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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 34 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: DreamCatcher Interactive
Developer: Metamorf Studios
Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: March 20, 2007
Summary
Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade takes place in the very distant future, three thousand years after what humans believe was the arrival of "the savior". The human race has conquered most of the Universe. They consider themselves a divine race, and think of all aliens as inferior; those that do not obey are punished or destroyed. The dominion of the human race was insured by organids - genetically designed organic machines, easily adaptable to any enemy strategy. Only one part of the Universe remains unconquered. It is the galaxy where the Universal Heart, an enigmatic entity that spawned all life and matter into the universe, is hidden. At least, that's what the humans believe... The player will take on a role of captain Iconah, a battle-hardened fleet commander and a brilliant genetic designer, sent on a quest to explore and conquer the Universal Heart. [DreamCatcher Interactive]
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Games Radar (in-house)
Genesis Rising, with its intriguing twist on the RTS genre, dares you to choose a side, and be counted.
Read Full Review >2404.org
The main quest is challenging and contains a great deal of replay value, not to mention original gameplay that actually works.
Read Full Review >PC Zone UK
I haven't enjoyed an RTS this much in a long time, not because it's spectacularly unique on a gameplay level, but because it has an aesthetic that's just so different from the pervasive goblin-WWII axis of RTS games. [June 2007, p.84]
Read Full Review >PC Format
Dodgy story, also lacking the 3D punch of Homeworld, but a satisfying space opera nonetheless. [May 2007, p.66]
Computer Games Online RO
Genesis Rising is a game with impressive graphics and some innovative ideas. Unfortunately, the stability problems and the questionable implementation of some ideas as well as the unexplained lack of some de-facto features in an RTS drag this title down.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Squinch your eyes shut during the movies and click blindly through the dialog segments as quickly as possible, learn to micromanage combat at a high rate of speed, and there is a game mixed in there that is both unique and enjoyable.
Read Full Review >PC Gamer
Though the storyline takes a while to ramp up, it's very engaging and provides a really enjoyable ending. [June2007, p.58]
PC Gamer UK
So many good ideas, but there're the cheese in a mousetrap of punishing difficulty. Proceed, but with great caution. [June 2007, p.82]
GameDaily
Genesis Rising presents many great ideas, but not enough attention was placed on unit management.
Read Full Review >GameShark
What it lacks in finer details and multiplayer functionality, it makes up for in backstory and dynamic, fluid, fast-paced gameplay. It’s not a classic, and it’s no Homeworld, but genre buffs could also do a lot worse.
Read Full Review >IGN
While adaptable living ships warping across the universe sounds like an awesome game, there were too many issues with interface, campaign pacing, and presentation to come out a winner.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
Genesis Rising makes a small leap forward in terms of an interesting tech system based on genetics, but then takes two huge leaps back in terms of playability and user experience.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
There are more than a few problems with the game. But there are some really nice ideas suspended down there beneath the crusty surface.
Read Full Review >Gamers Europe
Praise is due to the developers who have come up with a novel idea; however it would appear that they forgot to add a sense of rhythm.
Read Full Review >Gaming Nexus
Although Genesis Rising has some interesting ideas, poor design decisions bury this title quickly. There’s promise here, but that soon turns to disappointment.
Read Full Review >GamingExcellence
Poor interface and bad pacing. The story isn't terribly great either.
Read Full Review >Hardcore Gamer Magazine
In a genre where games need to be well-oiled machines to be enjoyable, this one sadly doesn't make the grade. [June 2007, p.56]
Next Level Gaming
The concept of the game, the living ships that can morph as the situation changes, if implemented correctly, could have been VERY cool for an RTS game. It’s just too darn bad that the rest of the game fell flat on its face and left the graphics and concept high and dry.
Read Full Review >GameZone
The game has some pretty cool ideas throughout, implementing a new layer to strategy gameplay in the way of upgrades and gene-stealing. Unfortunately, pacing issues, technical problems, and a generally spotty interface kill what the game sets out to accomplish.
Read Full Review >WHAM! Gaming
Genesis Rising may be fun for some but I think most people will find a little boring, especially harvesting ships. It seems like eons can pass you by while you're fuelling up.
Read Full Review >Strategy Informer
Genesis Rising in no way reaches the potential it has bubbling beneath the surface, released all too soon and unnecessarily plastered with imperceptive, charmless patina.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
What I cannot forgive is that the combat is horribly balanced - it is the worst of both worlds, a game that demands overwhelming levels amounts of micromanagement yet provides entirely too few tools and opportunities to make it happen.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
Some gamers might relish this challenge, but the lack of any in-mission saving combined with unforgiving objectives and an imperfect interface will prove overly frustrating for many.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Icky space bugs make Genesis Rising interesting. Even ickier tech bugs and design problems make Genesis Rising annoying.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
Genesis Rising is by no means a total loss and there's certainly some fun to be had, but its lofty potential is squandered due to some poor decisions and a rigid design that will only appeal to a select number of players.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
Many of these enemy ships resemble living insects and they are recreated to great effect in this game. They are truly disturbing looking, and while they just beg to be killed, the payoff can be particularly gross due to the bloodbath.
Read Full Review >PC Gameworld
Skip this and go play "Command and Conquer 3" or "Supreme Commander" if you want a fun RTS.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
The gene-stealing and blood-drinking theme makes for an interesting concept with great gameplay implications. But the bottom line is that as a game, Genesis Rising sucks, both literally and figuratively.
Read Full Review >Worth Playing
Despite the unique look and direction this takes on the RTS genre, the feeling of "I've been here before, done this before, and seen this before" pervades the entire experience.
Read Full Review >Armchair Empire
Pity the living ships that make up Genesis Rising. There was such a wonderful collection of ideas that were utilized in such an atrocious fashion that you almost want to put the ships down like a lamed horse. It's kinder that way.
Read Full Review >1UP
It's easy to spend an hour watching these nifty starships float around a two-dimensional plane, but as soon as you start mousing, you'll want to quit.
Read Full Review >Jolt Online Gaming UK
There aren’t many space-based RTS titles doing the rounds, but the few that are already on the shelves are almost unanimously better than this broken fun-free nonsense.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
With a generic plot and terrible ship building scheme, Genesis Rising is lost in space. Hopefully, it stays that way.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Bryan F. gave it a1:
Could be so much better than it is. Needs more support to fix various bugs and faults.
Joe C. gave it a1:
It really was a horrible game. The ideas were good, but the execution made it a waste of money. Hopefully another company will pick up there they left off and bring true light to the ideas they presented.
Michael A. gave it a4:
Well, it sucks. The gameplay is slow and tedious, it lacks any real depth, and the multiplayer is a complete joke.
[Anonymous] gave it a5:
Not being able to save your game sucks because you could lose your mothership right at the end of a mission and you have to replay the entire mission over again.
Jonny L. gave it a9:
Very cool game with a great slant on traditional RTS space games!
Larry N. gave it an8:
I playing this game and its awesome, nothing can compare with it. The design of the ships, art, space... missions, story, and incredible multiplayer where game shows it true face. If you like something new nothing seen until now you should try this game. 8 because it has some glitches, and missions are hard, very hard!
Nikola T. gave it a10:
Great game! Something new in a world of RTS!
