Sword of the Stars 2: New Update

solops · May 30, 2013, 11:05:43 AM

There is a new update out for SotS2. I have been playing this game a lot and, after a steep but short difficulty with learning the UI found the game to be addictive and a lot of fun. I have never had a crash, not even in one game that went over 550 turns. Highly recommended.

I am in a quandary now, having to split my time between SotS2 and DW:Shadows. All in all, SotS2 is a better, more challenging game, I think. I have Stardrive, which promises to be good, but is not quite ready.

mikeck · May 30, 2013, 01:35:58 PM

I can't argue against a personal opinion, but as much as I like SotS2 (and Stardrive).... I can't imagine anyone finding either to be a better or more challenging game than DW! Are you feeling ok? Fever?

son_of_montfort · May 30, 2013, 02:23:16 PM

I agree. Distant Worlds is far more fun. Although I do need to finally put a lot more time into SotS2.

Jarhead0331 · May 30, 2013, 02:32:12 PM

I enjoy both of them and think each title scratches a different 4x itch.

solops · May 30, 2013, 11:06:46 PM

My issue with DW, other than the constant crashes, is that it is too easy. You have to really tilt the starting options in the AIs favor to get a good game. You don't have to tilt so hard to get a good game out of SotS2, though I have to admit, its AI is not as good as SotS1. With all of that said, I like running my empire in DW. I just spent 32 of the last 48 hours playing it :-)

And Jarhead hit the spot... each scratches a different 4x itch.

Yskonyn · May 31, 2013, 03:07:41 AM

Solops, have you played Shadows yet or the latest version of Legends? I dont think you would say the game is too easy anymore, if you had?

I like SotS 2 a lot too! And I agree both scratch a different itch.

solops · June 01, 2013, 09:15:55 AM

Quote from: Yskonyn on May 31, 2013, 03:07:41 AM
Solops, have you played Shadows yet or the latest version of Legends? I dont think you would say the game is too easy anymore, if you had?

Heavens yes. I played Legends until I was bored silly with beating it and tired of the crashes. And I am currently playing Shadows...and I hate the whole pirate thingy. I play as an empire and the pirate factions make the game a frustrating and tedious war against an insurgent faction on all of my own planets. Coupled with the poor interface connected with the pirates I have to dial them way down or turn them off to make the game playable. Boring, boring. However the other improvements to the game make the add-on worth buying and the AI is improved. I keep getting crashes and Code Force keeps fixing them. I am a regular contributor to their crash forum. If they ever get it debugged we'll see if it is too easy. Right now I am enjoying the better game engine.

mikeck · June 01, 2013, 12:37:47 PM

Hmmm, I can say two things about DW: I have never had a crash and I have never won a game. I don't set the AI up unfairly, but what I do is have about 3 races at least two stages more advanced than me. This simulates what is likely.... Other races more advanced. Then I see how I do before the game ends. I try to survive through alliances and backstabbing.

Back on topic. I updated to the new patch of SOTS 2 and fired it up. It is a good game and I love the tactical combat. I wish they would allow more control over what I build on planets besides a slider... But then again, you have stations for that. I love playing 1v1 on a small map...knife fight

Rayfer · June 01, 2013, 12:52:44 PM

solops....I've played DW from the beginning and with each new release including Shadows and I can't remember ever having a crash to desktop. Luck or what, I don't know? Regarding pirates....I like what they've done with Shadows and pirates though I do dial down their frequency to one tick above none and I do check the box that disallows defeated pirates from re-spawning. I have found it to be a very difficult game to win. Just my experience...that's all.

Nefaro · June 01, 2013, 03:24:06 PM

I'm still finding SOTS2 rather clunky, even though I'm used to the interface by now.

Perhaps it's the sluggish performance. For some reason, the 3D models looks terrible in the battles, in my games. Like they're washed out. I'm gonna chalk some of that up to FAR too much post-processing effects, especially bloom. I wish I could turn those down (or even off). It looks like the textures are getting artificially washed-out, either from one of the aforementioned filters or from some automatic adjustment done in the gfx engine. I had thought it was the latter, but my vid card wasn't struggling so *shrug*. Another indicator of it being some post-processing effect is that the armor indicator diagrams around the ships also had the same washed-out look. Like they were being displayed at a lower resolution and being stretched (but the game is running at my native res).

Confuzzled. ???

Cougar_DK · June 01, 2013, 04:09:55 PM

Hi Nefaro,

You can turn that off in the first menu appearing before the game is started up. I just can't remember whats its called, and I'm not with my aming pc right now so cant find it right now :)

Nefaro · June 01, 2013, 04:39:09 PM

Quote from: Cougar_DK on June 01, 2013, 04:09:55 PM
Hi Nefaro,

You can turn that off in the first menu appearing before the game is started up. I just can't remember whats its called, and I'm not with my aming pc right now so cant find it right now :)

Thanks. I'll look for it next time.

panzerde · June 01, 2013, 10:06:55 PM

I have to agree with those saying they've never had a crash - I haven't either. Like Mike, I've never won a game, either. I tend to play with a really large galaxy with lots of aliens on higher difficulty levels. Games go on long, long time. Certainly I'll get to the poi tof being one of the major powers, but just as often I've been swamped by the AI.