Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

I have been bitten too many times by Game Reviewers that say "This game is great, 95/100..etc" only to find the game is crap once you buy it.

I've downloaded the demo & I'm hooked, and I like to know if it is worth parting with my hard earned money to buy the full Version.

As the game is worth about $100 Aussie dollars, can anyone give me an honest accessment of the game.

Is it re-playable; does it have a preticablity after a while; does the AI give you a challenging game; etc, etc

Thanks

Taipan

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

While this game is not for everyone, if you like the demo, you will probably love the full game (I know that I do). There seems to be no end to the ways that you can play this game.

There are some weaknesses in the AI, but between mods and patches, it is getting better all the time. Also, see the thread, "The Neutral Challenge" for ideas on how the game can be made extra challenging, even with the current AI.

In short, if you like a highly customizable, highly detail oriented game, and you liked the demo, then I would recommend that you buy the game.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

The AI's challenge is getting greater and greater as patches come out. In addition, many people are modifying the data files for the game to make even more challenging AI's

In conjunction with that, many people are modding the game to present different technologies, ships, weapons, facilities, etc. The game is VERY easily modified, as the data files are all in easily readable .txt files.

The graphics are not spectacular, but serviceable.

The re-playability is excellent. And if you get sick of the game, try a different modification and see how drastically that changes it.

Or you can have fun like me, coming up with different modifications and posting them out there for others to use, and then basking in the praise of others who say they love your mod... http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Did I mention the game was modifiable? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif


All in all I love the game.

Finally, the level of support for this game is tremendous. The designer continually is working on further changes for the game, improving on many things.

Finally, it is modifiable. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif


Derek

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Thanks for the quick replies...Just had a look at the postage costs for the game...US$19.00!!!! Thats crazy. How can they justify that?? That is well over the top and puts it into the Aussie $120.00 bracket for the game.

I usually buy all my games through a couple of English sites as they offer free postage anywhere in the world, and I usually get the game within seven days. The games on thier sites are cheap even allowing for the exchange rate, and I usually pay about Aus$20.00 less than I would in the Aussie stores. Unfortunatley it seems the game has not been released in the UK (yet?) as both sites I use don't have a listing of the game.

I might have to wait until then as Aus$120.00 is a bit too rich for me on my present budget. Does anybody know when the the game will be released in England?

Taipan

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Your question is difficult to answer, because I don't know what you like or dislike in a game. All I can say, that the more I play with SE IV and its modifications (for me the possibility to modify the game is the most important feature) the more I like it.
Don't know if this helps but greetings from the outer side of the world.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Taipan, maybe you should consider moving.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Chips & Bits sells SE4 for US$42.95 plus US$12 (2+3.50+6.50) for standard (7-14 day) international shipping: http://www.cdmag.com/cgi-bin/order.cbi_home

Works out a little cheaper overall.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Is SE IV worth buying. In a word, yes. Did you enjoy the demo? If so, then you will enjoy the full Version.

The game has a lot of hours of game play. I spent the money, and am happy that I did. Very happy. In fact, I have not gone to work in over 3 months because of this game. J/K

The game is a lot of fun for me, and I have shown it to others, and a few of them have ordered it.

All I can offer is this. If you enjoyed the demo, then get the full Version.

------------------
"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Patric Stewart as Captain Picard
UCP/TCO Ship Yards

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

lol Emperor Zodd. Nah, couldn't move from this place. Much too much the lucky country.


WendellM, thanks for the link to Chips & Bits. Makes it a bit cheaper.


Atrocities, yeah I am enjoying the demo. Need to play it a bit more to make sure it is worth forking out the $$ for it. Looks good so far, but I only downloaded it on Thursday night.

Again, thanks for the replies.

Taipan

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Tricky question....

The game has great potential. As it is though, without mods. It's pretty crap. There is no balancing of weapons + techs. There is no decent AI. The graphics, while new + improved over SE3 are still not superior to civ2... In fact in many was the interface is inferior to civ2. There are few sounds, some of the menu systems are clunky to get where you want to go...

All that said. Add a few mods or wait a while for patches and it will become one of the better / best 4x games on the market for some time. It's always going to be lacking in eye candy, it's always going to be lacking 3d surround sound but it will (eventually) have depth. It's possible to set up an entirely original tech tree, AI + construction set for yourself or to share with friends..
So if you like playing a challenging AI out of the box, or zipping round in 3d terrain sims then you probably wouldn't be here. If you are prepared to deal with its little imperfections, it will keep you busy. I say buy it, but it's a game for life not just for christmas.

Hmmm, sounds a little more gushing than I intended.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

"It's pretty crap. "
Disagreee, the game is wonderful without mods (or with if you want)

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

I played Civ, CivII and Alpha Centauri. I think each one is a great game. Civ was a DOS game with not too many frills. It had VGA graphics but that's about it. CivII added slightly prettier graphics and better music and nice cinematic sequences for these special projects called 'Wonders'. The first time through the game, I watched every movie but then I skipped over them to get back to the gameplay. Alpha Centauri had similar quality graphics and sound and the movies. It added some neat sound effects to combat. The first couple of games, I left that turned on. But after that, I turned it off so that combat would resolve faster so I could get back to the gameplay.

Then, by chance, I read about SEIV on http://www.gamespot.com and downloaded the Demo. Finally, I thought, here is a program author who really 'Gets' it. He realized that a lot of us strategy gamers think the eye-candy and 3D sound is pretty impressive the first few times through the game. But after that, we just turn it off so we can get on with the game. He realized that he would probably make us happier if he instead wrote a deeper and more detailed game.

If you want all that glitz but don't care to play a very deep and detailed game, go checkout Imperium Galactica. This game has the graphics and sound but no depth. I played one game but not a second. I still have it and would probably *GIVE* it to you if you lived nearby.

What SEIV does that is so much more incredible than anything I could have ever imagined is allow you to customize the game. Hmm... don't like the way the Xiati race's ships look like? You can replace them with ships that look like Star Wars, or Star Trek or Babylon 5 or whatever. You can also customize how races behave--what they research, what the build, etc. You can even change fundamental rules of the game. Isn't that amazing?!? Do you know how hard it is to create a game that lets you change so much?!?

Bottom line: if you 'claim' to like playing strategy games, then you are made a liar if you don't buy this game.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

The only thing that needs help is the AI. Otherwise I think the game is pretty well balanced, apart from the explosive warheads, which aren't damaging enough to be worth it.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Taipan,
As a fellow Aussie, I too had that decision to make around christmas time and was baulking at the cost. Even through Chips and Bytes the price was more than I would normally pay.

In the end, the discussions about patch 1.19 and the modibility (???Is that a word??) of the game convinced me to take the plunge. I havent regretted it for one moment.

As the others have said, the AI is weak due to a number of blind sides but the degree of modibility means that you can largely overcome the AI's blind sides. Add a few house rules to that and you can have some very fun and challenging games.
I was addicted to MOO2 for about 2 years (played across modem with a friend)but am finding this game even more addictive (I seem to spend a third of my time in amongst the txt files thinking of new fun mods!).
Bottom line is, if you enjoy the demo, long term I dont think you will be disappointed.
Short term, there are so many mods available, that I reckon you will have many fun and enjoyable games (and thereby get your moneys worth).
As I said, long term, this a game that will be unlikely to gather dust due to its modibility (that word, or non word, again!).

As you gather I have become a convert (addict?) to this game but I've tried to be objective as possible with my summary and pretty much agree with the other comments people have made.

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Modifiability. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

It's a great game. Has some balance problems, but it's easy to modify, and will probably keep you occupied a while if you like Civ, MOO, Stars!, etc...

-Drake

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Hell, the thread is still going. I would of thought it would of died a natural death by now.

raynor, I come from the same "game play" line. Had Civ on my old Amiga (gathering thick dust under my bed), and then onwards to Civ II & AC. Thats what has attracted me to the game. I'm not that desparate for "eye candy", and I like the idea of being able to mod the game to suit. Imperium Galactica (I) was one game which I bought after reading great reviews from so called experts. Big disapointment. Very, very buggie, and my dog found it had a new small sliver disc shaped toy in it's kennel a few weeks later.

jimbob55, it is nice to see another view on the game. Glad for your input. Thanks

God Emperor, a fellow Aussie!..Didn't expect any else in Oz would of had the game.

Haveagoodday

Taipan

Re: Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?
 

Taipan you need to recount..thats 2 aussies who have this game...I am another Aussie who splurged on the money during Xmas time.
And its everything everyone has commented on in the Last thread...I dont need to revisit the good and bad points with all the testimoney everyone else has give the game.
Costs us Aussies an arm and a leg but worth every dollar...one thing to warn you about is the delivery time can be a bit longer than expected when ordering...took 13 days to get my copy!!