Closing Comments
I think that Maxis has made an impressive product that does so many incredible things. Spore will serve as an introduction to gaming for many; it's clear that many nontraditional gamers will check it out. As such, this feels sort of like a sampler plate to gaming, introducing newcomers to the different types of gameplay out there. But much more than that, Spore will make you think about science, and when was the last time you could say that about a game? It'll inspire people to learn more about the universe and imagine what's possible out there. Spore also pushes the idea of user-generated content to incredible new heights; this is a game where users will make the vast majority of things that you encounter, and this creation and sharing is done seamlessly.
Yet while Spore is an amazing product, it's just not quite an amazing game. I can't help but feel that Spore is ambitious and memorable, but I also admit that, save for the cool Space Stage, there's not a lot of depth here. Rookie gamers are going to feel at home here, but veteran gamers may feel like they need more. Still, Spore proves to be one of the most unique products in recent memory, one that reaches for the stars and ends up giving us a universe in a box.
(For other opinions of Spore, make sure to check out GameSpy's review, IGN UK's review, and IGN Australia's review.)
| Rating | Description |  |
|---|---|---|
| out of 10 | click here for ratings guide |
|
| 9.5 | Presentation The nearly 100-page manual is full of everything you need to know and more; The Sporepedia is an excellent in-game content browser; and the entire interface shows a lot of thought went into it. |
|
| 9.5 | Graphics Spore abstracts life with warm, colorful graphics. The fact that you can create an almost unlimited range of creatures and they all animate and move logically and emotionally is amazing. |
|
| 8.5 | Sound While these are aliens, you can understand them thanks to their chirps and grunts. The music is minimalist, but that serves to underscore its effectiveness when it does come into play. |
|
| 8.0 | Gameplay Spore is a wonderful, dizzying trip through evolution. It's definitely an entertaining and creative endeavor, but it lacks the gameplay depth that experienced gamers expect. |
|
| 8.5 | Lasting Appeal If you like creating and sharing things, Spore is going to keep you busy for quite a while. However, if you like playing games, Spore doesn't seem to have the longevity of something like The Sims. |
|
| 8.8 |
OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average) |
Not too bad I suppose, but it seems they took points off because the game is too casual? Some of the comments on the review at IGN are kind of harsh.
Link.
