Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection

I've followed Sword of the Stars since the original game was released up to the latest expansion of the first game, winding up buying multiple copies of the game over the course of my life. I've yet to regret any purchase. As others have mentioned before, things that make this stand out as a gem: 1.) Unique races: Each race has their own FTL technology, making the strategy portion that much more enjoyable. 2.) Randomized tech tree: Each race again has their own specialties (ex. Humans can research projectile weapons better than Liir while Liir are better at energy weapons). This makes each game a joy to play as you never know what tech tree you'll have by end game which makes the arms race also a treat. 3.) Random events are fun to try to beat. There's enough variety in the game to spice up each game. 4.) Large galaxies to conquer. A large galaxy makes for a lot of opponents. Always a treat in 4x games. 5.) A nice blend of TB and RTS. TB for the strategy map and RTS for the planetary combat. That said, there are still some areas where some people may have issues with: 1.) Fairly simple art. The art for character portraits and loading screens are ok. It's not going to win any awards but nor is it an eyesore. It still could be better for its time. 2.) Multiplayer is basically dead. Due to gamespy closing, I have no idea how multiplayer even works now. Am I biased with the 5 star review? Yes, but I believe it's a fair assessment from my end. Even now I enjoy this game over other single-player 4x games.

In some ways a Total War game in space. As other 4X games, you get to rule the expansion in this (random with options or scenario) galaxy of your chosen empire/race. There is not a huge number of different races, but there is very good diversity in how they look, feel and expand. Pros and Cons for every race, traits, exist. For example the humans get to use space lanes to travel between the stars which limits their expansion to where the lanes lead to and from. But, later on they can develop technologies which make traveling through them a very very fast way of traveling. The meat of the game is the turn based strategy map gameplay. You choose where to build ships, where to move your ships, how to develop your systems (with sliders), diplomacy etc. The battles can be automated if you prefer to focus on this part of the game. The galaxy map and GUI is beautiful, although it might take some while to get used to how you look around the galaxy. Research trees are randomized. Just because you got technology tree X in one game, it doesn't mean your scientists will find it and research it next time. You thought things were hard with shields? Try without lol. It's a lovely change from the norm as it provides not just an extra challenge but also more diversity to gameplay and you are forced to develop new strategies. The AI can be hard and have no doubt, you will lose a lot till you get the hang of it. The battles are in real time with 3D, lots of 3D. The graphics are not as impressive as they used to be, but they are damn fine and look really nice even in 2016. Your ships show on them the damage they get. If a turret is destroyed, you can see it. If parts of the ship are on fire, you can see it, etc. The controls are similar to RTS games, but there are differences. You will need to practice. Overall a very good 4X game. Among the top 10 of 4X games set in space, ever.

There are other reviews detailing the gameplay; here, I'll write about the way Sword of the Stars engages the imagination. For a game with no campaign mode, this game has one heck of a story. Every race has a solid background; while each race starts off from a basic concept - space dolphins, space crows, uhh Cardassians? - those concepts are carefully developed, with a keen eye for detail and consequence. For instance, the Cardas-- uh, the Tarka are a species of warm-blooded reptilians who reproduce oviparously; the game then takes the time to describe the consequences this has for the society, how it creates 3 distinct castes, how it affects social interactions, and even what the typical gender biases are. When I hear the voice of a Changed Male leading my ships, or when I see heraldry centered around an egg, I can better imagine what it means for my faction, and I enjoy it - both sweet victory and bitter defeat - so much more. The story-related particularities of a race are deeply reflected in the game. Due to differences in propulsion techniques, technology affinities and ship design philosophies, each race plays very different from all other: when playing the Zuul (hunger given teeth, fur and tail), I find myself playing much more aggressively than I usually do - and I enjoy myself. There are plenty of references and tropes from SF works; the Humans feel quite like Earthforce from Babylon 5, there's the micro-quantum-teleportation FTL (I recognise it from Independence War), StarTrek Warp, orbital bombardment, bioweapons, shields, gravity weaponry, AI. AI rebellions form their own independent faction, for more procedural story. Oh, and some of the developers worked on Homeworld and, esp. Homeworld: Cataclysm - and it shows. First time I heard the Liir voice was a very special moment for me. In conclusion, excellent worldbuilding makes every skirmish game a story-driven campaign. My experience: played the game since release, 2000 hours+. Not bored.

One of my fav 4x games. 1) Unique races 2) Randomized tech tree 3) Each race has it one FTL 4 )Each race again has their own specialties 5) Mix of turn based and RTS Aswell as lots of maps and big ones to not to mention mods to. And great art and music and atmosphere. One of my all time fav 4X games glad its on gog.