A great game. Not as complicated as it could have been. Not as bad as people are griping.
In my 20ish hours of gameplay, I've gotten 1 race of herbivores to the Space Age, and 1 race of omnivores to the Tribal Age. My review is based on what I've seen since then:
Graphics: 9.0
- The graphics are innovative, but not the best there is. This is partially noted by the fact that this game is playable on somewhat low-end systems. It even plays on my laptop, which just BARELY makes due according to the system requirements, but plays well nonetheless.
- Those people looking for a game with the best graphics in the world should look to other games. IMHO, the graphics of Mass Effect are far superior to that of Spore. However, the graphics fit the theme of a game that is generalized across many genres, not centered upon one or two.
Sound: 9.5
- Most notable about sound in Spore are the sound effects, not the music. The calls that your creatures make sound realistic, and the ambient effects are very fun to listen to.
- The music tracks are well thought out for each section of the game. For example, the Cell Stage has a nicely paced track, which is fitting for it's quick but enjoyable gameplay. IMHO, the Tribal stage has the best track. It reminds me of the music from the Stone Age of Empire Earth.
Gameplay: 8.5
- For a game that covers many platforms, I was surprised with the relatively simplistic controls. Each phase of the game has slightly different controls, but the basic concept remains the same: survive. But in game where controlling a species as it advances, the concept fits perfectly.
- One thing that is simple to note is the fact that this game was made for all ages of players, meaning that it's not a complicated learning curve. However, some of the most simple things may take some reading to figure out. As an example, in the creature stage of the game, it took me nearly 45 minutes to figure out how to form my pack, and how it affects certain actions.
Value: 9.0
- As mentioned earlier, this game covers many genres, many platforms. This makes it a value in the box. As their all seamlessly run in one game, that's very impressive (at least, in my book).
- Most notable (to me, at least) are the multiple creation engines that come with the game. The ability to create many different types of things (not just creatures, but buildings, vehicles, etc.) is very impressive. Ease of use makes things even better, as there isn't any hunting for specific points to put things on (take Galactic Civilization's creation tools as an example of that).
- Being able to share content with other people online is very cool. Since the game automatically draws from creatures created by other users, you get to play with other people's creation as you like (and can ban ones that you don't like all that much).
- Being able to replay a game many times always raises it's value. With many things to change, and lots of options, this game has the potential to be played for many hours, and many days.
Overall: 9.0
With all things considered, this game has a lot of potential. That, when explored, can make for one of the best overall experiences for many types of gamers. However, as some people have noticed, the game is also easily conquered, if you don't spend much time in the creation engines or exploring all the options.
For anyone who loves the aspect of building things in a game (be it a civilization, species, or just a person), this game will be a blast to play. Those who are looking for a game with straightforward and linear gameplay, however, will be disappointed by how quickly the game can be completed in.