Space Empires V

A classic 4X game that was one of the most moddable games in its time. Users can easily write text mods for everything. Python scripting allowed for non-core game mechanics to be added though significant, lengthy changes could produce end turn lag as they are processed after the core code. Still, want a hyperspace jump drive - script it. Want the ability to create shelled Dyson sphere planets - write the text and introduce it. Combat mechanics are somewhat primitive but given its age numerous user mods were created that made the AI better. At one point I scripted a supernova type event that would damage other stars, planets and colonies in a X-light year radius (a timed, random event) complete with a stellar stabilization tech that could be used to mitigate its impact. Your imagination is the limit.

While I like the complexity of options and the level of control you have over ship design, this game did not age well since I last played it when it was new, and I don't mean graphically. I was greeted by a host of technical issues. At first the game simply refused to even start. Once I figured that out, I still get hit by random crashes that aren't that uncommon, along with times where the FPS of this ancient game drops down really low and it just runs terrible. I have to restart. I have multiple monitors and while the game's launcher lets you select which monitor it plays on, if I change it away from the default the game doesn't load. At least it defaults to my main monitor. What is interestingly bizarre is the game seems to configure itself using elements from all attached displays. It'll run on monitor 1, using the max resolution of monitor 2, and locks itself at the minimum refresh rate of the attached TV. So if my TV is connected to my PC, the game locks itself at 30fps for some reason even though the TV is set for 60Hz. If I disable the TV in NVIDIA control panel, it goes up to the refresh rate of my main monitor at 144. So I have to disable the extra displays even if it's not using them. Tedious, but oddly fascinating. I like most of the music from this game, but it and the effects sound almost like you're listening to them through a phone. Perhaps the engine just has a low quality sound engine? It's odd because if I go into the game folder and listen to the MP3s of the music tracks, they sound fine. It's only in game where they sound a bit muffled and with low fidelity. The game itself despite being run on a PC that is so much more powerful than what was available at the time the game was made, it still runs poorly. From random losses of FPS, to sustained losses of FPS that are only resolved by restarting the game, to your ship list menu freezing the game upwards of 7-10 seconds before it opens even if you have about only two dozen ships on the list. The AI turn processing time start getting fairly lengthy as well, with all the issues all compounding together it really make it more difficult to enjoy playing. However, I get too many random crashes that have no obvious cause or correlation between them that I can't solve, so I can't recommend this game. Keep in mind this was after messing with it for quite a long time to get it to even load in the first place. It's a shame there was never a sequel that refined the experience, underneath all the jank and technical issues, there is a pretty solid premise for a game. If you still want to try it, only get it on sale and make sure you use a mod that improves the AI like CaptainKwok's Balance mod. The base game AI isn't good.

literally just stellaris before stellaris

The best Space 4x game I know of. Customizable races (or play with the premade ones like the "Terrans" )-some with proprietary technologies. Customize traits, appearance/ships, names used etc. Save them, reuse them, or populate future games with custom races Customizable games- customize the galaxy you play in, # of races, set racial trait limits, intelligence/espionage, technology research rate, etc.(if you want to get to Dyson Spheres and Ring Worlds without taking ages turn Tech rate up) The tech tree is massive and supports a ton of different strategies(sadly diplomatic AI is kinda dumb and random) and some different play types beyond wars. Highly advanced tech allows you to manipulate the galaxy- form planets out of asteroid belts, destroy planets(for sphere world materials?) or even stars or warp points, or create new ones CONTROLLABLE BATTLES -in connection with the next point lets you design specialist units, combined forces for fleet warfare, even pacifist units that don't kill if you want to Customizable ships/satellites/space stations/mines/drones/fighters/ground troops of different size classes(smaller ships are faster+more evasive). Dozens of weapon types-specialized ones like only damage engines/shields/people/computers/planetary conditions to the tradeoffs between beam/blaster/projectile/seeker -exploratory ships might not be able to refill ordnance for years. Captain Kwok's Balance Mod is highly recommended by most players, though I play with and without it Negatives: As mentioned diplomacy isn't that good even though there are a LOT of diplomatic options, persistence seemed to be my most effective diplomatic strategy- but I'm basically a warmonger maybe that's partly on me Because there are hundreds of weapons/equipment or various levels on all sorts of units/planets, you can come up with OP combinations/strategies in ways the AI wont think of- a simple example is if fighting near a black hole which renders shields inactive you are using armor piercing weaponry (less OP but hilarious is to destroy the enemy engines so that months later they are sucked into the black hole) Neutral: The AI empires in this game don't get cheats the way most games today do-I'm looking at you Total War- which I view as a positive, but smart economic warfare can be very OP there was a bad bug on the release disc originally that I think kept the game from being better known, but thankfully that is gone

В отличии от других частей эта не играбельная. Даже бородатая первая часть без проблем запускается... А тут при загрузке уровня начинает моргать монитор и начинается бесконечная загрузка уровня, которая не в итоге не загружается...

This game is a serious retrograde step. SEIV was clear and concise. This is covered in dancing salami. Nothing is clear. It may be an improvement in game play, but I'll never know as I can't be bothered to play this cluster.

Very detailed, granular game - too much for me. If you love placing each component on each ship design (and hand-crafting all the upgrades) you will enjoy. Having spent several hours on the tutorial, I was determined to play a regular game through, to give the game a chance to grow on me, but in the end I was quite relieved when it crashed.