Let’s get this one out of the way right at the start of this review. This game is a Souls-like, so if you don’t like difficult, unforgiving combat and game mechanics then this game will probably frustrate you. If you are unwilling to change up your approaches to combat based on which enemy you are facing, learn their combos, adapt, etc then you will have a bad time. I actually read a lot of these reviews and I can honestly say that the majority of the negatives were left in the throes of nerd rage. This game has the tendency of not only being brutal, but also kicking you while you are down repeatedly. Most of these negative reviews sound like they came from millennial gamers who like being spoon-fed. The game itself is so immersive and captivating. The moment that my character awoke in the brine-filled spawning pool all disoriented in a setting that only a Tool song could properly act as a soundtrack; I knew I was in for a good time. Space is awesome and creepy. Throw in a holocaust, people and creatures stirring in undeath, and a demon infestation and you have a downright amazing atmosphere. The combat is done very well. Visceral and deadly like Dark Souls, where a couple of lowly dreg-demons can easily rake half of your life away if you are careless. Combat where you can literally use a concrete pylon ripped from its rebar to smash in the frail, lithe bodies of extra terrestrials. Take the time to learn the flow and it exhilarating. Try to brute force your way by spamming attacks and you will be back here leaving a negative review like the other nerd ragers.
Everyone else has gone into detail so I will just say that this is one of my top 10 games of all time. It doesn’t matter how burned out I am with video games; I can always load Noita and lose myself for hours at a time. This is one of those “just one more try” games. This is also one of those games where you yell out loud when you die and start laughing. It’s just a pleasure through and through. I think I’m going to play it now.
I really wanted to like this. What's not to like about a randomly generated pixel dungeon crawl with classes and tons of items? First of all the control layout is bad, and even if you change the keybindings its broken and won't rebind a lot of your abilities. The UI is archaic and unintuitive. Half the time I died it was while fumbling around with my inventory trying to just equip a weapon while something 2 shotted me. Speaking of 2 shotting, basically every creature kills you in just a couple of hits. The hitboxes are bad, the combat is even worse.
Play as a thief, fading into and out of the shadows, neither seen nor heard. The only trace you leave behind are the missing riches and artifacts in your wake. Play as an assassin striking from the darkness to subdue your unsuspecting prey. Snap and sever necks while dragging your mark back into the gloom like a gator pulling a deer into the murk. Play as a lithe warrior. Parry blows with the grace of a mantis only to riposte at an opportune time and drive your blade right between the armored plates of an ogre juggernaut or elven sentinel. Play however you want in this grand adventure. The best part is that you play as a goblin; looking like you stepped right out of Stephen King’s “Cat’s Eye.”
Spore is amazing during the first three stages of the game. Completely engrossing and unique. However the game loses steam and becomes a slog on the last/longest stage of space travel and planetary conquest. Sure its fun to build your first tank, fortress, and spaceships. After that its just a repeat of the same over and over. The quests are uninspired and basically just time sinks. Taking over new planets is just a slog. Everything that you did during the evolution and advancement of your race has absolutely no bearing or effect on the endgame other than aesthetics. Did you make a violent race of 8 armed killers? Did you make a timid race of lute-playing bards? Doesn’t matter in Spore. I highly recommend you play this game if you never have. Just keep in mind that the endgame is boring and not worth playing for more than one planet.
How can this game gave so many positive reviews? The mythos, storyline and setting are all garbage to start off. The gameplay is basically a spreadsheet hidden behind some truly awful artwork that is never animated. The people are all boring, one dimensional cardboard cutouts. Maybe you enjoy the lore or artwork of this game. However once you have seen all of the “random” scenarios and they start repeating the same thing with different names you realize how shallow this game really is. TLDR: This isn't a game, it is a spreadsheet with shitty watercolor art and a “next turn” buttom.
Just as boring and strange as the first installent, King of Dragon Pass. I’ve never had a fantasy world be so bland and forgettable. Everything from the factions to the battles are a snore fest.
