Imperium Galactum
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Not to be confused with the much, much later Imperium Galactica, this was the first fully-functional commercial "4X" space game to hit the U.S. Many of the most important features in later 4X games appeared in this one: ship design, guerrilla warfare on captured planets, troop transports. It did not feature tactical space battles, however.

The main game screen displayed a grid of dots, with star systems shown by a larger circle with a color representing the star's type. Stars could have zero, one, or two inhabitable planets. Warships could be custom designed and were tracked individually with a maximum of 255 war ships per player in existence at one time. Transports could carry either colonists and troops and traders carried metal or food surpluses to where they were needed. During an invasion, the respective armies from each player would fight until one force was destroyed. However, planets thus captured could suffer from guerrilla resistance for several turns and if not eradicated could overthrow the invaders or assist your opponent's armies in the event of a counter invasion.

Given the tiny systems it ran on, this game did a very good job of simulating many important considerations, and was the first introduction of some of the things that have become staples in 4X space games; most notably ship design and refits.

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Description from the packaging:

Pax Galactum.
There's nothing so peaceful as a dead alien.
Where once Rome conquered a world, now you can conquer a universe.
Imagine an expanse of 50 solar systems. You are master of a planet whose resources can be allocated for construction of warships and transports, planetary defense, armies, industrial complexes and research. Against up to three players, human or computer, you strive to increase the population of your superior race and amass power through negotiations or war.

Design your own legion of starships that can ravage an entire planet. They are rated for different weapon systems, defense and evasive capabilities, armor, speed and size. Your ships must be maintained lest they deteriorate. Each warship in your fleet can be individually monitored and repaired.

Once you discover an independent world, you can try to convince it to join your empire. Should diplomacy fail, there is always brute force. The combat options include: fighting ship-to-ship, either alone or against the planet's defenses, bombing the planet using a "hit-and-run" tactic, or even purging the planet of all life and civilization.
If you choose to conquer instead of annihilate, you must dispatch ships to transport your armies to the planet's surface. You'll need your troops to not only subjugate the populace, but they must also suppress any subsequent guerilla resistance.

Just as Julius Caesar once forged the Roman Empire, you'll now struggle to control the stars and create- the Imperium Galactum!
Strategic maps shows the entire star system of the game.
Tactical screen display for a closer look.
Production phase display.
