City building games like this are hard to make in a way that is unique while also being playable. They succeeded at both. Not too many variables to manage. Just enough to keep you paying attention. And, the cultist, Pirates of Penzance dialogue was a nice touch. However, the cheesiness of that ending cutscene was... The CHEESIEST. The story that they tried to weave through the game wasn't all that bad, and it was almost an afterthought. And, they still could have pulled it off, if they hadn't blown the landing. But, they blew the landing. Recommended for gamers who like city building.
Not a fan of playing the side of evil, but if that's your thing, knock yourself out. However, you will experience bugs and crashes, repetitive environments. The developer needs to provide a different game mode for those interested in something a little less from the dark side.
I love the X universe and was hoping that this would be one more game in a great well-crafted series. Why they chose to go off-course with this game, I'll never know. Unfortunately, it's more than just a game that has gone 'off-course'. It is a game that is frustrating and counter-intuitive. And, it breaks the number one rule for a game: Don't make the player mad at you. And yes, you will get really mad at the developers of this game. You might get over it. You might not.
This really is a supremely unique strategy game. I cannot think of a single 4X game to compare it to. Any true strategy player is going to love this. And, the DLCs really add new dimensions to the game. And... replay value is huge. This is a game that you will ALWAYS want to turn back to. It is truly exceptional. GOG hit a home run here.
