Spore Creatures

 DS
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. 3DJuegos
    70
    Spore Creatures is a decent demonstration about the power of Will Wright's ideas in a videogame that tries to imitate the PC version customization possibilities. The result is obviously limited but it's still a very suitable adventure for the kids above all.
  2. GameSpy
    70
    The basic gameplay elements from Spore's creature stage have been expanded upon in Spore Creatures, and if you're looking for more of that, you'll be quite pleased by this attractive little adventure.
  3. GameShark
    67
    Unfortunately, while the quests and mini-games vary from region to region, overall gameplay is rather repetitive.
  5. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    66
    A boring old caterpillar rather than a beautiful butterfly - not what we'd hoped for at all. [Nov 2008, p.79]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. GameSpot
    65
    Spore Creatures is pleasant and charming, but ultimately forgettable.
  7. GamingTrend
    64
    Unfortunately, a great concept got lost in a morass of poor decisions and overcomplexity, if that's a word.
  8. Pocket Gamer UK
    60
    Not the cheap cash-in you might have feared and yet still a portable game that runs contrary to all the aims of the PC original.
  9. Gamervision
    60
    Spore Creatures isn’t the shovelware I originally expected, but it isn’t much more than a cash-in on the PC version’s anticipated success. It isn't a bad game, it isn't a good game, it's just sort of there.
  10. Nintendo Gamer
    60
    Perversely, there are complex ideas in here but the game itself is pretty simple, rather repetitive and often clumsy. [Nov 2008, p.62]
    All this publication's reviews
  11. Meristation
    60
    Forget the PC version because this adaptation of the brilliant Spore isn’t at all on the same level as Will Wright’s new gem. Spore Creatures for the Nintendo DS uses basic gameplay based on doing missions related to finding various items and then using them to create a new monster in a nicely done monster editor. Anyway, the game isn’t bad for little kids.
  12. Eurogamer
    50
    The wonky camera and repetition is annoying, but it still just about works as an average exploration game. What it doesn't offer is any sort of Free Play option where you can do your own thing.
  13. N-Europe
    50
    With none of the scope seen in the PC version, Spore: Creatures is a poor alternative. It’s a quirky & great looking, but soon ends up killing itself with repetitive gameplay and dull puzzles.
  14. Level7.nu
    50
    Due to a repetitive gameplay and uninspiring content the portable DS-version of Spore fails to make itself interesting. A greater selection of mini-games and ways to play the game would have helped this in essence mediocre experience.

Awards & Rankings

87
#87 Best DS Game of 2008
20
#20 Most Discussed DS Game of 2008
83
#83 Most Shared DS Game of 2008

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 26
  3. Negative: 6 out of 26
  1. sotyfe
    Jan 17, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I can safely say that this is one of the most entertaining games for the DS. If you are one for adventure games, you will definitely enjoy this one. I have two used copies from Gamestop, and both had completed saves on them so I got to see what the whole game had to offer at first sight, and later on I finished the game myself. The instructions are a bit confusing in the beginning, because they give little assistance in finding out what different parts of spore cards and items mean, but I am fairly sure that they did this on purpose to make the gamer figure some stuff out for themselves instead of being force-fed information. It includes a fairly lengthy storyline, and if you're willing to sit down and play all of it at once, be prepared to get bored quickly, because this game is best played in hourly doses, like most games out there. Walkthroughs may be useful at some points. There are also a few glitches. One of them is when you must throw rocks at the attacking Glob-lods, they still steal the Bubleebu's bananas anyways and you have to restart the quest. It took me almost an hour to get through that short portion, and on another save it didn't even work to begin with. Another negative to the game is it is very linear, there are no, "you can do this instead of this and still reach the same outcome," no, its entirely, "if you cant do this, run around and complete other tasks but you still have to do this to continue." I highly recommend this game, but if you are into games with incredibly high replay value and broad options on what you can do, try this one anyways, it won't take much of your paycheck to pick up an entertaining sliver of the renowned PC legend, Spore.

    (Also, when you befriend a nest, you get a part/experience/both. If you kill a nest, you get a part/experience/both. This is a way to get all the parts, just befriend all the creatures, take the prize, kill all of them, take the prize, rebuild the nest, befriend them, and so on. I have managed to get almost all the parts this way. Gruesome, but whatever it takes.. Also the aftermath of the game is pretty drab. All you can do once you defeat the villain is go back to the places you've already been to get more parts and unlock cheats.)    … Full Review »
  2. ND-Bringer
    Oct 14, 2022
    6
    Among the Pokemon knockoffs and recreations, we have Spore Creatures. A decent space adventure game with really nice customization mechanics.Among the Pokemon knockoffs and recreations, we have Spore Creatures. A decent space adventure game with really nice customization mechanics. The trailer was really eye catching back in the day. Mainly because creation games like Scribblenauts and Drawn to Life were the big cheese at the time. Games that give you the freedom to create your own story tend to be really enjoyable. Done correctly you'll age well like Dragon Ball Xenoverse. Done incorrectly, you'll age poorly like Skylanders Imaginators.

    And after playing this space odyssey about a little creature trying to save his little brother, all I can is that this is...a very good game! Not great, it's a very safe adventure that focuses more on customization than good level design. Most of the time you'll jest be completing fetch quests, interacting with the alien life, fighting the occasional savage beast. It's a very forgettable adventure.

    But as a kids game where one can just spend hours designing tons of different monsters, its pretty relaxing. If their's anything PokePark has taught me, it's that an easy game can still be enjoyable as long as things feel colorful throughout the entire adventure.

    I feel like a kid playing a game on a long car trip whenever I turn this on. The satisfaction you can feel just by interacting with goofy monsters, growing plant life, or devouring the children! Yes can do that in this game, it's terrifying and I love it. Overall a decent time waster    … Full Review »
  3. RobertTheGreat
    Jul 27, 2020
    6
    This Game Was OK. Back Then When I First Got It, I Did Not Pretty Much Understand This Games Story. But Now I Did. Basically The Game Is JustThis Game Was OK. Back Then When I First Got It, I Did Not Pretty Much Understand This Games Story. But Now I Did. Basically The Game Is Just Like Spore but Papercut. The Game Features Bio Powers That Make Me A Next Generation Creature, It Also Has Replay Mode, Meaning I Can Return To The Planet I Want And Start Over Again. But I Didn't Like How Finding Red Highlighted Parts Takes Almost Forever In This Game. Plus The Only Way To Get Sporeling Parts Is By Cheating. I Always Hated Staying In The Island Muckluck Of Planet Pangu. But Anyway, This Game Is OK For Me To Play.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »