Oil Imperium alias Black Gold
| Developer: reLINE | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Rainbow Arts | Sound: |
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| Year: 1989 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Management | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 4 alternating | Rating: |
6/10 | |
You’re entrusted with the keys to an oil company and a small fortune of five million dollars. Do what it takes to make your business thrive by crushing the competition… Hey! Come back!
Much like Ports of Call, I was initially hesitant to try it because the theme didn’t really appeal to me, but eventually, the clear and nice looking presentation quickly put my fears to rest: it’s a very accessible “simulation”.
You start by buying a concession in a region of the world, then you prospect to find the right spot to plant your first oil well. Then comes the tricky drilling phase (and the first borrowed arcade game) followed by the purchase of the first tank and starting production. Finally, all that’s left is to wait for the right moment to sell your oil at the best price. If your finances allow, take advantage of this waiting time to wage a commercial war on the fringes of legality against the three rival companies (in other words: sabotage!). Occasionally, your employees will contact you to resolve technical issues; for example, connecting pipelines (a poor copy of Pipe Mania) or putting out fires with dynamite…
Sadly, it quickly becomes apparent that the game relies much more on chance and boring, repetitive mini-arcade games than on any kind of judgment, and the only real subtlety is spotting the right oil fields. Unsurprisingly, the best spots are consistently found in the same locations each time you play, meaning that even in multiplayer, knowing the lay of the land trumps any strategic intent.
An anecdote from my thrilling life: during the music before a drilling phase, a mosquito flies right under my nose. Without a second thought, I grab my insect spray and chase after it. When I return, having taken care of it, what do I see on the screen?
Drilling successful!
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