How is the game now?

thorfrog · #1 March 25th, 2007, 11:26 PM

So, how is this game now? Does the latest fix and mods make this a worthy investment? I've seen this available at Gamestop for $19.00 and was considering. What is everyones thoughts on the game play?

AgentZero · #2 March 25th, 2007, 11:34 PM

For $19, I'd say go for it. Most of the showstopper bugs have been eliminated, aside from a memory leak that some people have reported. I haven't seen it myself, so I can't really comment on it, but as it stands, if you get patched up to 1.33 and get either, or both, Kwok's Balance Mod and the IRM mod, you'll have yourself a good game with an AI that puts up a decent challenge.

Phoenix-D · #3 March 26th, 2007, 12:08 AM

IIRC you main problem was with the UI, right? That hasn't changed much. There have been a few changes like condensed unit lists and a few ship design improvements.

The demo is up to 1.25 now. Grab that, try again.

AMF · #4 March 26th, 2007, 01:03 AM

So...the UI remains the same?

Sigh.

Oh well...

Thanks,

AMF

Atrocities · #5 March 26th, 2007, 03:41 AM

I would buy it. The UI stills has some issues but the game is very playable now.

Slick · #6 March 26th, 2007, 12:32 PM

I wouldn't. I got the latest patch just for possible future use, but I can't even muster enough interest to check out all the fixes because I just don't find it fun. And none of the fixes address the things that make the game unfun. Except 1: the game now should process turns when minimized - great, but not enough.

I'm playing other games.

Arkcon · #7 March 26th, 2007, 07:23 PM

Much better as of late. The patches have fixed many of the more glaring bugs, I'm more used to the UI quirks, and I really like the gameplay. With the Balance Mod, the AI can really survive well -- even small low tech ships are quite durable to combat.

Raapys · #8 March 26th, 2007, 09:23 PM

Well, the AI can perhaps survive, but he can't actually kill a player. For that matter, 10 AIs together couldn't kill a player, even a newbie. The attack part of the AI scripts are really incomplete, especially in regards to the fog of war feature. Other than that, most bugs are being sorted out.

Personally I don't really enjoy playing the game all that much, though. The new modding possibilities are great, combat is an improvement, and there are several other smaller improvements as well, but the user interface and the main windows are so awkward and slow that it takes away much of the fun with the actual gameplay.

StarJack · #9 March 28th, 2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

thorfrog said:
So, how is this game now? Does the latest fix and mods make this a worthy investment? I've seen this available at Gamestop for $19.00 and was considering. What is everyones thoughts on the game play?

It's a little better. For $19 you should buy it, patch it, and play it. It will take a few more patches I expect, to get the AI right, even if the other numerous niggling issues remain. As released the game entirely deserved the sharp criticism it received, but it has improved quite a bit, and will probably continue to do so. That it is near the top of the heap of 4X games (not arguing the opinion, happen to agree) is more a condemnation of 4X games, than it is praise for SEV.