What do you guys think about Stellaris VS Polaris Sector? I thought Polaris Sector was going to be a graphically updated Distant World games but the galaxy and planets view really disappointed me. Then saw Stellaris which seems to be the better game at this point. What do you guys think about them?
It's very hard to compare:
Polaris Sector, like Distant Worlds, is mostly the work of one guy (not the same guy though). While they are both real-time, they are also very different in terms of gameplay mechanics. Polaris Sector uses starlanes and there's a lot less automation as in Distant Worlds. I think it's going to be an interesting game and i especially look forward to the battles.
On the other hand, Stellaris has a much bigger team and budget. This is a big game with lots of work on graphics, gameplay etc....it's going to be more complex than Polaris (doesn't mean the gameplay will be better though). It's going to be very interesting because they want to bring new elements to the 4 genre, while Polaris Sector seems to be a classic 4x. One big difference is also the fact that you don't control battles.
Polaris is a bog-standard SF 4X game. Stellaris seems to be more EU4 in spaaaaace.
Quote from: tgb on February 02, 2016, 06:28:01 AM
Polaris is a bog-standard SF 4X game. Stellaris seems to be more EU4 in spaaaaace.
And I think EU4 in spaaaaace could be a very good thing.
Quote from: tgb on February 02, 2016, 06:28:01 AM
Stellaris seems to be more EU4 in spaaaaace.
Yeah, but it still seems vague to me. For now, it looks very much like a classic 4x with a twist.
I'm interest to see how both turn out. I really wanted to like distant worlds but could not get past the 2d graphics, expecially on the ships so was hoping polaris sector was a sequel to it. Love EU4 so yes also excited to see how EU4 turns out in a space type theme.
Quote from: shodan on February 02, 2016, 06:50:34 PM
I really wanted to like distant worlds but could not get past the 2d graphics
Distant Worlds in a 3D setting, along the lines of Star Ruler2, would pretty much be my ideal Space 4X game. I find it perfectly enjoyable in 2D, but when I play, part of me is always thinking, "man, this would be
perfect if it were just 3D..."
Can't wait for Stellaris. I think Paradox is going to deliver something special here (and fingers crossed for Hearts of Iron 4 as well 8))
I usually get lost in those 3-D maps. A 2-D option would be nice for us fogies.
Quote from: tgb on February 03, 2016, 04:52:16 AM
I usually get lost in those 3-D maps. A 2-D option would be nice for us fogies.
I prefer 2-D maps as well. I like the concept of 3-D maps because it makes it more real but think it's really hard to implement well...i always have headaches when playing SOTS.
Polaris sector preview by Das24680 :
Full playlist : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGB6RkFB7ZmMGgwvYw_-Fh_XoQeKeU7j2
Every time I see screen shots or vids from Polaris Sector, all I can think of is that they've lifted or copied the planet building art from the old dos 4X game Ascendancy...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascendancy_(video_game)
???
In a nutshell, it appears Stellaris is going to be the deeper, richer game. In contrast, Polaris Sector is the more conventional -- and therefore accessible -- game.
Not only is Stellaris trying something different compared to most space strategy games, but, being a Paradox title as well, it's naturally going to have a steeper learning curve. Now it's doing a *lot* of cool things that we've not really seen in the space 4x genre before -- including things that are long overdue (and make me salivate like nobody's business!) -- but by its very nature, the game (like Distant Worlds) is almost certainly going to be somewhat difficult to get into.
Polaris Sector is almost certainly easier to pick up and play, as it follows the more standard formula familiar to veterans of the space 4x sub-genre. Not that it's entirely unoriginal -- for example, the colony blueprint system is nice, and I especially like how research works (needing to work on both Fundamental and Applied Sciences to unlock techs) -- but the game, while fun, isn't revolutionary (like Stellaris appears to be).
It sounds like Stellaris is worth a look if Martok is excited about it. O0
Quote from: Boggit on February 04, 2016, 08:23:53 PM
It sounds like Stellaris is worth a look if Martok is excited about it. O0
Heh. Thanks
Boggit. :)
In fairness, though (and unfortunately), just because a 4x title has captured my attention doesn't mean it's going to be any good. I've gotten excited for at least a few games that turned out to be duds (
Legends of Pegasus immediately comes to mind), or (as in the case of
MORE) got stuck in eternal development to the point of bordering on vaporware status. :-[ I've since worked to be a little more critical and discerning when a new 4x title is announced -- to the point that I often won't even mention games in development here anymore unless/until they're released (AND in decent shape) -- so hopefully any recommendations I make going forward will be a little more useful/meaningful.
All that being said,
Stellaris truly does look & sound pretty amazing. I haven't been this pumped for a space strategy game in a little while now; I really hope it turns out as good it appears to be!
Quote from: Martok on February 06, 2016, 12:59:08 AM
Quote from: Boggit on February 04, 2016, 08:23:53 PM
It sounds like Stellaris is worth a look if Martok is excited about it. O0
Heh. Thanks Boggit. :)
In fairness, though (and unfortunately), just because a 4x title has captured my attention doesn't mean it's going to be any good. I've gotten excited for at least a few games that turned out to be duds (Legends of Pegasus immediately comes to mind), or (as in the case of MORE) got stuck in eternal development to the point of bordering on vaporware status. :-[ I've since worked to be a little more critical and discerning when a new 4x title is announced -- to the point that I often won't even mention games in development here anymore unless/until they're released (AND in decent shape) -- so hopefully any recommendations I make going forward will be a little more useful/meaningful.
All that being said, Stellaris truly does look & sound pretty amazing. I haven't been this pumped for a space strategy game in a little while now; I really hope it turns out as good it appears to be!
I still reckon it's safer to rely on the instinct of someone really into the genre than not to! :) I trust you Martok! :o(nothing quite like putting the pressure on... ;)) I got Homeworld complete on Star's and JH's recommendation - both aficionados - and it's great.
Polaris won't have the $200 of DLC milking the crap out of customers like a typical paradox game?
Nay. It'll only be $50 total with sales.
Quote from: Bison on February 06, 2016, 07:53:01 PM
Polaris won't have the $200 of DLC milking the crap out of customers like a typical paradox game?
Given that
Polaris Sector is being published by Slitherine/Matrix, no.
Now
Stellaris, on the other hand, is being developed in-house by Paradox (just like the EU and CK games), so I wouldn't be surprised to see DLC released down the road at some point.
Quote from: OJsDad on February 06, 2016, 08:10:03 PM
Nay. It'll only be $50 total with sales.
Heh. Given Slitherine's historical pricing policies, an understandable statement. ;)
I seem to recall, however, that they're aiming for a price of around $30.00 for
Polaris Sector. I might be wrong on that, but even if I am, I don't think it's going to be uber-expensive like so many other titles in S-M's portfolio.
Anyone played or have recommendations on space 4x game Predestination? It early access but looks interesting.
Quote from: shodan on February 07, 2016, 10:32:19 AM
Anyone played or have recommendations on space 4x game Predestination? It early access but looks interesting.
The general consensus has been that it's doing some neat things, but isn't ready for prime-time yet.
So many Space 4X games in the last few years but have any of them taken the next big step in evolving the genre. If so, I cannot think of any. Some have had a good ideas but none have seemed to take the great leap forward. Distant Worlds is the only one that has stuck out as coming close, but to me even it fell short. I think I really want something that takes the component and ship design level that Aurora has with the game play of DW. I still want someone to implement an economy like in Victoria. Some that losing a system with either a key natural resource or industry really hurts.
Enough of the Space 4X games. I want a new Call to Power game. Something will rattle Sid Meiers Civ world.
Quote from: Martok on February 07, 2016, 02:50:11 PM
Quote from: shodan on February 07, 2016, 10:32:19 AM
Anyone played or have recommendations on space 4x game Predestination? It early access but looks interesting.
The general consensus has been that it's doing some neat things, but isn't ready for prime-time yet.
Thank you, keeping an eye on it.
OJ how do you feel Distant Worlds falls flat?
I'd like to a see games stop trying to be Civilization in space or another MOO2 remake. Give me something like an Honor Harrington game. I want a game that's got a deep lord background, that already has empires pre-established but with most of the galaxy still unexplored. Similar to what Sovereignty was going to do.
Some of my favorite Disant Wolrds games have been where I've set up a campaign with everyone starting with a small empire.
Kushan, it's been awhile since I played, so I'm probably going to miss something.
First I do like DW. I guess the three things I could name off the top of my head are;
1. Mob style battles. No formations. Not a real need to build specialized ships, ie pickets, AA, etc. You just hope that the ships end up where they need to be.
2. As your empire grows, the UI seems to struggle. Kind of hard to find information quickly on planets without a lot of digging. When you have a fleet selected, if it has too many ships, you cannot see the status on all of them.
3. It sometimes seemed like a race though the tech tree and an endless cycle of upgrades for ships. This loops back to point 1. Except for cost for the upgrade, it didn't always feel like you had to make hard choices on which ships to upgrade.
Curses Kushan, now you have me firing DW:U up again. And looking at mods. Is the Starfall mod any good.
I've started a new DW game. Downloaded the Starfall mod and enjoying it quite a bit. There are still some things I wish DW did, but it is an enjoyable game.
I enjoyed
DW a lot. It features the best innovation in a space 4x game since at least
Galactic Civilization (which is so old, it's hard to remember exactly what it added to
Master of Orion), and is arguably the best space 4x game in 10+ years.
For me, I ultimately gave up on it because I felt like I spent far too much time keeping the AI from licking frozen stop signs:
- Sending the flagship of my fleet, the one reclaimed Capital Ship from single-handedly chasing an enemy destroyer into the range of their home world starbase and 3 Orbital Weapons Platforms to die a quick and grisly death.
- Keeping my AI from spamming mining colonies on every planet in my empire.
- Keeping my AI from upgrading every single fleet at the same time in the middle of a war, thereby ceding 3 fledgling colonies to my heavily outgunned opponent and leaving 2 major colonies ripe pickings for pirates.
- Sending my carefully hoarded intelligence agents on low-value missions that would almost certainly get them killed.
I know that there are AI settings that allow you to manage #2 - #4 and I used those settings when I played, but I got tired of just how manual the work-arounds were. Inevitably, I'd forget to tweak one little setting and then have to revert back to a save game--I hate Save Spamming.
Again, it was a great game. I just got tired of having to manage so many things around AI that took a vacation from time-to-time.