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Impressive Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I was looking for a fun interstellar RTS and found this. The game can range from 1 hour to several days in skirmish mode against computers. Depending on how big of a match you feel like playing. The ships blow up very nicely, fleets are relatively easy to control, and building an empire is good fun. There are several things in the game I would have personally liked to be different. Like culture, and the economy; which are too simple. Although for some that is good because they prefer huge fleet battles... which the game has plenty of. Overall this game is a great title, and hopefully other games will develop along these lines with varying complexities in game-play.

Stellar gameplay by far, but something's missing...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Sins of a Solar Empire is by far one of the top sci-fi RTS games of the year. It has amazing graphics (I was completely sold when I switched to cinematic mode) and a easy-to-use user interface, which allows you to command your empire at the simple click of a mouse. For those of you who are in love with strategy games, this is the game for you. Battles can go on for days through to weeks depending on the size of the map and your opponent's skill. Thankfully, you can always save your game and pick it back up right where you left off, so that you don't have to be glued to your screen for hours on end ( not that you woldn't want to).

I can go on and on about all the great things that SINS has to offer, however, I prefer to highlight one thing that I would have liked to know before purchasing the game. That is the absence of a campaign mode. I think that albeit an incredible game, a campaign mode would have really made it all the better. Apart from that, SINS is really a 9.5 out of 10!

Nice space battling. A bit complex and impersonal.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I don't buy a lot of games but I'm an real-time simulation addict. So, I expect a game to draw me in and be a lot of fun. I prefer PC games over console games because they're more interactive with the ability to use the keyboard and mouse. This game has delivered on what I expected of it very well.

Basically, this is a space-ship battling game between 3 different types of ship-making cultures. There's 10 or so smaller fighting vessels and half as many big cruiser battleships that upgrade with experience.

There's missiles and bombs and lasers and big explosions and great exploding sound effectss (forget real-world space physics already will ya?), and there's also the science fiction standby of psychics or psionics or whatever its supposed to be called here.

Some repetitive human voice acting adds to the effects but I think the description is misleading that this is about different races with historical cultures, blahditty-blah. You don't ever get the feeling that you are "talking" to anyone. Perhaps the online version is better, but I've not tried that aspect yet.

Okay, who cares. Let's blow some stuff up. And you do. Lots and lots of other ships and space platforms and equipment, etc. But pretty much you have just two goals -- takeover everything by blowing up the enemies, and use the galactic marketplace to get other enemies to stop attacking you and start attacking the same enemies you're attacking.

It's quite complex at first, and no matter what, it's very time consuming. But if you have an interest, there's a lot here that's enjoyable and rich in the audio-visual experience and abilities to create strategic manipulations. It's easy to lose, and difficult to walk away from this game for someone like me. I will likely sell it just because it's TOO consuming.

I would have appreciated something more about on the smaller side of the scale -- captains & crew with personal appeal or planets with cranky government officials or even a view from inside an individual ship. Maybe just making one particular ship THE lead Admiral or something. But really, all that's nitpicking -- it's plenty good as it is.

Bombing planets? Where do I sign up?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

By doing a real-time strategy game mixed with elements from turn-based games (or 4x as they call it; Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate), Sins was doing something daring. They succeeded, to an extent.

First, it should be noted that although this game will work on most computers, it is capable of bringing the most powerful machines to their knees. Sins allows players to build a map with no limits. That said, if you play on a map your computer can handle, they graphics are simply stunning. From a horde of fighters racing by to planetary bombardment weapons (which are sinfully fun to watch), I was very impressed with the detail. Yet, only the best machine can deliver these results.

There is no plot to this game, simply a back-story that describes why the three species are in combat with each other. Here is one problem with Sins: they tried to build three distinct races (one based on commerce, another on technology, and another on psychic abilities) but in the end made them too balanced. Besides ship special abilities and technologies researched in the late game, all teams are essentially the same.

Another problem is the fact that you may be required to organize multiple battles at the same time, which can sometime result in your strategy losing its cohesion. Also, diplomacy in the game is somewhat... lacking. Simple demands by other races for favors, and if you complete them, you can sometimes agree to a cease-fire, alliance, or trade-rights. Still, these only tarnish a small part of the game.

The strategy part of the game is pretty standards; collect resources, colonize planets and improve them; but it's the fact that this is all running in real time. At any moment, an enemy fleet could show up on your door-step, whether or not you're ready. Buildable defenses can only do so much; you will need a fleet for defense. Everyone will have to develop their own strategies for this, which is some of the fun; I found there is lots of room for experimentation and development of technique.

Multiplayer is, quite simply, great. Combine the treachery of Civilization and the raw essence of RTS online game, and you'll get Sins. New players will have a tough time, though, getting indoctrinated into the community (Simply put, at first you're going to be slaughtered) and, like all games, there are people who exploit certain characteristic to their advantage (curse you, illuminator spammers!). Still, a very good online experience.

Sins tried something new, and considering that, they did quite well. Although a bit rusty, the game still has a very addictive charisma. And, like Civilization, you'll get that "one more turn feel", except there are no turns, creating quit a dilemma.

Stardock Changed the Rules

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 11
Date: July 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have supported Stardock for years now. I purchased Galactic Civilizations (2 copies), Altarian Prophecy, Galactic Civilizations 2 and Sins of the Solar Empire.

However that all ends now, since Stardock has changed course in midstream. They will no longer put out stand alone patches for the game, but now they are forcing the user to download and install Impulse to get any future content.

This method of DRM is not as bad as Spore's or MassEffect, but it still ends in control over the user. In fact Brad (owner of Stardock) basically said he does not care what others think, he is going to do what he wants.

It is now either Brad's way or the highway. My recommendation is take the highway, and stop being forced like cattle into the pens they tell you to go in to.

Take the highway, it is cheaper, less painful and you do not have a person or company dictating to you that you will download their software because they want it on your computer.

DRM is a DRM no matter how much they tell you it is not. They are now setting the rights by which you will be able to download any future content for their games.

Strategy freaks get ready for a new addiction.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is probably the most addicting RTS since Age of Empires or even Command and Conquer but it has the feel of Space Empires or Galatic Civilizations. This game has elements of both C&C and Galatic Civilizations and pulls it off almost flawlessly. Surprisingly enough it works on even a decent system with all of the MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS!!! It is very flexible and very fun; the gameplay is easy to understand mostly and the tutorials are very helpful. Battles are intense, the details well done and the building of your empire is easy. The only real negatives I can find are the technologies of the three factions are similar in almost half the areas and that some parts of expansion can be hampered if you build something you don't want near one planet and end up dismantling the installation and then replacing it elsewhere. But it is one of the best stategy games ever made and any one who likes strategy games buy this game!

Graphics: 5/5 stars
Gameplay: 5/5 stars
Sounds: 4.5/5 stars
Controls: 4.5/5 stars
Fun: 10/5 stars

Overall: 5/5 stars

Good RTS game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Not too much amazing staff inside the game.
But total the game software system compelte rate of this game is perfect.
Although not have fantastic history background, the game itself still proivde a lot of fun.
Comparing with HomeWorld the game battfiled scale is been enlarged. You need to go though several plant space system in one mission. The military factor been reduced and economic factor been enlarged. The battle control also been simplified.
The vision inside the game is also good.
Total I will say it is a good game and can be played whatever the time.

Nice try, but needs more

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is a pretty good game. I enjoyed playing this game, for about 2 to 3 weeks, then started to crave more from it.

Its got very simple gameplay, and this is fine to start with as you can get into the gameplay very quickly, but as you get into it you will start to want more depth, more umph if you like. Some variation would be nice.

Once you have learned how to do it. It doesnt matter how big the galaxy you are playing in or how many planets or apponants you have. Its still the same plod along game.

A little more depth and variation would have really made this a winner.

Pretty, but BORING

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The battles look great when you zoom in, but you really can't fight that way because you miss too much, like more enemies joining the fight. You basically spend all your time fighting off pirate attacks (when in history have pirates ever messed with fleets of warships?). There are three different factions you can play, but the differences in ships are pretty minor and they play about the same. If there is a "tactical" aspect of fighting these ships, I missed it - seems like you just get them close and watch them slug it out.

The "real time strategy" thing is not really a positive thing in my mind. You end up scurrying around trying to sneak in the research and building in between more pirate attacks. Just makes the game feel more harried. After a week or so, I stopped playing this - I would not recommend it.

Not Impressed

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 63
Date: February 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Sins of a Solar Empire

Ok so I maybe the only guy in the bunch here that has something negative to say about this game. Why you ask? Well first off its just not as intuitive and well designed as I read and now experienced. How so you ask? Well the GUI - or graphic interface just looks like they got some inexperienced guy in windows paint to slap together the graphics. The placement of icons, groupings of icons and color scheming just doesn't make sense. Now aside from the general game's interface, the graphics(ships, worlds general in-game asethetics) definitely does not rank up there with titles coming out these days(World In Conflict or the old school game:Homeworld 2. SINS graphics look really dated(circa early 90's) and uninspired. Lots of blocky polygons and so-so texturing. Kinda amazing since this thing went through so many betas and took soo long in development. Granted tho, it doesn't have load issues, you can move pretty seamless around the enviroment and it has some nifty effects. Voice over work -bad - lets not mince words people. It sucks. No single player campaign but lots of ability to custom make your own scenarios and maps.

Have yet to mess with the multiplayer - but seems cool you can save it out. I suppose I was expecting something on par with Homeworld 2 and as immersive. Should of waited for the demo... Suppose I could try and take it back or use it for a coaster on my table. My suggestion, wait for the demo.

**To counter those who think I didn't crank up the graphics - I did. Got a 8800GTX 768 and a dual core 3.0ghz with 4gigs of ram. Nuff Said - nothing changed. The graphics were bad a medium and didn't change at highest.
*** There is strategy in this game, just no story, no immersive binding element that makes me want to come back for more...I suppose I am old school. Give me a story and then I might hop online if it is worth my time.

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