlined resource management—where harvesters extract credits directly from geysers—allows you to focus more on tactical engagements rather than tedious economy micromanagement. Base construction is limited to designated nodes, so securing and holding strategic points becomes vital as you expand your influence across the Martian landscape.

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Combat is the centerpiece of Dark Colony, with an emphasis on fast-paced skirmishes and unit variety. Infantry squads, armored vehicles, and specialized support units each bring unique strengths to the battlefield. Meanwhile, the officer character you promote through battlefield achievements can turn the tide with powerful abilities such as calling in airstrikes or boosting nearby troop morale. This mix of standard forces and hero‐style units adds depth to each encounter, rewarding careful positioning and timely use of special powers.

Ancient artifacts hidden throughout certain missions provide another layer of strategic decision-making. Scouring the map to locate these powerful relics can grant your faction game‐changing bonuses—but doing so often draws fierce opposition. The risk-reward dynamic forces you to weigh the benefits of the artifacts against the cost of diverting forces from other objectives. Overall, the gameplay loop of capturing nodes, gathering resources, and engaging in high‐stakes battles remains engaging from the first skirmish to the final confrontation.

Graphics

For a late-90s title, Dark Colony delivers a surprisingly atmospheric depiction of the Red Planet. The terrain textures, though modest by modern standards, effectively evoke Mars’s barren deserts, rocky outcrops, and the occasional ancient ruin. Each map feels distinct, and varying elevation levels play a key role in both unit visibility and strategic planning.

The unit models are well‐defined, with clear visual cues that distinguish human armor from alien chassis. Animation is smooth enough to convey weapon fire, explosions, and unit death sequences without cluttering the battlefield. Cutscenes and briefings employ cinematic angles and voiceovers that, while dated compared to today’s standards, still manage to convey a gritty sense of urgency as the war intensifies.

Lighting effects further enhance the mood, casting long shadows across the Martian landscape and highlighting the metallic sheen of both human and Taar forces. Occasional weather or atmospheric effects—such as dust devils or reddened skies—add visual variety without compromising performance. Although Dark Colony can’t compete with modern graphics engines, its art direction and faithful portrayal of an alien battlefield have a certain retro charm that fans of classic RTS games will appreciate.

Story

The narrative thrust of Dark Colony is straightforward but effective. Earth’s environmental collapse drives humanity to Mars, only to discover the planet is already claimed by the mysterious Taar. This collision of interests sets up a classic conflict where neither side is entirely villainous—humanity fights for survival, while the Taar seek a new home after losing theirs. This moral ambiguity lends more weight to the battles you wage.

Short cutscenes, mission briefings, and debriefings are peppered throughout the campaign, steadily advancing the storyline. Although these segments are relatively brief, they do a solid job of contextualizing each mission objective and revealing the high stakes of controlling the planet’s ancient weapons. The addition of your officer character’s promotions and decorations also ties gameplay performance back into the story, giving you a personal stake in your faction’s success.

The discovery of an extinct civilization’s ruins injects a compelling subplot: unlocking artifacts capable of devastating consequences. Factions race to secure these relics, leading to tense skirmishes around hidden temples and catacombs. This element of archaeological intrigue broadens the scope of the narrative, ensuring that the plot remains engaging throughout the campaign’s progression.

Overall Experience

Dark Colony offers a unique blend of simplified base-building, intense combat, and narrative-driven objectives that stand up well for an RTS from its era. The two‐faction approach gives the game excellent replay value, inviting you to master human tactics before switching sides to learn the Taar’s alien technology and strategies. Each campaign unfolds with scripted twists, culminating in battles that feel both challenging and rewarding.

While the graphics and interface may feel dated by today’s standards, the core gameplay mechanics remain solid and accessible. Newcomers to real-time strategy will find the simplified economy a gentle introduction, whereas veterans will appreciate the nuanced balance between unit micro-management and strategic map control. Audio cues, voiceovers, and music effectively build tension without overwhelming the senses, rounding out the immersion.

For fans of classic real-time strategy, Dark Colony is a hidden gem that showcases the genre’s late-90s innovations. Its focus on combat, faction asymmetry, and artifact-driven story arcs delivers a satisfying experience that still holds up decades later. Whether you’re a retro enthusiast or simply in search of a lean, combat-oriented RTS, Dark Colony earns a solid recommendation for those intrigued by warfare on the Red Planet.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10