I'm going to be clear: I really like this game. Ever since I played the Creature Creator demo as a dumb toddler on my dad's old Windows XP computer, I fell in love with it, then I accidently uninstalled the game and couldn't reinstall it due to how scratched up the CD was.
This game is an ABSOLUTE CHARM, everything about it has its own tweaks to make it feel more alive and add to the experience. Truly, this game is very unique and trying to recreate a game like this is most certainly a worthy challenge and it can run on practically anything. Although, if you do run into an issue and the game refuses to cooperate, may lord have mercy on your soul.
However, this game is old. Despite the lack of bugfixes and updates, the game still feels quite stable and it is rare to encounter bugs. Since its next to impossible to access its online features, which is a huge part of Spore, you miss out on a lot of other things and it makes the world feel smaller.
Also, we also need to talk about the DLC. I personally haven't tried the DLC, but both of them have good reviews. While they may be pretty good, just like Spore, they're old too, its probably going to be a while for them to receive bugfixes and other updates. Plus, when you look at the price tag, 20 dollars for a DLC for a game that released in 2008 that hasn't got any updates for a long time? Doesn't feel like its worth it. Because Spore isn't getting any updates, the price tag on both the main game and its DLC should be lowered.
Personally, as for things I don't like, I really wished the Space Stage was better. Its pretty good, but if you have multiple colonies and are at war with another species, it can be quite tedious. Because you are only one starship managing your entire empire and the pressure of having to need to go multiple places all at once can be quite tiring. The worst stage I would say is the Tribal Stage, because, personally, it feels rigid and short.
I love this game as well as almost everything about it: especially its early 2010's era design. It feels great to play, but to get to the point:
I can't recommend this game to people because of how poorly maintained this game is and how it feels a bit worn-down. The DLC and the main game is great, but too highly priced for their age. I would recommend finding more modern alternatives to this game that will without a doubt receive regular updates and maintenance while enjoying a Spore-like experience.
If you do decide to buy this game, as well as its DLC, go right ahead, but at least consider what I've said.
