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IN SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU END YOUR TURN...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 40 / 40
Date: February 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is an EXCELLENT game that takes the galaxy civilization games a clear step further. Open-ended like a new science-fiction world and played as a seat-of-your-pants RTS game, this is a very intelligent hybrid that I greatly enjoyed.

In effect, SINS is a successful blend of the wonderful GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS and HOMEWORLD series, with a sprinkling of TOTAL WAR for good measure. This is NOT a turn-based civilization game, so expect a much faster pace. What this means is that while it maintains the characteristics of classic turn-based civilization games (exploration, expansion, exploitation and extermination), by relieving from the micromanagement tedium, it allows for an intense RealTime Strategy experience. Now, this probably may not appeal to turn-based purists, but I would advise an open mind: this is a good game.

This concept-blending is new, so expect a slow learning curve - it took me a number of ...false-starts to get the hang of it: after all, it plays like an RTS and (although simplified) it still has enough of turn-based features that need to be taken care of. The interface is simplified and informative at the same time, with info trees sliding out only when needed.

There are three different factions to choose from (financiers, technologists and psitecs) - yet, their differences focus mainly on research tree-branching and ship designs. What I did not like was that the ships of all three factions are effectively the same and their differences are only skin-deep. What I would have liked to find (and was disappointed to the point of withholding the 5th star for fun) was ship design and building! Remember how much fun was to design our own spaceships (from freighters to battleships) in GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS II? Well, no such luck here. Let's hope they keep it in mind when the patch gets prepared.

Quick and constant exploration is not only encouraged by a necessity if one wants to survive - let alone win. Spaceships built within a solar system cannot travel beyond it, unless using "wormhole"-like singularities. This adds to realism but can stretch your finances to their breaking point - since only locally built ships can be used. Moreover, it makes really hard to locate the strategic points to either built defenses or focus an attack. The AI will constantly be bypassing your planning like the Maginot line - and leave you with such a French feeling...

The graphics (of all of backgrounds, planets and units) are very nicely done. I really liked the multiple afterburners tracing through space as a spaceship squadron was dopplering past my screen...And less-than-cutting-edge PC owners rejoice: even 4-5 years old systems can handle this game like a breeze!
What I truly appreciated was the realistic scale of things. Galaxies are much larger than star systems, which in turn are much larger than planets, which in turn are much larger than space stations...than spaceships and so on. How is this achieved? Excellent zooming!
SUPREME COMMANDER was the first game to introduce strategic zoom; however, SINS implements it much better and shows how it should had been done: from a galaxy to a single planet and to a single spaceship, zooming in or out firmly maintains the effectiveness of battle controls by grouping and simplifying the info-tiles as one zooms out. In SupCom, we had to chose between either discerning the units or moving ...info-tiles around the battlefield - not a bad first attempt, mind you. In SINS, one almost never looses perspective: ongoing battles, critical hotspots, or colony revolts are all easily identifiable in real-time.

On another note, SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE is a STARDOCK release which, yes, means their specialized installation utility. Nevertheless, this game hides no DRM or other intrusive security idiocy. Since trust and respect between a game publisher and its customers is a two-way street (and STARDOCK was willing to prove its friendship first), SINS deserves our support.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sins of a Solar Empire rocks my block off

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: March 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I was originnaly turned on to this genre by the space RTS games Homeworld, Homeworld 2 and Homeworld: Cataclysm. Playing Homeworld over and over again got progressively less challenging, because every time I played the campaign mode, I knew where the enemies were and how many of them to expect.

Sins does not feature a campaign mode, which I only missed at first, but was completely blown away by the gaming experience sans story. Battles and development happen in real time but not too quickly. The battle arena can either be an itsy-bitsy one or two star system or a just massive galaxy of ten or twenty stars. I have been looking, waiting, pining for a this game, having followed development on the games' forums for a year or so before release. I was more than pleased with this evolution of the genre. In my wunderlust for a space rts, I had purchased and played the game Sword of the Stars, but was dissapointed in the turn based method of play.

The end-of-the-day reason why I play these games is for the capitol ships. I enjoy sending a small group of frigates into an enemy base where I am grossly outnumbered, attack, retreat to the jump line with the enemy units in hot pursuit, and then have, oh say, six or so Capitol ships jump in and mop up. It makes me giggle.

Pretty good 4X space RTS game...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: April 06, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is pretty fun. I'm a micromanagement type of player so I couldn't say I enjoyed every aspect of this game. But, for someone looking for a good looking, 4X space RTS, who doesn't care for too much detail/micromanagement, this is the game for you.

There are a wide variety of scenarios and maps to let you play just about any type of game you want. When I say wide, I mean it. Loads of maps.

Ship building is simpler than other games in that you get a couple of starting ship types and then research to gain the others (there are 5-6 frigate class ships, then corsairs). You start with a capital ship and need to research the ability to expand your fleet and the number of capital ships you can have. Other research upgrades your fleet's abilities while your capital ships level up with experience giving you a sort of mini-RPG game as your capital ships gain new abilities.

Resource management is simplified down to two resources (not including money). Crystal and Metal are mined from asteroids in the various systems you control. You can also trade them on the black market in case you have a surplus. Each planet produces taxes and you have to...wait for it...research the ability to colonize harsher worlds like arctic and volcanic worlds (not sure how you colonize a volcanic world but hey, it's science FICTION).

The visuals in the game are pretty nice (the trailers are part of the reason I was drawn to this game). You can scroll down to the individual ships and watch them as they fight your opponents ships. They aren't crazy detailed at the highest zoom, which is unfortunate, but then again, you can smoothly go from close up to galactic view with a quick scroll so, I guess there's some give and take.

The AI, even on easy, has a tendency to do a better job of building out crazy fleets...I guess they know how to play the game better than I could so I must be missing something. :)

Diplomacy is very simplistic. It has an interesting twist but it's one sided in a way. You can propose treaties and such but that's about it. They can offer you bounties if you accomplish something or if you do something for them (like give them resources). I'd have liked to been able to offer the same sort of bounties they offered and/or have the ability to bundle an offer with a request (sort of like Civ 4).

All in all, it's a good game to grab if you're into this genre. I've played a number of games like this over the years and each one has had good things and bad things (no one ever really gets it "right" for me anyways).

The good here include the graphics/visuals, variety of maps, general simplicity of gameplay (in that it allows you to oversee your empire without having to spend too much time worrying about system 22939 in the middle of nowhere), ship RPG gaming, and simple resource management.

The bad here are the simplicity of features that I'd think some people would like complex like diplomacy, ship designs/abilities and the like and some confusion in the research tree (I needed to research some ability to allow myself to expand my fleet or something for one of the non-human races and I could not find the ability ANYWHERE in the research tree!).

BUY IS NOW DO IT!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 20
Date: March 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

frigg'n if u loved rebellion , homeworld , any empire building game jebus.. this tops em all.. its awesome.
and time goes by SOOOO FAST. im like sitting playing like ok 5 more min.. and 2 hours go by.. its bad.. real bad if u have a gf or a job u have to go to in the morning haha

awesome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is pretty awesome. As far as space combat goes, it really is top notch....a little like Eve. My only gripe about the game is that there is no ground combat. You glass a planet and then have to build a fresh new colony on it.

SINS

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

As many have said before this is a great game. The game has a pretty low learning curve but the AI will keep you honest. This is not a fast paced game. You can go get a drink or do a BIO run and not lose the battle during the brief time you are away from the keyboard. For the most part the games are not a quick affair. There is your typical build up your fleet and go and destroy stuff. You can RUSH your opponent but there will be no Zerg like attacks in this game. This is a very slow paced enjoyable game that most people will like if they are into 4x type games. I recommend this game to all of my friends who are looking for something a little bit slower in pace yet still requires some thought in what you are going to attack or defend.

NOT USABLE ON MY COMPUTER

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 11
Date: April 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Ok, so I don't know how well it performs. Or how fun it is. I didn't find out my computer was probably too slow at 1.3 Mz, and too little RAM at 512 MB, and too little power in my graphics card. In my defense, I don't think that was all spelled out to me up front. I read it later in the README FILE after I loaded it and was unable to keep it running for more than 2 minutes. So, I still think the pitch on the game sounds great, and I got a new power house game playing laptop on order as of today. I'll make it work in a week or two, for sure! Buy this program, but make sure you got the power to play it. Or the money to buy the power to do so.

This is only t

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

After being a bit slow to get on board with SoaSE I am VERY impressed both with the gameplay and the best visuals I have seen in a game environment.

The gameplay is big but not hard to understand if you read the freaking manual! And play through the supplied tutorials.

You will need at least a capable computer. If you have a low end system it won't handle the strain and you probably shouldn't be worrying about buying high graphic, processor intensive products anyway.

If you do have a capable system....Stand back you are gonna be impressed.

EOF

Not a long term game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I was very pleased with the game. It is always fun seeing large fleet battles. When you can control the events, it's even more fun.
The game is easy to learn and conquer. I can't imagine anyone playing this game 3-4 days a week, however it is fun to go back and play one or two times a week.

If you warp an overwhelming fleet into a planet's system, the enemy will simply warp away. This gives them a chance to regroup, build, and counter attack. So warp a small fleet in and wait for the enemy fleet to fully engage. Then warp the assault force right on top of them. Focus all you have on one capital ship at a time and watch them try to scurry away.

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