Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellions released...any impressions?

[JudgeDredd]

As title...just wondering

[JudgeDredd]

Actually - I'm not sure I'm that fussed - I'm too old and slow for RTS.

But if any impressions are about, I'm sure the rest of the peeps would like any info...and I would still read what's going on with it :-)

[spelk]

James Allen posted his impressions.

http://www.outofeight.info/2012/06/sins-of-solar-empire-rebellion-review.html

[son_of_montfort]

James Allen posted his impressions.

http://www.outofeight.info/2012/06/sins-of-solar-empire-rebellion-review.html

IT RELEASED TODAY! How the heck did he review this?!

Ok, his closing paragraph sort of ruffles me:

IN CLOSING
Is Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion a good game? On its own, yes: it continues the highly-rated strategy gaming of the original. But as a $40 expansion? No, as it fails to provide enough content to justify a standalone price for owners of the previous games in the series (even with a $10 pre-order discount for owners of Trinity or the Diplomacy expansion). The most important addition, I think, is the new victory conditions: no longer do you have to ally with everyone or obliterate all comers, but you can focus on research or defeating a specific neutral planet. There are also quicker options for victory, like destroying a capital or important ship; this makes end-game clean-up a lot easier. The rebel factions introduce some unique research options that inject new strategic choices, and the new ships give additional options for composing your fleet. The AI has been updated to handle the new features, and overall game balance has been improved. Still, Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion certainly doesn't bring any significant, innovative changes to the formula (like a campaign, for instance), which is I why I feel those who have already played a game in the series can avoid this pricey expansion. I would rather see the game cost half what it is, considering the improvements offered.

These two statements seem incongruous to me. Also, why is he saying that it is a $40 expansion? It is a $30 expansion (if you owned the other two you got $10) or $40 for the entire thing. Apparently he didn't consider the Corvette, Capital Ship and Titan good enough to mention again in the closing statement - even though the Titan is a significant addition to the series. Also, the rebellions are not new tech trees, they are basically new "factions."

Lastly, I don't want a campaign. What is the fascination with a campaign? The entire point of Sins was to be a great skirmish 4X experience with a semi-random setup.

[Nefaro]

James Allen posted his impressions.

http://www.outofeight.info/2012/06/sins-of-solar-empire-rebellion-review.html

IT RELEASED TODAY! How the heck did he review this?!

Early copy for sneaky game reviewer types.  ;D

[son_of_montfort]

Hmmm... maybe, maybe. The judgement looks a little "snap" IMHO.

[Jarhead0331]

He would probably argue that he had been playing the beta for months and that the retail release did not add or change much.  Still, another rush-it-out the door, knee-jerk McReview from Out of 8, if you ask me.

[son_of_montfort]

Well, I'm always amused when people review something based on promises that nobody made. They did not promise a campaign. Why does he spend so much time talking about it?

I'm going to pan Civ V's Gods and Kings expansion for not adding an FPS mode for my units. I mean, really, it would have been a perfect time to add an FPS mode...  ::)

[Bison]

I pre-ordered awhile back, but haven't installed yet.  I was trying to give ES a fair shake, but that is another conversation.

The issue that concerns me the most is that because it still uses the old engine, they didn't resolve mid/late game slow down on larger maps.  And reading through some of the forum posts this unfortunately seems to be the case.

[Martok]

He would probably argue that he had been playing the beta for months and that the retail release did not add or change much.  Still, another rush-it-out the door, knee-jerk McReview from Out of 8, if you ask me.

Rushed out the door or not (although you definitely have a point), his views coincide with my own, which is that Rebellion doesn't appear to offer much for existing Sins players/owners. With the paltry list of "new" features added, I didn't really understand how Ironclad could justify this as a full standalone expansion, and I still don't. 

Lastly, I don't want a campaign. What is the fascination with a campaign? The entire point of Sins was to be a great skirmish 4X experience with a semi-random setup.

Well, I'm always amused when people review something based on promises that nobody made. They did not promise a campaign. Why does he spend so much time talking about it?

I'm going to pan Civ V's Gods and Kings expansion for not adding an FPS mode for my units. I mean, really, it would have been a perfect time to add an FPS mode...  ::)

The fans' frustration with the lack of a campaign has to do with that there is a great deal of lore/backstory in the Sins universe that is hinted at, but never really explored.  That, combined with the fact that at one point Ironclad had, in fact, indicated a campaign would likely be forthcoming in a future expansion, it's not hard to see why the fanbase might be just a tad disappointed.   

It would be rather like if Homeworld had been released with only a skirmish mode, but no campaign.  The game's fans would've flamed Relic to a crisp! 

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

He would probably argue that he had been playing the beta for months and that the retail release did not add or change much.  Still, another rush-it-out the door, knee-jerk McReview from Out of 8, if you ask me.

I concur.  I really can't place much stock in his reviews as he seems to be more interested in being first than being thorough.

[son_of_montfort]

Martok,

I see what you mean, but I never thought the backstory was particularly strong in Sins, or at least stronger than any other 4X with random maps. Homeworld is not really a great comparison, given that the reason why the game is so loved is it's excellently written story. It just seems strange to me, in a review, to mention twice the lack of a campaign. The expansion never had a campaign slated.

I need to put more time into the game before I drop any impressions. But I think the additions are nice. Maybe not worth the money, but I suppose that is relative.

[Bison]

I've put in a few hours now and I'm enjoying it, but I've liked SotSE since it came out.  Playing only a 2 faction map.  Advent "Loyalist" versus Advent "Rebels".  The rebels are in a position to whoop my ass.  That is not the point here.

The additions to the game are not small.  They are actually adding alot to the game.  New ships.  New victory conditions.  New factions.  I think if you look at the fact that it is marketed as a stand alone game; the price makes sense.  New players get all the goodies from the previous games and all the new stuff in a single game.  I think those who didn't like SotSE before are going to feel the same now, because the gameplay and UI are the same.  However the new victory conditions and additon of Titan ships themselves can really change strategy from the previous games.  Also while I would have preferred new races, the factions add a nice new flavor to the game provide new research/tech/strategy decisions which is really all a new race would add anyway.  I am very much looking forward to playing a game with more stars and factions.

@Judge  its not a fast clicking reaction speed RTS in the sense of C&C or Starcraft.  The fleets and planets are actually very easily managed from a side panel that gives a quick on screen key to move around the map.  Also the normal game speed is not overly fast and there is plenty of time to react to action in game.

On the whole review debate, I don't know (there is a discussion to be had on reviews and how they are done) but Tom Chick feels differently from out of eight.  http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2012/06/12/rebellions-stellar-overhaul-to-sins-of-a-solar-empire/

[JudgeDredd]

Cheers all - and Bison for pointing out it's not a massive hurried clickfest. I used to love em - but I'm sure they contributed to my early grey hair.

I'll watch - I'm in no rush for a new game

[Bison]

I lost.  Horribly.  The AI needed just short of 3 hours to leave me without hope of a dramatic comeback victory.  Next time I'm playing the TEC loyalists.  They seemed geared just right for my slow turtling method of galatic conquering.