What if your local accountant tried to make a game? This would be the result. Mind numbingly Boring.
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- It's a space empire game, and you know how rare these are.
- Depth, maybe too much of it. However it suggests that if you really spend the time to learn the game and understand it, it might be rewarding in the end.
- High level of automation. The game can play itself if you want it to.
CONS
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- Seriously outdated graphics.
- Daunting interface.
- Overly complex. If you are anything but a hardcore gamer, avoid this game. If you are a normal to casual gamer, run!
- EXTREMELY steep learning curve. This is not the same as complexity, some games are complex and deep but have decent learning curves. A game should be easy to learn, hard to master... not the other way around.
REVIEW
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First thing you notice about the game are the outdated graphics, and the daunting interface.
The graphics look like something out of 2002 or worse, as they resorted to 2D sprites from the 90s for everything ingame. The ships are blurry and mostly all look alike, the icons are hardly visible, moving objects are not smooth but jump around one pixel at a time. I am all for gameplay over eyecandy, but the graphics have that "PowerPoint presentation" feeling to them which is not exactly pleasant.
As for the interface, there is a button for anything and everything. I don't think the developers ever heard of the concept of "less is more" when it comes to user interfaces. And memorizing what each of the 30+ buttons do is not easy as they all look mostly the same.
Feeling bad vibes from the the interface and graphics, I tried to ignore these 2 and jump into the gameplay to find the "fun element". In other words something that is enjoyable about the game so I can at least find some motivation to stick around and learn the ropes. What I found was a complex game, with many (too many?) stats, buttons, variables, and game concepts. (And not the fun kind mind you.)
The tutorials didn't help. They just describe things in length (feels like reading a dictionary) instead of giving you working knowledge of what to do and how to play. Ok so I know how to zoom, see my empire stats, and how to automate it. But how do I find and conquer an opponent? Where do I start? What objectives should I pursue?
I was mostly clueless as to how to play after completing both basic and advanced tutorials. I tried to break the ice with the game. I tried to find its redeeming qualities. But unable to find a shred of fun in the 8-9 hours I spent on it, I just had to give up on it and move on. Yes I gave up on this game before even fully understanding it, it is that hard to pick up.
I am a firm believer that any game deserves to be fully played and completed in order to be reviewed properly, but honestly I could not stomach the game for more than a few hours. Playing this game felt like doing my taxes... checking numbers, filling up forms, trying to figure out obscure directives / gameplay elements, and no fun at all in the end.
Why should I keep playing? This is a serious question, message me if you have the answer because I'd like that 40$+ pricetag to not have been a total waste.
THE COMPETITION (ALSO GOOD ALTERNATIVES)
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In the same genre there is SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE. A 2008 game you can find at around 20$ now, and which is 40 times better than distant worlds will ever hope to be. Or GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS 2, a great 2008 game too.
Hell even Galactic civilization 1 which came out in 2003 looks better and plays better than distant world. Not exaggerating here, go check screenshots of both games you will see that in GC planets / suns / etc look better, ships are more diverse designs, the interface has better usability, etc.
CONCLUSION
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So far the only people I met who appreciate this game were the ones who have been posting on the game forums for a while, following its development and learning as much as they can about it. In other words, its hardcore fans. (This explains its ridiculously inflated user ratings.)
I'd like to to think of myself as a space RTS game fan, yet I was not able to appreciate this game. Thus unless you are one of these rare individuals who have an unusually high tolerance for complex simulations with steep learning curves, don't mind presentation at all, and can spend additional time on forums doing your possible to understand this obscure game ; I'd stay away from this one.