copyright © Jedo Dre 2011

Spore



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Impact: Memorable

"If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak."

Sun Tzu.


You see, whenever anything becomes over-sized it usually takes away from its filling, whether the filling in question is quality, density or something else. That's true for strawberries, large empires and it is true for Spore.


Whenever you're trying to make a fresh game that includes everything, you're chancing that your game will lack everything. That is one of Spore's main problems. Such hype has been created around the game that the expectations of the public probably included some kind of limitless gameplay. Psych...


This evolution "simulator" takes you from a single cell to a galactic civilization in several stages. However, you don't hang around for too long in any of those stages. Each stage is rather shallow with little room for strategy and very little micro-management, even in the galactic era.


The game feels very arcady, which is perhaps what the developers envisioned as is suggested by the colorful and ironic nature of everything in the game.


Now that we've got the worst out of the way, it is time to honor what defines Spore: the highly original concept with the ultimate customization being its foundation. The longest time brought in the game by the players will probably be spent creating things such as creatures buildings or space ships. The creation engine is so simple in use and yet so diverse and effective in execution. Endless combination can be achieved with just a few parts. Creatures that come off the creator feel alive no matter how they look. In case the creator isn't enough for you, there is plenty of content on the internet to download as well as the ability to share your own.


The game's originality is not just in its content creator. Everything you do and see seems like something you've never done before in any other game, or is at least disguised in a whole new package. The gameplay includes Role-Playing elements, strategy and First-Person exploration. The time line that defines your race based on your decisions throughout the game is one brilliant example of the concept.


The graphics do not let the players down either. In a game of this caliber, countless effects and details are present, from the background of the universe to colorful planets. Considering that the game actually gives players the possibility to change the shape and color of almost everything, everyone is thus given a chance to participate in the way the game looks.


Spore is not for everyone, despite its "Everyone" rating and its user friendliness. If you can't get enough of creating interesting things to play around with, similar to the Sims games, then this game is for you. Anybody looking for real depth, however, might end up smashing their heads against the ceramic floor. Hype and a good game editor alone do not carry the game very far.