Endless Space - what say ye

[sandman2575]

So, Endless Space on Steam for $15 is tempting --

Just subjective, but seems like initial excitement about this title fizzled.  Any devotees still out there of the "$15 is a bargain for this solid game" variety?  I gather the hands-off combat system is still controversial -- and the AI sounds like it leaves a lot to be desired.... ?

[Bison]

I personally thought it was overhyped.  The battles were not my cup of tea.

[Huw the Poo]

I'm embarrassed to say this because my initial impressions were very positive and I gushed quite shamefully about it on this very forum.  However, ultimately I've been disappointed by Endless Space.

It isn't a true turn-based game.  There are too many instances where you make a decision - move a fleet or whatever - and suddenly the enemy reacts and buggers up your plans during your own turn.  And when you have more than one battle to fight you don't get to choose which to play manually.  It's sort of halfway between turn based and real time.  That doesn't sit well with me at all.  And that's before you get into the silly battle system which requires as much luck as skill.

Still, if you can look past these glaring faults, there's a competent 4X there somewhere.  It still has the best interface I've ever seen in such a game.  I'd say $15 is worth it if the aforementioned problems don't sound too bad for you.

[sandman2575]

I definitely hear more negatives about about this title than positives -- Star Ruler is also on sale but seems like a similar story there --

no matter -- got a pretty good game going in SOTS2 at the moment -- think I'll just stick to that --

[mikeck]

I found it very shallow. Didn't deem like it at first but after a game, you realize that you can build everything everywhere and combat is too rock paper scissors to require much thought or planning....bleh

[Martok]

From everything I've read, the game's combat system, immersion factor, and (to perhaps a lesser extent) AI are all lacking. 

On the other hand, it's supposed to be a well-polished product, and the devs are clearly going to be supporting ES (including expansions) for a long time to come.  I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it's finally worth buying when the "Complete Super Ultimate Edition" (which includes all 48 expansions/DLC) goes on sale... 

[Huw the Poo]

I might give it another chance.  Apparently, the next update - Echoes of the Endless - which releases tomorrow will do something about battle stacking, which is one of my major bugbears with the game.  I'll report back.

[PanzersEast]

While not a bad game, it is just ok.  It really lacks character to me and just seems bland and I quickly become bored half way through.  Unlike a game like Warlock which keeps you pulled in and busy.....  The customization of the ships really seems really odd and just adding a point here and there to an generic area.... and combat is not that interesting.  I hope they continue developing it because I still have hope.  The UI is very good.... had to get a positive in there.


PE

[MengJiao]

From everything I've read, the game's combat system, immersion factor, and (to perhaps a lesser extent) AI are all lacking. 

On the other hand, it's supposed to be a well-polished product, and the devs are clearly going to be supporting ES (including expansions) for a long time to come.  I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it's finally worth buying when the "Complete Super Ultimate Edition" (which includes all 48 expansions/DLC) goes on sale...

It was well-programmed, but I think the design just didn't have much kick opr spice or whatever it is that gives a game that
nitty-gritty that can be interesting and immersive even if annoying.

Not annoying, but not all that interesting.

[mikeck]

Well, I will say that the game is very polished. The devs did a great job.

[sandman2575]

Had to pass on Endless Space -- at least this time around (...Lord knows there will be other sales events to get it at a discount...)

Did pick up Star Ruler -- at $4, I figured, what's the risk?  Still, my initial impressions are decidedly "meh"...  May have to stick to SOTS2 and Sins - Rebellion for my space opera fix...

[mikeck]

Star ruler has some cool ideas...I like the newtonian physics and the ship designs but generally, it felt...."weird". Ultimately, I settled on X3 for my fix and have been playing it for about 2 months now...almost exclusively. Not the startegic game I wanted but its fun, immersive and I can do whatever I want. 

[sandman2575]

but generally, it felt...."weird".

i'm kinda surprised at how very "indy" it feels, and not in the good way...  i know it's a small group of dev's who put it together, but it just has a very amateurish, moddish feeling... i guess i'm just surprised at how ugly it is.  i'm definitely judging the book by its cover here, but those are my initial reactions --

[Huw the Poo]

Regarding Star Ruler; use the in-game IRC interface.  The devs hang around in there and would love to hear feedback.  Also the other players in there can help you get to grips with the game.

Regarding Endless Space; I still have some hope because I don't share the same criticisms that others in this thread do.  For me, it's only the not-turn-based mechanics that irritate, and apparently today's update will go a long way toward addressing the situation.

[Huw the Poo]

This is it. We will be releasing in the upcoming hours "Echoes of the Endless", after weeks and weeks of hard work, testing, feedback and testing again. You guys have been very patient and helpful: still providing interesting discussions on the forums and supporting us, even months after the release. So really, thank you for being that awesome.

Like we said, we tried (and hope we did it well!) to bring more life, personality and feedback with this Add-On: interactive random events, Endless & Natural wonders, exploration rewards, galaxy anomalies, new audio tracks, endgame illustrations, new heroes, additional lore, sentry mode, auto-cycle through fleets, etc.


One special gift from us: The battle timer (when choosing a participating mode: auto/manual) is now a game option. By default, the battle timer is disabled for a single player session, and it is enabled for a multiplayer session.

Release notes:

ECHOES OF THE ENDLESS (1.0.38)

CHANGES AND ADDITIONS

    The galaxy generation seed is displayed with the pause menu.
    Added a sentry mode to the available fleet actions.
    Added an auto-cycle button to enable the review of all fleets without orders.
    The battle timer (when choosing a participating mode: auto/manual) is now a game option. By default, the battle timer is disabled for a single player session, and it is enabled for a multiplayer session. [G2G vote]
    Added a new state for the "end turn button" that notifies the player he has pending encounters.
    Refactored the heroes' ability trees.
    If a system improvement will never be relevant for a system, hide it from the improvement picklist (credits: by grubnik)
    Added a victory/defeat picture and extra information to the 'Continue' panel.
    Added a 'Game Introduction' option in game options (to introduce the new content of an add-on).
    Updated the tutorial with the new features.
    Added 5 new musics.


INTERACTIVE RANDOM EVENTS [G2G vote]

    Refactored the game events system:
    - The pre 1.0.30 events are compatible
    - Added new event effects
    - Added interactive random events
    - Added a new panel to the Empire Factors panel, which summarizes all the effects of the current random events
    - Added an advanced game option to activate/deactivate the random events generation
    Added descriptions and pictures to the new random events.


EXPLORATION EVENTS [G2G vote]

    Added exploration rewards: small random bonuses for the first player to explore a system.
    Some exploration events are now interactive.
    Added a GUI feedback in the galaxy view to identify systems with an exploration reward. The Amoeba players have a slightly different feedback.
    The effects of the exploration events are now displayed in the Empire Factors panel.


WONDERS [G2G vote]

    Added natural and endless wonders. The endless wonders can be restored.
    Lowered number of wonders depending on the different size.
    Added GFX for natural and endless wonders.
    Added a GUI feedback in the galaxy view to identify explored systems with a wonder.


AMBIENCE - GALAXY MAP [G2G vote]

    Added more life to the galaxy with the random addition of comets, black holes, pulsars, ...


DIPLOMACY

    Removed the waiting period for the cold war status.
    Added diplomatic answers when the player trades with an AI and when an AI is offering a proposal.
    With the previous diplomatic behavior we could have deadlock involving a permanent cold war state between all the factions.


HEROES

    Added a new Pilgrim hero.
    Added 4 heroes of new factions (Sheredyn and minor factions).


MULTIPLAYER

    Set the Steam regional parameter to 'Worldwide' for the multiplayer sessions.
    The game disconnections related to the Steam servers should be less frequent.
    All the multiplayer sessions of a given version are now displayed. You can join a game only if you have the same files/mod as the session's host.


AI

    Removed growth and fleet upkeep bonus for the AI.
    AI for newbie is less aggressive and less militarized.
    Lowered normal Pirates difficulty.
    During a deal, the AI values a resource depending on the number he already owns.


BALANCING

    Reduced the science trade route multiplier from 2 to 0.5.


FIXES

    Fixed a potential desync in MP when unlocking a technology by a random event.
    Fixed an issue where the random events frequency is not tied to the game speed.
    Fixed an issue where entering planet view after scraping a population improvement causes an assert.
    Fixed an issue where desert planet does not display all life simulation effects.
    Fixed an issue where life simulation effects are not properly displayed on high population planets.
    Fixed an issue where the ships created by events don't have the good amount of HP.
    Fixed an issue where an assert occurred for a same random event for two empires.
    Fixed an issue with the anomaly reduction of the hell gourds.
    Fixed an issue where an exploration event causes a desync in a multiplayer session.
    Fixed an issue where the constructibles were overridden by the modding.
    Fixed an issue where the warning events "no current technology" & "bankrupt next turn" made the battle notifications disappear.
    Fixed an issue where the wrong ship design was queued after an advanced defender exploration event was encountered.
    Fixed an issue where the advanced defender exploration event used the designs based on affinity.
    Fixed some issues of GUI and localization.