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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Sword of the Stars is a 4X Strategy game brought to you by the core team behind "HomeWorld: Cataclysm." Sword of the Stars returns gamers to the action-packed roots of the 4X genre with some new twists, including a 3D starmap and real-time combat resolution in a 3D environment. Playing as one of 4 unique races, gamers will explore planets, research new technologies and create empires in a hostile Universe where weakness means extinction and only the strongest will survive. [Lighthouse Interactive]
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... 89
PC Gamer
While Sword of the Stars doesn't possess the battlefield variety of the "Homeworld" games that inspired it, it remains an ambitious and engrossing strategy triumph. [Nov. 2006, p.78]
83
PC Zone UK
In much the same way that "Total War" proved that the war game could be stunning to look at, accessible and fun, SOTS is almost as impressive in its own low-budget way. [Oct 2006, p.76]
 83
GameShark
One of the best “pick up and play” renditions of a 4X space strategy title I’ve seen to date, and with the possibility of third-party mods opening up and even an expansion pack, I’m looking forward to seeing that the future brings for this interesting title.
80
Boomtown
In spite of some minor ambiguity as concerns the control interface, it's a game that has a fairly shallow learning curve, yet promises much in the way of long term amusement for those who don’t like their 4X to be too taxing.
80
AceGamez
If you let it, Sword of the Stars will consume your life. You'll forget you have a girlfriend or a job, you'll rush home from school (or simply not go) to carry on playing and that's exactly what a great sim should do.
77
IGN
I love the slick, high-tech look of the interface. A little more functionality would be nice, of course, but the game looks much more futuristic and advanced than any other space empire game on the market.
76
GameZone
The lack of variety of units is hurtful, but not as much as the lack of information when selecting parts for your ships or after a battle has been fought.
75
Game Informer
Even with a well-balanced multiplayer experience, I can't say that Sword of the Stars is incredibly ambitious, but it's definitely an entertaining and accessible way to extend your galactic influence. [Sept. 2006, p.99]
74
GameSpot
Despite some flaws with the combat, Sword of the Stars distills the complex space strategy formula to a slick, streamlined, and enjoyable package.
73
Strategy Informer
An involving game, with interesting varied strategic options and challenges thrown at the player.
72
Pelit (Finland)
The battles look and sound nice, but do not offer much in terms of tactics and are often frustrating because of the ship captains' low IQ. [Oct 2006]
70
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Get over the interface and the steep learning curve (even beyond the tutorial, which is a bit light) and this is a stylish strategy game that, while hardly threatening to take over your life, will certainly provide a lot of challenge and reward for the time you invest in it.
70
Yahoo! Games
If you're coming to Sword of the Stars from titles like "Galactic Civilizations," things may seem stripped down... but "focused" is a more accurate way to look at it.
70
Games Radar (in-house)
It's a snap to learn and a breeze to play, whether tackling one of its half-dozen goal-driven scenarios or wrangling with a few friends online.
70
eToychest
While a bit of a lopsided contender in the 4X market, those with a propensity for responding violently to problems - like me - will have little trouble stepping right into the shoes Sword of the Stars offer.
68
PC Format
Solid, but hampered mostly by a terrible lack of depth. [Oct 2006, p.95]
60
GameSpy
Sword of the Stars is full of solid ideas and offers interesting strategic challenges and fun multiplayer action to those willing to weather its quirks, frustrations and obscurities.
60
VideoGamer
Combat is a breeze and the four playable races create some intriguing situations. Yet, for a game of this type, the interface issues are almost inexcusable and the relative simplicity of the game only makes these problems all the more frustrating.
60
G4 TV
The races behave in unique, meaningful ways and we really appreciate the attempt to minimize the strategic tedium. That’s why it’s so strange to see a game that is clearly trying hard to attract new players to the genre come up with an interface that is at time incredibly hostile.
55
GamePro
This is perhaps the only game in the genre to actually make each race feel unique and balanced... However, it isn't enough to compensate for the flawed tactical combat that lies at the game's core; nothing save a complete overhaul can redeem SotS from its current mediocrity.
47
PC Gamer UK
An idea tangled in shoddy design. [Oct 2006, p.86]
40
1UP
There are some really cool ideas here that belong in a better game: the tech tree, the random encounters, command ratings, and the shipbuilding, for instance.
40
Computer Games Magazine
The inevitable galaxy of patches to come will surely help, but for now, the vacuum abides. [Nov. 2006, p.82]
Fergus C. gave it a9: Gaping MAW gave it a9: Clay B. gave it a5: Charles O. gave it a9: S C gave it a2: Dan the Man gave it an8: Rob E. gave it an8: |
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