...is crap. Avoid it at all costs.

The way the E3 videos were put together made it seem like a huge, open, endless game, but in reality its rather limited. All of the stages take a very short time to "complete" and there just isnt very much to do unless you like making cute creatures dance, I think 50% of the game is the creature creator which is a crying shame.

I think Spore will pretty much appeal to the Sims demographic; if you didnt like the Sims I dont see how youll enjoy this over hyped piece of crap. The worst thing is you cant even flog it second hand because it ties your game key to your account.

if you didnt like the Sims I dont see how youll enjoy this over hyped piece of crap.

My brother hates the Sims but loves Spore.

I bought it to hav a go on once I finished Clear Sky.  So far the GF has stolen it and said Im not having it back.  Shes just got into space last night.

Damnit. Im really conflicted about getting this now. :|

I expected loads from this and am inclined to believe Chris isnt underselling it, if it really has been dumbed down so shallow thats a real disappointment

A shame, it was looking so good

Im still playing through with the odd half hour here there and everywhere in the hope that it evolves into something genuinely fun (no pun intended) but it just isnt getting there. In fact with each new stage Im left more and more disappointed, and in total Ive only put in about four or five hours to get from single celled organism swimming around in the primordial ooze to spaceship toting galactic conquerors.

To be honest the game is all about the creator rather than the playing; building your own buildings and ships and vehicles is what they have focused on and the RTS bits (a very very simple RTS with very little strategy, no real unit choice and hardly any different structures to choose from) and anything relating to the gameplay have been tacked on the side to justify the creators existence.

Its a true sandbox, but you always need toys to amuse yourself in a sandbox and this doesnt have any unfortunately. Id equate it to those "Zuma" type games you get on Popcap and other internet sites, or the games you get over Sky full of repetitive tasks and bright colours. There is absolutely no substance whatsoever and if you want to be immersed in a game and enjoy genuine strategy and tactics, or a real story-line, or even something varied to do then you wont get it here. Its mindlessly bright, cheerful and repetitive but if youre one of those people who likes games that they can really zone out to without really accomplishing anything and you dont have to commit any braincells to then this might be right up your alley.

Edit : I forgot to mention; it really isnt pretty either. The graphics take us back a good seven or eight years at times. If it really was what was promised (i.e a genuinely deep and immersive environment full of evolving species and creatures) then you could overlook some of the hideous clipping or rather nasty texturing but with maps as small as this (you can cross the world in a few minutes) there really isnt any excuse.

...is crap. Avoid it at all costs.

The way the E3 videos were put together made it seem like a huge, open, endless game, but in reality its rather limited. All of the stages take a very short time to "complete" and there just isnt very much to do unless you like making cute creatures dance, I think 50% of the game is the creature creator which is a crying shame.

I think Spore will pretty much appeal to the Sims demographic; if you didnt like the Sims I dont see how youll enjoy this over hyped piece of crap. The worst thing is you cant even flog it second hand because it ties your game key to your account.

Doesnt Sim and Spore have the same creator ?

Spore=Intelligent design ?