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Georilla

Georilla

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Jul 8, 2007
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I want to play a 4x space game that is reasonably good and will tide me over til Stellaris. The problem is Stellaris sounds like space 4x heaven, and I can't decide on one of the other current 4x space games and thinking: Stellaris is more ambitious and interesting.

-Endless Space, looks ok, but have heard combat is strange and game becomes more spreadsheet like, also lack of diplomacy. Not tried it yet.

-Distant Worlds, played it. Great ideas and ambition, but I feel like the game is playing me more and I am watching. Without full automation, no clue without studying it for weeks. Also the graphics are really not my thing, graphics isn't all, but this is really old looking. Lack of galactic council/community building is a shame. Other than that probably one of the best space 4x?

-Stardrive 2, land combat turns me off. Also heard that there are too many bugs. Not tried it yet.

-Horizon, no clue, seems a niche? Not tried it yet.

-SoaE, good, but more RTS than 4x in my opinion, not what I seek. Played it.

-GalCiv 3, unsure about this one. Seems interesting, but heard AI is lacking. Not tried it yet.

End result, can't decide.
 
If you can't wait then GC3 is the only decent option right now based on your posted feedback.

Personally, I would strongly advise against it. I've got around 80 hours playing and at least 50 hours modding. The AI is still quite poor at this point and the games still has significantly less features than GC2 Ultimate. IMO Stardock is still about 3 months, multiple DLC, and at least 1 expansion away from making the game even worth $30. There just simply isn't enough content or depth in the game at this point.

That said, the game is very pretty, and the ship designer is good, but if you have played GC2, then it will just seem like a graphically enhanced version of GC2.
 
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Master of Orion II

Space Empires 4/5

SOTS 1

Alpha Centauri because why not and it's still better than anything Sid has plastered his name on in the last 15 years
 
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Besides Distant Worlds, Sword of the stars is still one of my favorite 4x games. It's graphics are a little dated too, but still a lot of fun to play. I'd go with the orIginla over SOTS 2 even though the sequel had amazing visuals because it was sadly never finished.

Another idea is Star Ruler 2. It offers some very different mechanics ftom traditional 4x games. It is a little out there, but worthy of consideration.
 
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Based solely on you not wanting to learn how to play distant worlds.
If you are looking for an entry level 4X game the either GalCiv or SoaSE are probably what you are looking for.

Anything else would probably be too much learning or mechanics including Endless Space.

I only have 9hrs in horizon and can't remember why I stopped...

Space Empire games will be a lot to take in, same with SotS or MoO series, unless you have played them before, in which case Distant Worlds shouldn't be difficult to learn. I would not suggest Star Ruler 2 to anyone, probably the worst 4X space game I have seen released this year, diplomacy is card based and you need to watch a screen to get cards.
 
Dracko81 said:
Based solely on you not wanting to learn how to play distant worlds.
If you are looking for an entry level 4X game the either GalCiv or SoaSE are probably what you are looking for.
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It is not that I do not want to learn, it is more that even though I can see DW is an excellent game, it doesn't invite me to learn unlike most Paradox games. It feels like a fall in the deep unknown, the tutorials ingame are too basic. In fact, I spent many many hours learning HoI 3, and that is Paradox lesser accessible game. Learning complex games is not the issue. It is different, the overall feeling and UI of DW leaves nightmares. That turns me off.
 
Georilla said:
It is not that I do not want to learn, it is more that even though I can see DW is an excellent game, it doesn't invite me to learn unlike most Paradox games. It feels like a fall in the deep unknown, the tutorials ingame are too basic. In fact, I spent many many hours learning HoI 3, and that is Paradox lesser accessible game. Learning complex games is not the issue. It is different, the overall feeling and UI of DW leaves nightmares. That turns me off.
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It doesn't have anything super different from other 4X games other than real time. Research, ship design, etc, etc. The reason it is good is because most of the mechanics actually work.

If you are experienced in a handful of 4X games there is very little to learn. Just turn off automation and play. Find something you don't want to play with, automate it. The game is actually lacking in a few areas like planetary management for one. The UI of DW is far better than a lot of other 4X games and is only really bad in respects to things like ships, when you have a few hundred floating around.

Anyway Horizon just finished installing, time to see why this game is so unmemorable.
 
Heh. As unpopular as it may be, I play Master of Orion 3 now. It's not a Master of Orion game in anything but title, but otherwise still one of the best in terms of making you feel that you are actually dealing with a large-scale economy and warfare. (if you've read D. Weber's & S. White's Starfire series, that's MoO3) And it's somewhat challenging without going overboard with artificial bonuses for the AI.

But among modern titles, I guess GalCiv3 is your best bet. Not sure about the AI quality, but other features should be fun.
 
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Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is a good one if you want the mainly eXterminate part of 4X. it really kinda is the arcade game of the genre since like the OP said, it's closer to RTS than true 4X
no campaign
lots of incredible mods- no seriously, i've never actually played vanilla SoaSE:R
quite easy to learn and get into in short time (it definately helps the uninitiated get an idea of what space 4X is like
good visuals
very friendly to older/weaker computers despite no multithreading
and god damn it has a punishing AI on above normal difficulties.
 
Brodre said:
I dont know much of this game, but it popped to mind.. Last Federation

If someone can fill in on that, it would be good
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according to the Rock, Paper, Shotgun, (lizard, spock) description provided by developer Arcen games: “The Last Federation is a Grand Strategy + RTS Tactics game” (it was released mid april 2014)

it has a ton of similarities to stellaris; but apparently some differences are just comepletely bizarre, such as your character being a freaking HYDRA! (well, "Hydral"), and the game apparently being limited to a single star system. definately looks cool. funny steam reviews too. PDS has definately got to have some easter eggs and references to this game when stellaris launches.
 
Master of Orion I & II, best 4X space strategy games ever. Nothing has ever topped them. The same with Master of Magic and 4X fantasy strategies.

It's sad. :(
 
SGJ: Have you considered other non-historical scenarios, for example a Cyberpunk themed CK2-like game in which you play characters within megacorps, politicians etc.?
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HF: There is a whole pile of cool ideas for games being tossed around at the office. So, yes.
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Norse Cyberkings with a scale of one solar system. Now that would be insanely good.
 
Tapio said:
Paradox is the only one who I can think of that can beat the MoO-series.
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Paradox already has some space titles in its portfolio. Lost Empire: Immortals, Sword of the Stars 1/2, Ancient Space...
Every one of those games have lots of cool things and ideas... but none of them came close to beating MOO2 - so I'm not holding my breath waiting for Stellaris.

But hey, I'd love to be proven wrong! :)
 
I'd be surprised if half the people who say MoO2 is the best have even played it, let alone played something more modern.

stilgarpl said:
Paradox already has some space titles in its portfolio. Lost Empire: Immortals, Sword of the Stars 1/2, Ancient Space...
Every one of those games have lots of cool things and ideas... but none of them came close to beating MOO2 - so I'm not holding my breath waiting for Stellaris.

But hey, I'd love to be proven wrong! :)
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For a start Ancient Space is not a 4X game.

If MoO2 was never released and was released in today's market, it would fail. It doesn't stand up to the test of time. Although it has some very nice features, it is not the best 4X game, because there is no such thing. It might be your preferred, but not the definitive best of all time.
 
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