Is Space Empires IV Worth Buying?

[Taipan]

I have been bitten too many times by Game Reviewers that say "This game is great, 95/100..etc" only to find the game is crap once you buy it.

I've downloaded the demo & I'm hooked, and I like to know if it is worth parting with my hard earned money to buy the full Version.

As the game is worth about $100 Aussie dollars, can anyone give me an honest accessment of the game.

Is it re-playable; does it have a preticablity after a while; does the AI give you a challenging game; etc, etc

Thanks

Taipan

[Alpha Kodiak]

While this game is not for everyone, if you like the demo, you will probably love the full game (I know that I do). There seems to be no end to the ways that you can play this game.

There are some weaknesses in the AI, but between mods and patches, it is getting better all the time. Also, see the thread, "The Neutral Challenge" for ideas on how the game can be made extra challenging, even with the current AI.

In short, if you like a highly customizable, highly detail oriented game, and you liked the demo, then I would recommend that you buy the game.

[Derek]

The AI's challenge is getting greater and greater as patches come out. In addition, many people are modifying the data files for the game to make even more challenging AI's

In conjunction with that, many people are modding the game to present different technologies, ships, weapons, facilities, etc. The game is VERY easily modified, as the data files are all in easily readable .txt files.

The graphics are not spectacular, but serviceable.

The re-playability is excellent. And if you get sick of the game, try a different modification and see how drastically that changes it.

Or you can have fun like me, coming up with different modifications and posting them out there for others to use, and then basking in the praise of others who say they love your mod...

Did I mention the game was modifiable?


All in all I love the game.

Finally, the level of support for this game is tremendous. The designer continually is working on further changes for the game, improving on many things.

Finally, it is modifiable.


Derek

[Taipan]

Thanks for the quick replies...Just had a look at the postage costs for the game...US$19.00!!!! Thats crazy. How can they justify that?? That is well over the top and puts it into the Aussie $120.00 bracket for the game.

I usually buy all my games through a couple of English sites as they offer free postage anywhere in the world, and I usually get the game within seven days. The games on thier sites are cheap even allowing for the exchange rate, and I usually pay about Aus$20.00 less than I would in the Aussie stores. Unfortunatley it seems the game has not been released in the UK (yet?) as both sites I use don't have a listing of the game.

I might have to wait until then as Aus$120.00 is a bit too rich for me on my present budget. Does anybody know when the the game will be released in England?

Taipan

[Q]

Your question is difficult to answer, because I don't know what you like or dislike in a game. All I can say, that the more I play with SE IV and its modifications (for me the possibility to modify the game is the most important feature) the more I like it.
Don't know if this helps but greetings from the outer side of the world.

[Emperor Zodd]

Taipan, maybe you should consider moving.

[WendellM]

Chips & Bits sells SE4 for US$42.95 plus US$12 (2+3.50+6.50) for standard (7-14 day) international shipping: http://www.cdmag.com/cgi-bin/order.cbi_home

Works out a little cheaper overall.

[Atrocities]

Is SE IV worth buying. In a word, yes. Did you enjoy the demo? If so, then you will enjoy the full Version.

The game has a lot of hours of game play. I spent the money, and am happy that I did. Very happy. In fact, I have not gone to work in over 3 months because of this game. J/K

The game is a lot of fun for me, and I have shown it to others, and a few of them have ordered it.

All I can offer is this. If you enjoyed the demo, then get the full Version.

------------------
"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Patric Stewart as Captain Picard
UCP/TCO Ship Yards

[Taipan]

lol Emperor Zodd. Nah, couldn't move from this place. Much too much the lucky country.


WendellM, thanks for the link to Chips & Bits. Makes it a bit cheaper.


Atrocities, yeah I am enjoying the demo. Need to play it a bit more to make sure it is worth forking out the $$ for it. Looks good so far, but I only downloaded it on Thursday night.

Again, thanks for the replies.

Taipan

[jimbob55]

Tricky question....

The game has great potential. As it is though, without mods. It's pretty crap. There is no balancing of weapons + techs. There is no decent AI. The graphics, while new + improved over SE3 are still not superior to civ2... In fact in many was the interface is inferior to civ2. There are few sounds, some of the menu systems are clunky to get where you want to go...

All that said. Add a few mods or wait a while for patches and it will become one of the better / best 4x games on the market for some time. It's always going to be lacking in eye candy, it's always going to be lacking 3d surround sound but it will (eventually) have depth. It's possible to set up an entirely original tech tree, AI + construction set for yourself or to share with friends..
So if you like playing a challenging AI out of the box, or zipping round in 3d terrain sims then you probably wouldn't be here. If you are prepared to deal with its little imperfections, it will keep you busy. I say buy it, but it's a game for life not just for christmas.

Hmmm, sounds a little more gushing than I intended.