If you like evolution, are a very creative person, don't expect a complex and challenging game and are a huge Maxis fan, this is the game for you.
However, it's not worth 30 bucks imho because, as I said, it's not very complex. Furthermore it's repetitive and requires an Origin account for online features.

I recommend you to wait for the Fall Sale next month and grab it for 10 or 15 bucks if most or all of the points mentioned above apply to you.

How crucial are the online features?

Afaik it's only sharing creations (which can be done without an online account as well, as explained here) as well as unlocking achievements. I'm playing offline and can tell that you can indeed enjoy the game without the online features. If you want some user-created content, just see above.

to me spore was cool till the RTS style kicked in. did not fit the game at all. but that's my two cents.

Man.... I was hoping you guys would say this game is great. The cell level gameplay looks so cool to me.

The game is good, not going to be the best game ever, but it is good. I would not pay $30 for it, but it is worth getting when on sale for $10-12 for sure.

I was plenty amused for one night by it then never touched it ever again, so not a lot of longevity but still fun and that was when the game was brand new with no expansions and possible improvements done to it later.

It's too simplified. Cell stage is 'run away from big things and eat little things' until you get big enough to evolve, then you choose vegan or beef and grow some legs and head for land. Kinda like a condensed, Loony Toons version of real life.

Disclaimer: I'm simply responding to the thread's title. If it's all been said before, so be it.

I would suggest you wait for the next sale if you want to get it. It's alright, but it isn't fantastic. The current release has more content, but not much more than what was their in the retail release. The creature creator is one of the best parts of the game and that stops after the second stage. The vehicle and building creation later on affords a lot of flexibility. The 2005 demonstration looks more seamless and a bit more complex than the finished product.

Again, I like it. I loved playing with the creator tools and having a world ruled by skeksis or lizard people. I recommend checking out the LGR review.

Edit: Added disclaimer.

Nice spam.

(Heh, I guess I wasn't the only one thinking that as the spam post vanished after I submitted my comment)

Yeah, I jammed the "spam" button also before posting, but after my comment showed up the spam had vanished. I might have been the count to push it over into bye-bye land. :)

possibly
but the important thing is that its gone and nothing of value was lost

And?