Sins of a Solar Empire II

Putting that divide into a score is somewhat difficult because it’s going to be a compromise that won’t accurately represent either side. An old-school fan who simply wants to bask in nostalgia will rate Sins of a Solar Empire 2 very highly, while someone expecting a little more will inevitably feel disappointed by the wasted potential. I’m counting myself toward the latter group, but I have to respect Ironclad’s commitment to remaining faithful to the original.

A solid space strategy that borrows heavily from major 4X turn-based games, Sins of a Solar Empire II makes it clear that its core focus is on action and conquest, with diplomacy and trading taking a backseat. The brilliant idea of simulating real planetary orbits, which dynamically alters the map, adds depth, though it can't entirely hide the unbalanced pacing and lackluster visual style.

A solid successor that provides more accessibility with many convenient functions and carefully adds mechanics. The new engine also lets the battles shine in a new light. Great effects, nice lighting and beautiful backgrounds create a real sci-fi flair. However, the pure focus on destroying the enemy makes for very uniform games with somewhat too static space battles. In addition, mechanics such as culture, secondary factions or mobile orbits play too small a role compared to the mass production of gigantic fleets.

If you’re looking for something new and fresh in the world of strategy games, this might not be the game for you. But if you’re looking for technical, celestial battles with lots of tiny details to optimize and organize, you might end up falling in love with this behemoth of a game.