X
- E10+
- Lighthouse Interactive
- E10+
- Lighthouse Interactive
- E10+
- Lighthouse Interactive
- E10+
- Lighthouse Interactive
Sword of the Stars
Released On: Aug 17, 2006
68
7.9
Where to Buy
Where to Buy
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 23 Critic Reviews
68
35% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
52% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
13% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 23 Critic Reviews
68
35% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
52% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
13% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
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]
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.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
7.9
65% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
25% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
7.9
65% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
25% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Sword of the stars is a great game with lots of replayability. The graphics are (or were) not bleeding edge when the game was released and the voice over is really bad. But the game... the game is really, really good. for example, the technology tree is not the same on each game, which forces the player to think about new strategies, and the different combinations of weapons and ship types makes it even more challenging.
The tutorial that comes with the game is RUBBISH, but if you want to learn how to play it and the different technologies the the site ****/ is a great resource (it was build by the same guy who did the tutorial videos). I have to say that given that the game is quite complex, no tutorial might be enough to explain all the game (imagine a Flight Simulator tutorial in a super-real game).
Games also takes a while to finish (~3-4 hours for a short game with 60 stars). I've never played a big game (350 stars, 8 players), but I reckon that it might take about a week and get boring when each player has already researched all the technologies.
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PC
Sword of the Stars is more macro than micro, a lot like Civilization in space. The level of scenario customization is great, as sandbox or predetermined as you prefer. The level of "character" customization is disparagingly low, but the gameplay and progression is still very fun. I will say, this game lacks a bit lategame in the way of keeping the player interested, but it still offers dozens of hours of fun gameplay and plenty of vectors to approach the game from, with six playable races and a superbly randomized tech tree.
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PC
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]
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.
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.
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.
Sword of the Stars, is in essence the closes thing to Master of Orion. Recently got the whole collection for 5 bucks off steam. Apart from the great gameplay, I have some gripes. Large Galaxies are difficult and unwieldy due to the Interface design. Also, the promised 'Real Time Strategy' doesn't exist. All combat is decided based on the techs you bring to the fight. The game gets somewhat streamlined in Multiplayer when everybody has to rush a couple of beginning tech just to level the playing field. One of the best features of SOTs as it's called is the random tech that's generated each created game. While the Tech cores are a given for each race, random tech branches each game, changes your tech strategy and eventually your 'fleet design' strategy and formation.
A very decent offering by Kerebos.
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PC
Very disappointed in this game. Was released on October 28th through Steam, but Paradox changed the release date to the 31st for physical copies and I can see why. The original released version was a Beta, wrong file uploaded to Steam, I understand mistakes happen, so another version was uploaded the following day. Well nothing really changed and the publisher admitted on their forums that they knew the product was bad they were going to release and patch it. Menus are grayed out so they cannot be selected, such as options, no scenarios maps but a tab, the encyclopedia which they tell you to use for information appears to be mostly empty. The manual was a draft copy that the published put on the forums, how do you not have a manual completed for release? The graphics are beautiful but without just clicking around its next to impossible to figure out how anything works. No tutorial, no intro missions, no manual, no encyclopedia. Horrible game, horrible release.
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PC
Summary 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 planet...
Rated E +10
for Everyone +10
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date: Aug 17, 2006
Developer:
- Kerberos Productions
Publisher: Lighthouse Interactive
Genres:
