Distant Worlds and Sins of Solar Empire (DW and SoSE).
If anyone of you tried this game (Distant Worlds) that came out about 2 weeks ago from independant Australian developer please, I want to know what you think about it.
Here is my opinion comparing to SoSE, DW is:
1. 2D (What?)
2. Very unpolished
3. Unprofessional (feels like made by an accountant who was bored at work).
4. Not player friendly (clumsy controls, spreadsheets of information that look like an inventory database of 1990)
5. Very average graphics
6. The worst game engine I've seen in last 5 years. Game auto-tunes itself to what it thinks best for your system and there is no way to adjust anything. All you can do is change nebulae density, THAT'S IT. No screen resolution, no effects, nothing at all.
... etc.
Map can have 1400 stars, now who needs tham many? I personally don't play games to LIVE in them, I play games for fun, couple hours or so a night, if any at all. I don't want to say only bad about DW but there is so little to brag about it. It has automation system, which allows you a lot of freedom especially if you play huge maps. Game has a lot of information up to how much ammunition and fuel your guns use, even though you can't see them guns nor you can even zoom to your ships all the way like in SoSE.
There is only 1 weapon effect - double or single laser and possibly torpedo/missile effect which I haven't seen since I haven't played it that long. You can set them game on auto and it will play itself while you sleep... Sounds like what X series games used to have.
SoSE is more of an action type and I like it that way, its more fun.
The worst thing is that DW costs 40$ and there is no demo. So if you thinking about buying - consider it first. I'd say that DW is for extreme geeks who likes to manage hundreds of their ships manually even though they can automate it, but that's when game becomes even more boring. If you are a real geek - buy it. If you like more action in your space games, good graphics, polished and complete feel to the game, well organized game mechanics - SoSE wins by a mile.
