Sins of a Solar Empire (PC)
Manufacturer: Stardock Corporation Part number: 01065
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- Specifications
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Gamespot editors' review
Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) price range: $18.99
- Reviewed by: Jason Ocampo
- Reviewed on: 02/13/2008
- Released on: 02/04/2008
There's a blissful nirvana strategy gamers yearn for, even though experiencing it usually involves a considerable loss of sleep along with a steep drop in productivity for days on end. Sins of a Solar Empire is one of those rare games that can deliver an incredibly addictive experience that devours a healthy chunk of your life, and you won't mind a bit. Not bad for a debut game from a relatively small developer. Ironclad and publisher Stardock should be proud, because they've delivered one of the most original, compelling strategy games in recent years.
Let's get this clear: Sins isn't anything like a typical turn-based space strategy game such as Galactic Civilizations or the granddaddy of the genre, Master of Orion. Instead, this is a real-time game--but don't let that make you think that it's Command & Conquer in space. Though it's in real time, Sins unfolds at such a leisurely pace and can happen on such a gigantic scale that you'll easily manage five or six gigantic fleets at a time as you battle across multiple star systems that contain dozens of worlds.

This medium-sized map comprises only a single star system. Larger maps in the game contain up to five, linked together by wormholes.
The game is set in a distant future where the Trader Emergency Coalition--an alliance of various human worlds--bands together in the face of two threats. The first is the Advent, an offshoot of humanity that has embraced an alien philosophy and has come looking to spread the word by force. Even direr is the Vasari, a mysterious alien race that seeks the annihilation of both factions. Sins lets you play from the perspective of any of the three factions, which are approximate mirrors of one another.
Like many space strategy games, the action begins with you in control of a single planet, and from there you must explore the rest of the system worlds, locating planets to colonize, as well as resources that you can exploit to fuel your research and ship-building needs. Sins isn't as ambitious as other space strategy games that task you with taking over a galaxy; instead, the action is limited to a maximum of five local stars, each with a network of planets around it. Travel among planets is limited via strict space lanes, so some planets are natural choke points. Planets themselves come in four varieties. Terran and desert planets can be colonized easily, but to settle ice and volcano planets you must research the appropriate technology first. Asteroids can also be colonized, but they're so small that they can support only tiny populations, making them ideal for outposts.
To support your expansion, you'll have to build a plethora of vessels. Scouts explore the planetary systems, locating ideal worlds to colonize with colony ships, as well as providing advance warning on incoming enemy fleets. Warships come in three classes. The smallest are frigates, and they include frontline combatants, siege vessels that can pummel planets with nuclear weapons, and missile platforms. Then there are larger cruiser-class vessels, such as escort carriers that can deploy squadrons of fighters and bombers to heavier warships. The cr£me de la cr£me, though, are the capital ships, which you can build only a handful of. Capital ships are huge, expensive, and powerful, but they're also like the characters in a role-playing game in that they can level up as they gain experience, making them more powerful and unlocking unique and potent abilities. The ability to gain experience creates a powerful dynamic, as you want to get your capital ships into fights so they can level up, but you also want to protect them from danger, because the loss of them can be devastating. However, if you get a task force of high-level capital ships and smaller vessels together, you'll have a force to be reckoned with.

Like characters in a role-playing game, capital ships become more powerful as they level up.
Good strategy games force you to constantly make decisions about where to allocate your resources, and Sins does an exceptional job of this, mainly because you'll usually find yourself having to juggle where to invest your precious resources. There are three resources in the game: money, metal, and crystal. Money is generated by having large planetary populations or by building trade stations. Metal and crystal can only be harvested on small asteroids. Building warships or structures, making planetary improvements, and conducting research consumes large amounts of these resources, and usually you'll have a shortage of at least one of them, which forces you to make some difficult decisions.
It's also possible to engage in a bit of diplomacy, though Sins takes a different tack than a lot of other strategy games. You can do the standard diplomatic maneuvers like declaring a nonaggression pact or forming an alliance with someone, but to do so, you've got to prove your worth to that faction by pursuing missions it puts toward you. For example, one faction might task you with destroying a certain number of defensive structures of another faction. Successfully completing the mission will earn you favor, though not completing the mission will earn disfavor. In order to form an alliance with any faction, you'll have to complete several missions for it.
User reviews
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This is the best RTS I've ever played.
by mikethegamer on August 4, 2009
Pros: Great graphics, easy to use interface, good variety, engaging, cheap, just about everything
Cons: The fact i can't find one, and maybe the pirates, but they aren't that bad.
Summary: I'm sure there are gamers out that would disagree, but if you are in to RTS's then pick up thisgame. This game will appeal to both Civilization and ...
Summary: I'm sure there are gamers out that would disagree, but if you are in to RTS's then pick up thisgame. This game will appeal to both Civilization and empire
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Best Space based strategy game ever.
by jaga_tekno on July 8, 2009
Pros: Race individuality; unique upgrades, ships, etc.
Detailed graphics, combat scenes are amazing if you zoom in.
And then there's the Gian Cannon, oh yeah!Cons: A little complicated at first, but after the first game I got the hang of it.
Summary: A very good game, worth playing!
Summary: A very good game, worth playing!
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Many will find this game excellent, but not all.
Pros: good visuals, good design, good game play etc etc.
Cons: Graphics not detailed enough, simplistic game play, predictable, space stratergy for the masses.
Summary: Space stratergy games could offer so much more, and games such as X3- reunion with extra mods installed "nearly" pull it off, with much more detailed graphics, scope and complexity. ...
Summary: Space stratergy games could offer so much more, and games such as X3- reunion with extra mods installed "nearly" pull it off, with much more detailed graphics, scope and complexity. I'm still waiting for the ultimate space based stratergy - build a galactic empire type game!
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SOOO CLOSE TO PERFECT
by Halcy0n on August 4, 2008
Pros: Its got a new interesting intersolar war game playing style. With great units (even some hero like units). And, a game where your more like a government and less like a One-Man army.
Cons: It can get a little annoying after a while of playing to much. The units are good, but more types of them would be nice. And, more "good" once.
Summary: I love this game, its very close to a perfect game, but its not quite there. If it only had some more types of units, or options for planet construction. ...
Summary: I love this game, its very close to a perfect game, but its not quite there. If it only had some more types of units, or options for planet construction. However, the game play is still huge, the Trading and Alliances are well done, the upgrade options make the game also about know how to spend your money. Its interesting and difficult to keep the balance between Strong Military, Good Eco, and Finally keeping the general social structure in place. (there are upgrades, and options for each of these, and do one to much you might find a rebellion back on your own planets). Simply said if you want a game that operates in outer space with a set options at your finger types that can always change the way battle will unfold (example your about to lose and teaming up with someone else who is losing, or calling on an old good ally of yours)
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Stardock Corporation
- Part number: 01065
Product Basic Spec
- Platform PC
- ESRB rating Teen - Mild Language,Fantasy Violence
- Genre Strategy
- Number of players 1 Player
Game
- Developer Ironclad Games
- ESRB Teen
- ESRB descriptors Mild Language,Fantasy Violence
Manufacturer info
- Stardock Corporation
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Stardock Corporation products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.stardock.com
- Address:
17292 Farmington Rd., Livonia, MI 48152 - Phone: 734-762-0687
- Email: sales@stardock.com








