Reviews - C.Konstantine

Sometimes, offering something new and unique, is not as important as offering something that’s been done before…but doing it better. Interstellar space: Genesis manages to do both.

In a sense, this game is a throwback, a classic TBS 4X game with solid and familiar mechanics, yet at the same time, it is a nuanced, deep, and innovative game.

For fans of the genre, or space based game enthusiasts in general, the most striking feature of this game is the unique approach to exploration, it is not only multifaceted, but it never ends. Where other games of this type see exploration as finite and “early phase” of the game, ISG has made it an integral part of its very universe. From searching ruins, to discovering hidden systems that could literally have been under your very nose the entire time, ISG never fails to surprise and delight the player by what is out there, waiting to be discovered.

The player will see a more familiar approach with other aspects of the game, such as colony management and exploitation in general. But where many games lacked depth in this area, ISG brings them to a new level. You establish a colony, but growth isn’t about building some structures only, your infrastructure and ecology play major roles as well.

Heroes abound in ISG, and they have such an RPG feel to them that they could almost be a sub-game of their own. They progress, gain levels, increase skills, and gain entire new attributes. More than that, some double as your spies, meaning you’ll send them off on specific mission, to succeed or fail, to aid you or hinder you. But be careful, they have their own agendas, wants, needs and personalities…sometimes you will wish they were real just so you can throttle them in person.

All the things you’ve come to expect from a 4X are here. Do you want to terraform every rock you find? You can, but this is no simple or linear matter. Want to customize your own race? It’s there, and the choices are quite satisfying.

Perhaps one of the strongest aspects of this game is featured before you even play a single turn, I’m referring to the customization allowed at set-up, which enables you to set an outstanding variety of parameters.
Be aware though, this game has a learning curve, and it isn’t a gentle slope. The first time you try it, there is simply no way to understand all the nuances and synergies involved. It may seem slow, especially at the beginning phase, but once you have a few games under your belt, you will realize it is anything but.

Yes, there is still room for improvement, with perhaps an additional victory condition or two being the greatest need, but this game is supported in a way that would make a large, established studio, green with envy. The game receives constant and sustained updates, influenced by the very community of players and their feedback. And with the release of the first DLC, ISG has added two more fascinating races to its unique universe, bringing the total to eight.

A deep, nuanced game, designed to please both 4X fans and strategy gamers in general, ISG offers the option of tactical combat and multiple approaches to winning, (even if combat isn’t your thing). Events, diplomacy that is actually deep and meaningful, it’s all there.

A single warning though, if you want a casual game and a “light” 4X experience with instant gratification… you won’t be happy with this.