Release Date: 1996-04-30
Developer/Publisher: Stick Man Games / 3DO
Genres: Strategy,Retro
Platforms: PC Games
WARNING: Prepare to sacrifice many of the unimportant things in your
life (such as eating, sleeping, working, talking to others, etc.) if
you get your hands on Chaos Overlords. This is the most addictive game
I have played in years.
The concept is simple enough. The game itself is a turn-based
strategic gang battle (see Urban Turfwar) played on an 8x8 grid. You
are a Chaos Overlord (read: Futuristic Kingpin) whose sole purpose in
life is to control as many city blocks as possible, therefore assuring
a healthy nest egg for your retirement. You accomplish this goal by
hiring gangs (read: Guys With Bats) and influencing local merchants in
secured blocks to pay for insurance. Your gangs can also perform other
tasks such as chaosing (read: Looting) an area to fatten your wallet
and rumbling with rival gangs (read: Opening Up a Can of Whoop-Ass). In
addition, some of your more intelligent gangs can research new
equipment. This is very important because, as everyone knows, he who
owns the most toys (especially the Plasma Generator) wins. You can even
equip your gangs with such items as cool hats and boom-boxes to make
them better diplomats and looters, respectively.