Spore

 PC
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2110 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 885 out of 2110
  2. Mixed: 446 out of 2110
  3. Negative: 779 out of 2110
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  1. MB
    Sep 12, 2008
    0
    This is yet another attempt to control the end user through the use of DRM. Avoid this game and avoid ALL EA games until they put the user before their own visions of greatness.
  2. AnonymousMC
    Sep 12, 2008
    2
    Tries to do everything and ends up doing nothing particularly well. Modifying the creature is academic as the game just glosses over your mods and lumps your creature into its own general categories. The game seems to rush you to the space age, but once you get there the game deteriorates into a frustrating series of zooms in and out of planets and star systems.
  3. AnonymousMC
    Sep 12, 2008
    1
    The "game" is boring, repetitive and lacking in any real content at all. It requires - nay - completely consists in the latter stages of very simple and repetitive tasks. This tedium is all you have, especially in the Space segment.
    This game is all style and no substance. It will woo you with the hype and once you are suckered in and lost your money you'll realise all you have is    The "game" is boring, repetitive and lacking in any real content at all. It requires - nay - completely consists in the latter stages of very simple and repetitive tasks. This tedium is all you have, especially in the Space segment.
    This game is all style and no substance. It will woo you with the hype and once you are suckered in and lost your money you'll realise all you have is a lemon.

    DO NOT BUY THIS AWFUL GAME.    … Expand
  4. JR
    Sep 12, 2008
    2
    A big disappointment. Creating the creatures is fun for a bit but the gameplay is awful. It felt like I was playing a game made for special kids in school. Creating a creature after the first evolutionary step is fun for a bit. The rest of the gameplay is simply, incredibly boring. I found myself rushing through the more boring and repetative parts of the game in order to "get to the good A big disappointment. Creating the creatures is fun for a bit but the gameplay is awful. It felt like I was playing a game made for special kids in school. Creating a creature after the first evolutionary step is fun for a bit. The rest of the gameplay is simply, incredibly boring. I found myself rushing through the more boring and repetative parts of the game in order to "get to the good bit" but, alas, that never came. Absolute rubbish! The only reason this game gets 2 points is because it looks nice and creating a creature is fun, but you can do that on the demo.… Expand
  5. JonK.
    Sep 12, 2008
    0
    Maxis has developed a game with no cohesive gameplay elements. Extremely boring. Play Ages of Empires series instead if you desire a good RTS game.
  6. TerceroB.
    Sep 12, 2008
    1
    A decent game is completely crippled by DRM issues. I initially installed it on a system that met the requirments, however the game would not play on it. When it didn't work, I reinstalled it, still to no avail. When I finally installed it on my laptop it worked, but I am now unable to install the game on my desktop PC because of their arcane DRM scheme. This is completely A decent game is completely crippled by DRM issues. I initially installed it on a system that met the requirments, however the game would not play on it. When it didn't work, I reinstalled it, still to no avail. When I finally installed it on my laptop it worked, but I am now unable to install the game on my desktop PC because of their arcane DRM scheme. This is completely unacceptable, and punishes legitimate customers who actually purchased the game, while allowing those who pirate it to have a more functional copy of the game. This DRM is wholly unacceptable.… Expand
  7. LJ
    Sep 13, 2008
    0
    The lack of depth + drm issues makes me wish I had pirated this game.
  8. DenebKaitos
    Sep 13, 2008
    0
    This game simply does not live up to the hype. For serious gamers Spore just does not deliver. Each of the mini secions feels shallow and incomplete. This would have been forgivable because it is important to bring new gamers into the genre. The DRM however only punishes legitamate copies of the game. Save yourself the hassle and download a liberated version.
  9. CraigS.
    Sep 14, 2008
    0
    I can't express more disappointment. Not only is the game over priced. It is terrible as well.
  10. AnonymousMC
    Sep 14, 2008
    1
    I was really anticipating this game, and I went out and bought it, before realizing the way overboard restrictions EA put on it. Caps on activation, it's locked to your computer hardware, only one master account through EA, and lastly, I've just about had it with SecuROM crap being installed on my box. Be warned, you are not buying this game, you are renting it. One day, itI was really anticipating this game, and I went out and bought it, before realizing the way overboard restrictions EA put on it. Caps on activation, it's locked to your computer hardware, only one master account through EA, and lastly, I've just about had it with SecuROM crap being installed on my box. Be warned, you are not buying this game, you are renting it. One day, it will cease to work.

    Suppose you bought the board game Monopoly and you opened it in the kitchen when you got home, only to discover a gadget attached to the board that would from them on only allow you to play the game in the kitchen. And if you tried to play in the living room, or play with more than 4 people, or bring it over to a friends house, or play variations on the set rules, the game would somehow not let you play it. Or if you moved to a different house, you would have to call Parker Brothers and get them to unlock the game before you could play it in your new house. People wouldn't stand for that, so why do people stand for this.
    I've had sort of a philosophical awakening based on my experience with Spore, and I've pretty much resolved to not buy any games with SecurROM and maybe not EA in general, as tough as that will be.
    Anyway, the game itself (once I got it running) was alright. I think they removed some things from it, because it didn't seem as in-depth as even the presentation Will Wright did on it. I love the idea, the execution is ok, but the DRM and installation is way over the top.    … Expand
  11. JimG.
    Sep 14, 2008
    3
    Constant attacking by pirates, micro management in space (spice pick up/delivery), useless allies, watered down version of game. Definately wait till a serious patch comes out!
  12. Vagabond
    Sep 14, 2008
    3
    So much they could have done, so little they actually accomplished. The very first stage is probably the only one that actually works. Creature stage is O.K nothing exceedingly good but no game killers either. Tribal stage is just akward, like a poorly programmed RTS game. Civilization phase has a few game killers for me. Namelly that you can't modify cars to be different. As soon as So much they could have done, so little they actually accomplished. The very first stage is probably the only one that actually works. Creature stage is O.K nothing exceedingly good but no game killers either. Tribal stage is just akward, like a poorly programmed RTS game. Civilization phase has a few game killers for me. Namelly that you can't modify cars to be different. As soon as you modify one they all change. No recon or tank vehicles unless you want ALL of them that way. Space is so full of bugs and poorly designed game elements that it hurts just thinking about it. Who honestly thought giving your civilization 1 ship period while all your enemies seem to have 20 at their disposal at any given time was a good idea. Having to zoom in to talk to people gets very tedius. Overall I think the second version of this game will be excellent. This feels too much like a failed beta… Expand
  13. LloydB.
    Sep 14, 2008
    2
    Very simplistic, not nearly the level of detail I was hoping for, game play is linear, no complexity at all to the game.
  14. BobF
    Sep 14, 2008
    1
    The visuals were nice, that's the only positive thing I can say. The DRM restrictions, in my opinion, should be illegal. I returned my copy for a refund immediately upon learning of this. I upgrade my gaming PC 2 or more times a year including a fresh Windows install, 3 installs gives me an 18-month rental? I think not. I downloaded Spore for free off of Usenet. Is that any less The visuals were nice, that's the only positive thing I can say. The DRM restrictions, in my opinion, should be illegal. I returned my copy for a refund immediately upon learning of this. I upgrade my gaming PC 2 or more times a year including a fresh Windows install, 3 installs gives me an 18-month rental? I think not. I downloaded Spore for free off of Usenet. Is that any less illegal than what EA is doing? I think not. After an hour of play my opinion is the game play is very underwhelming, the game does not live up to its hype, and I've since deleted my free copy.… Expand
  15. GaryTyson
    Sep 19, 2008
    0
    The game s INFECTED WITH DRM SECUROM i NOT interested in it any more these big corporations take the pis
    STAND UP PEOPLE DONT BUY THIS DRM
    SH@T FROM EA
    VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET
    DONT BUT EA GAMES TILL THEY DITCH DRACOIN DRM
    AND THIS GAME IS NOTHING LIKE GOOD ITS BORIING THEY HAVE MESSED IT UP SO BAD
  16. NateC
    Sep 24, 2008
    1
    The old bait & switch. Let's show them footage of what they think will be in the game, then completely switch it out at the last minute!

    This is an unfinished, unpolished, un-fun game. It gimps the gameplay for the first 4 stages, then the AI kicks in and runs you into the ground in Space stage. It's great to look at on moderate systems, for the most part, but loses its luster    The old bait & switch. Let's show them footage of what they think will be in the game, then completely switch it out at the last minute!

    This is an unfinished, unpolished, un-fun game. It gimps the gameplay for the first 4 stages, then the AI kicks in and runs you into the ground in Space stage. It's great to look at on moderate systems, for the most part, but loses its luster the more you play it, ironically.

    Absolute disappointment.    … Expand
  17. PaulT.
    Sep 5, 2008
    0
    SecuROM DRM uses unlawful practices to hide on your computer system and limit the game to 3 activations. Product labeling fails to make this clear. Consumers are being cheated.
  18. HankRiker
    Sep 25, 2008
    1
    Totally crippled under the weight of it's DRM. I have picked up the Galactic Edition several times now, and considered buying this game, only to put it back.

    EA needs to wake up. DRM does NOTHING to deter real piracy, but punishes legitimate owners. Mass Effect is the last game that I will buy that has onerous DRM. I will happily buy Spore the moment they remove the installed    Totally crippled under the weight of it's DRM. I have picked up the Galactic Edition several times now, and considered buying this game, only to put it back.

    EA needs to wake up. DRM does NOTHING to deter real piracy, but punishes legitimate owners.

    Mass Effect is the last game that I will buy that has onerous DRM. I will happily buy Spore the moment they remove the installed Digital Restrictions Management software from the game.    … Expand
  19. MutzP
    Aug 8, 2009
    2
    This is waste played until final stage and it's rinse and repeat...No depth at all just rinse and repeat. Too much marketing is spend ont this they better spended it on the game itself. HYPED
  20. AAG
    Oct 23, 2008
    2
    Brain dead. Only recommended if you're 10 year old, and not very bright. Good potential wasted. Cell stage : click on food bits untils you grow. Repeat for 10 minutes to evolve. (just a parody of freeware flOw, which was actually entertaining) Creature stage : click on neighbour. Smash keys 1-4 to kill / befriend them. Repeat for 20 minutes to evolve.("evolution" is limited to Brain dead. Only recommended if you're 10 year old, and not very bright. Good potential wasted. Cell stage : click on food bits untils you grow. Repeat for 10 minutes to evolve. (just a parody of freeware flOw, which was actually entertaining) Creature stage : click on neighbour. Smash keys 1-4 to kill / befriend them. Repeat for 20 minutes to evolve.("evolution" is limited to picking up shiny things - body parts - randomly scattered in the lanscape) Tribal stage : click on neighbour. Smash keys 1-3 to kill / ally them. Repeat for 30 minutes to evolve.(diplomacy ? strategy ? alliances ? nope, just a bad joke) Civ stage : build 5-10 vehicles then send them to attack /trade /convert nearest city. Repeat 10 times to evolve. (don't waste time making a pretty model, they function the same no matter what you choose in the designer, and you can't really see them anyway from up there) Space stage : click on planet to explore...no oops.. they need you back home...repeat endlessly, coz' this is where "evolution", fortunately, stops.… Expand
  21. AnthonyJessup
    Sep 24, 2008
    1
    WTF is this game getitng such good reviews? Man, I bought this expecting it to be at least playable. I can't install it, and the dealer won't take it back. What's up with the copy protection? It tells me I can't istall it because I have some memory problem? Huh?? This stupid game cost me $50 and I still can't get it installed. what is wrong with this pos?? Sheesh
  22. thomasknudlleson
    Sep 24, 2008
    1
    Miserable failure. Cool concept, pretty lame execution. I was bored with the first game, found the 2nd one even worse, 3rd was slightly redeeming, but omg what an unrelated pile of crap these little party games are. This is mario party 1 for one player lol. And the controls are stupid, can't configure the mouse or movement keys. F-
  23. Q8eZy
    Oct 15, 2010
    1
    Sickly cute, diabetic coma inducing Disney graphics suitable only for children 12 and under...not an evolution game at all...belongs on the wii. Maybe one day we will get a god game that deserves the title.
  24. damp
    Jun 13, 2012
    0
    Given all the hype surrounding Spore it was always going to struggle to live up to expectations, there is a difference between failing to meet expectations and missing them entirely however.

    As a game it is really nothing more than a collection of simple mini games with very little tying them together, for the most part choices in one game have little to no actual impact in subsequent    Given all the hype surrounding Spore it was always going to struggle to live up to expectations, there is a difference between failing to meet expectations and missing them entirely however.

    As a game it is really nothing more than a collection of simple mini games with very little tying them together, for the most part choices in one game have little to no actual impact in subsequent games other than aesthetic (and even that isn't always maintained).

    The initial cell game is quite entertaining and shows promise (although there are free flash games that pre-date spore that do it better), unfortunately this is probably the highpoint of the entire game.

    The creature stage was initially entertaining as you wander around however it quickly becomes repetitive. Evolution is no more than finding upgrades, the higher the number the better the upgrade; there is no downside to any of them, no trade offs or limitations - better numbers = better creature = quite dull really. The actual design of the creature - size, number and position of limbs etc has absolutely no impact whatsoever. Survival at this stage is a choice between the two well know evolutionary choices - kill opponents or dance and sing.

    The tribal stage is a very mediocre RTS game, the "opponents" never really put up a fight and are soon defeated, not much else to say about this stage.

    The Civ stage gives you a city and you build units that are either military, religious or economic and you send these to other cities to conquer them. Regardless of the units the result is pretty much the same. Best described as another very mediocre RTS.

    The previous four stages lead up to the Galactic stage. You have a planet and a spaceship and as such you can travel to other planets to terraform them or trade. The main problem with this stage is hidden in the previous sentence - *YOU* have a spaceship, nobody else on your starting planet does, no planet you claim ever gets them. This means you spend your entire time responding to every single tiny detail or alert or attack or request or discovery or trade opportunity yourself. The larger the mapped area is, the more time you spend not exploring but constantly dealing with mundane trivia. To add insult to injury when you make allies who *do* posses spaceships they not only don't give you help but then expect you to drop anything and everything when *they* have any problem at all! I know you are fighting a war to defend your planets on the far reaches of the galaxy and also trying to single handedly ferry spice everywhere but we have knocked over a glass of milk and it is imperative that you, and only you in the entirety of creation, rush to our aid right now!

    Overall a very disappointing and mediocre game.    … Expand
  25. jacob4
    Jun 25, 2014
    2
    It might first seem like an O.K. game, but once you play it over again and get deeper into the game, you find out it's just a bunch of pointless clicking around and no exciting quest or storyline or campaign. The cut scenes are lame, and the animation isn't good at all. I'd sell or trade my Spore game for a much better game like Halo.
  26. TepidThought
    Oct 8, 2014
    3
    Atrocious game. Advertised as a massive open game with limitless possibilities. 90% of this game is comprised of the space section, which is repetitive and boring, and the other eras are just simple minded grind. Honestly the best one is the cell stage, as its a half decent as an arcade game. This game takes an awesome and complex idea and compresses it into something seemingly designedAtrocious game. Advertised as a massive open game with limitless possibilities. 90% of this game is comprised of the space section, which is repetitive and boring, and the other eras are just simple minded grind. Honestly the best one is the cell stage, as its a half decent as an arcade game. This game takes an awesome and complex idea and compresses it into something seemingly designed for a 5 year old.… Expand
  27. BoredGamer42
    Oct 10, 2014
    0
    Tried to purchase this crappy game on Steam today. I remember when it launched, the joke (reality) was that people who paid for Spore had to then pirate the game to get a playable copy since the copy protection broke the game. It's been a long time since then, though, and Steam has its own copyright protection methods. Well, guess what.

    Spore still required me to register on    Tried to purchase this crappy game on Steam today. I remember when it launched, the joke (reality) was that people who paid for Spore had to then pirate the game to get a playable copy since the copy protection broke the game. It's been a long time since then, though, and Steam has its own copyright protection methods. Well, guess what.

    Spore still required me to register on Spore.com to play. Spore.com is down. For how long? I dunno - maybe 10 minutes, maybe a year, maybe forever. All I know is that I can't even register to play a game that was honestly pretty stupid to begin with. It gets boring after an hour, but I was willing to pay for that. Give me my hour back, you sons of !@##&*)(@# @#$)(*#$!

    Critic scores on metacritic are garbage, and so is this game. Trust the other users here and save yourself the headache.    … Expand
  28. guy5f
    Dec 15, 2014
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The one part of the game in actually fond of is the cell stage. It felt so fun compared to much of the other parts. In fact, it's the only area I ever had any REAL fun. I got pretty turned off and almost quit when I was in the tribal stage. The 2nd stage, whatever it's called, is just the same thing OVER and OVER. You can kill some things, or you can befriend them by dancing or singing. Something that ruins my experience about almost all of the game is the fact that the only area where you place things on your creature actually matters is in the cell stage. The only part of the game that most people is to the creature creator, but it's quite hard to create anything more than a few animals that look almost nothing like what they're supposed to be.… Expand
  29. SINEKT
    Mar 2, 2015
    3
    In the cell and creature stages it really kicks you off your feet with a nice FPS survival style and until here I would give 100 out of 10. However, going to tribe mode, thing change dramatically: the controls get messed up. You controlled the game one way until now? No problem, forget that and here's a ton of new combinations and mouse dragging you have to get used to. Why keep the sameIn the cell and creature stages it really kicks you off your feet with a nice FPS survival style and until here I would give 100 out of 10. However, going to tribe mode, thing change dramatically: the controls get messed up. You controlled the game one way until now? No problem, forget that and here's a ton of new combinations and mouse dragging you have to get used to. Why keep the same fps style? Now we're a strategy game. But, you get used to that and things happen fast and gameplay is ok.

    THEN, you move to civilization stage. This is where the brown matter hits the fan. I was a warrior, and somehow I didn't manage/didn't know I have to capture the others in a fraction of a second, maybe even faster, so I ended up with one great empire that I'm allied to, and me. Now, I can't continue the game because I'm warrior style and I have to conquer them all, but can't conquer them because all I have is a small town capable of nothing, and I get flattened out if I try to attack them.

    The game is so unbalanced that it stuck itself. I mean, either you conquer them all, either you die, but somehow this game allows a situation where you just coexist with another civilization and nothing happens further. EVER.

    So basically I have to restart from cell stage to do anything, because I also saved my game in this state and nothing can be done.

    It's a pity... this had great potential.    … Expand
  30. Broyax
    Apr 13, 2017
    2
    Un point pour l'interface agréable et efficace, un point pour l'atelier de création des... créatures, seul endroit où on s'amuse un peu...! pour le reste, les graphismes sont indigents et le gameplay est d'un ennui profond, très limité, très lent et très répétitif. ça nous fait donc 2/10 et c'est déjà très bien payé ! on dira que Spore n'est pas un "jeu" classique : c'est vrai, il n'estUn point pour l'interface agréable et efficace, un point pour l'atelier de création des... créatures, seul endroit où on s'amuse un peu...! pour le reste, les graphismes sont indigents et le gameplay est d'un ennui profond, très limité, très lent et très répétitif. ça nous fait donc 2/10 et c'est déjà très bien payé ! on dira que Spore n'est pas un "jeu" classique : c'est vrai, il n'est tout simplement... pas grand'chose.… Expand
  31. aditya1101
    Oct 12, 2017
    2
    Super disappointing game. We were promised so much and ended up getting so little. For a game that boasts about its depth, this game is surprisingly shallow. The progression isn't nearly as authentic or gradual as I had hoped, and the mechanics of progression get old really fast.
  32. roten
    Apr 30, 2022
    0
    this product is not available in your region
    "games out of politics" right?
  33. AnonymousMC
    Sep 10, 2008
    2
    Such a disappointment... The creature creator is cool but the rest of the game is empty and in each of the categories it tries to cover there are much better games out there. I suspect from the official spore site that the conceptors had great ideas but the EA guys cut everything out for the sake of sim-like playability and audience range. Too bad
  34. ES
    Sep 15, 2008
    2
    This game is horribly oversimplified. The creature creator is good, but none of the choices you make actually matter in the end. Yawn.
  35. FredS.
    Sep 15, 2008
    0
    DRM is all I can say. Game seemed ok, but I'm forced to return it to the store.
  36. AlexB.
    Sep 10, 2008
    2
    fundamentally disappointing! 5 shallow mini-games threaded together.... Poor and simplistic game play. Not what one would expect from the legend that is Will Wright
  37. JonH
    Sep 10, 2008
    4
    When does the other half of the game come out, the game they showed of 2 years ago looked interesting. This is spore for idiots.
  38. KyleG
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    When you compare the final product to the 2005 demo video which sparked so much interest, Spore is a massive let-down. It has been dumbed down and cartooned up to the point where body parts in creature stage have no stacking effect and weapons in vehicle and ship design produce the same effect in game. One spike is the same as 1,000 and rockets, lasers, and guns all appear to be slow When you compare the final product to the 2005 demo video which sparked so much interest, Spore is a massive let-down. It has been dumbed down and cartooned up to the point where body parts in creature stage have no stacking effect and weapons in vehicle and ship design produce the same effect in game. One spike is the same as 1,000 and rockets, lasers, and guns all appear to be slow moving ugly tracers. Just one of the myriad of examples. The stages are boring and repetitive, zero replay value. The editors are the only fun part, yet the lack of real, substantive impact on your design decisions on the gameplay gives the game an empty feeling. After eagerly waiting for Spore, i'm sad to suggest you save your money, its not worth the purchase.… Expand
  39. AnneL.
    Sep 15, 2008
    3
    I've played flash games that are better than this disappointment, seriously. The game is lacking in all aspects.
  40. LouisG.
    Sep 15, 2008
    0
    this "game" is more of a toybox than actual game...it is basically a mash-up of 5 free flash games being sold in one box for an exorbitant price
  41. KenM.
    Sep 15, 2008
    0
    DRM need i say more? oh and the game is nothing like Will showed us 2 years ago.
  42. TammyO.
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    This game sucks the big one, and you KNOW which big one I mean. 5 different games that are no fun and hard to control (no modifiable controls and no invert mouse) and wassup with this DRM? Ugh! Gag me with the big one, I'm spitting this one out. Shame on you Maxis. Lost my faith.
  43. BrianW.
    Sep 16, 2008
    0
    Very disappointing gameplay. Creature design is purely cosmetically and has no effect on the game. The different stages feel like each of them was developed by a completely different team and the teams had no idea what the other teams were doing. The game feels like a compilation of five disappointing minigames, each of them gets boring after 10 minutes. I don
  44. LukeM.
    Sep 16, 2008
    2
    Sorry Maxis, your marketing appealed to me. So much that I went out and bought the game. After two nights of playing I feel as though I am finished. Where is the gameplay? This game is so simple it plays as if it was designed for 6-10 year olds. What makes matters worse is that I cannot sell the game now on the second hand market because it is locked to me. The game lacks depth with very Sorry Maxis, your marketing appealed to me. So much that I went out and bought the game. After two nights of playing I feel as though I am finished. Where is the gameplay? This game is so simple it plays as if it was designed for 6-10 year olds. What makes matters worse is that I cannot sell the game now on the second hand market because it is locked to me. The game lacks depth with very little options to choose. The game is basically minigames badly strung together that you would never play on their own as they are so bad. I believe the game feels like this as a lot of content was probbaly cut to be included in an expansion pack at a later date. How these game review sites are giving it 9/10 is beyond me. I would give it a max 4/10 but with the 3 installs only it drops to a 2. An expensive mistake, stay away from spore if you are having any dobts. Spore good for a 6 year old or if you know anyone who has the mental age of a 6 year old.… Expand
  45. JohnT.
    Sep 16, 2008
    0
    Boring, Boring, Boring. Its B&W again - over hyped, no gameplay or fun and full of DRM. Give this a miss.
  46. MarkC.
    Sep 17, 2008
    3
    Fun and interesting--for about 4 hours. After the initial "wow, look at all the customization!" phase, the rest of the game is shallow and repetitive. As cool a it is to build your own unique little organism, the much-hyped "evolution" aspect of the game is little more than a joke. A creature with 4 long, athletic legs runs just as fast as a creature with a single, chubby stump. It all Fun and interesting--for about 4 hours. After the initial "wow, look at all the customization!" phase, the rest of the game is shallow and repetitive. As cool a it is to build your own unique little organism, the much-hyped "evolution" aspect of the game is little more than a joke. A creature with 4 long, athletic legs runs just as fast as a creature with a single, chubby stump. It all just depends on the predetermined stats of the appendage. The different stages of the game seem incredibly disjointed too, like they should all actually be their own game, but they got accidentally thrown into the same trash compactor. In any case, don't waste $50 on a game that's going to disappoint you and that you'll lose interest in very quickly. Play it at a friend's house, or see if you can score a copy off someone else who is already bored with it.… Expand
  47. ChrisV
    Sep 17, 2008
    1
    From the sinister DRM, to the dummed down gameplay, it just sucks. It had so much potential but turned out as a paper doll like simulator.
  48. RonnP.
    Sep 10, 2008
    2
    Biggest letdown since years. Playing games since C64. But Spore is only a combination of 5 simple minigames.
  49. SteveW.
    Sep 17, 2008
    2
    Boring, repetitive, like a collection of mini-games. There's no gameplay depth here, editing shit is totally pointless to the gameplay, it's like an introductory RTS for girls. And the questionable copy protection rewards the people that pirate instead of paying for the game. This was pretty much the most overhyped piece of crap ever.
  50. DanielA.
    Sep 17, 2008
    1
    $40 to RENT a game? That seems a bit steep, and with the malware they ship with it too. Yeah, right, I'll just pay you $40 for that keylogger and willingly install it.
  51. BenC.
    Sep 10, 2008
    4
    Repetitive and boring.
  52. AnonymousMC
    Sep 19, 2008
    0
    This game, though novel, contains a draconian form of DRM that is insulting to game buyers. It does nothing to prevent the unauthorized distribution of the software, and punishes honest gamers by installing ridiculous malware/spyware equivalents just to play. Top that off to limiting the game to only three lifetime installations, and you soon realize you aren't buying the game, youThis game, though novel, contains a draconian form of DRM that is insulting to game buyers. It does nothing to prevent the unauthorized distribution of the software, and punishes honest gamers by installing ridiculous malware/spyware equivalents just to play. Top that off to limiting the game to only three lifetime installations, and you soon realize you aren't buying the game, you are buying the right to play the game in a very limited framework. No thanks, I'll pass. I don't support the idea that I'm guilty until proven innocent (without even an opportunity to prove innocence). Shame on EA for destroying this game.… Expand
  53. DieterK.
    Sep 10, 2008
    2
    I really really tried to like this game, but it plays like a couple of flash games put together. I'm truly disappointed and can't understand the reviews from some sites which gave it a 9/10...this is just ridiculous.
  54. ChristopherG.
    Sep 19, 2008
    4
    This is basically a rehash of many of the reviews given already. - Game is like 5 mini games, loosely tied together. - Low replay-ablility, just not that engaging gameplay. - Sure it's interesting to put together creatures, but beyond that, there's not much to hold your interest. - This game is perhaps better for the under 12 crowd. Graphic and game play sophistications are This is basically a rehash of many of the reviews given already. - Game is like 5 mini games, loosely tied together. - Low replay-ablility, just not that engaging gameplay. - Sure it's interesting to put together creatures, but beyond that, there's not much to hold your interest. - This game is perhaps better for the under 12 crowd. Graphic and game play sophistications are simple. - I tried to get a refund after 4 days of play, couldn't get one. - Way over hyped, don't fall for it! Last EA game I'll ever purchase. Just not worth the money when there's so much other stuff out there.… Expand
  55. DavidC.
    Sep 19, 2008
    0
    I had a lot of problems with the game and now it is worthless because of the 3 install limit. Waste of money, I have a expensive coaster now, thanks EA.... you suck!!!!
  56. DavidBuePedersen
    Sep 21, 2008
    0
    The aggressive DRM restrictions to this game, that'll allow you to only activate the came 3 times means that I guess I'm done buying EA titles.
    Take this scenario:
    Say I want to deinstall the game to get some more free space, then a while later I reinstall the game. Half a year later I could get a virus that force me to reinstall my OS. Now I install spore again... ...For    The aggressive DRM restrictions to this game, that'll allow you to only activate the came 3 times means that I guess I'm done buying EA titles.
    Take this scenario:

    Say I want to deinstall the game to get some more free space, then a while later I reinstall the game. Half a year later I could get a virus that force me to reinstall my OS. Now I install spore again... ...For the LAST time, as all my activations has been used!

    Come on EA! How many gamers dosen't reinstall their OS at least once a year?    … Expand
  57. KrisS.
    Sep 28, 2008
    1
    EA as completely insulted honest customers. Its a so-so game, but the DRM makes it completely and totally not worth it. I would not recommend this game to anyone due to its DRM being of the verge of tyranny.
  58. SamP
    Sep 29, 2008
    0
    AAAAAAARGH!!! I wish I had read some reviews before buying this sordid lump of whale faeces, but my girlish enthusiasm got the better of me - I have been waiting for this game to come out for 3 years, after all. I was expecting depth, innovation, and complete immersion. Instead, the game is about as immersive as having a squirrel pee on your face (and I know which one I would prefer to AAAAAAARGH!!! I wish I had read some reviews before buying this sordid lump of whale faeces, but my girlish enthusiasm got the better of me - I have been waiting for this game to come out for 3 years, after all. I was expecting depth, innovation, and complete immersion. Instead, the game is about as immersive as having a squirrel pee on your face (and I know which one I would prefer to endure, too - at least squirrel pee is free). The DRM stuff is just the final twist of the testicle clamps if you ask me - installing malware onto your hard drive without your explicit consent is just bad, and shouldn't be tolerated by the gaming community. I had to scrub my hard drive very carefully to get rid of that evil SecuROM thing. Out, out, damn rootkit! Seriously, it looks like the original version of the game, the one that got me interested to begin with, was destined to be an utter failure to begin with because it was just too complex to implement. Talk about biting off more than you can chew. Will was probably able to hide in his ivory tower for some time while the project foundered and wallowed in its own filth, but eventually the truth of the project would have become too much to ignore even for the starry-eyed EA execs who had backed everything so far, and as one reviewer so aptly mentioned, they would have marched in and laid down the law, in order to commercially salvage what they could of the sinking behemoth. But you know what? I would rather play a glorious failure that had depth and conviction regarding its original goals, than this fake, airbrushed, used tampon of a game. However, watching the "Spornographic" creatures on YouTube was certainly very entertaining, although I doubt it was part of Mr Wright's original vision.… Expand
  59. RandyRandy
    Sep 5, 2008
    4
    Pretty, but ultimately shallow and not very fun unless you like to grind out levels a la WoW. Most of the cool things shown/announced long ago never made it into the game or were removed. Overall a pretty big disappointment.
  60. Alex
    Sep 7, 2008
    4
    Nice looking game with extremely primitive and easy gameplay. Game is worth playing for 2-3 days.
  61. GwarB.
    Sep 7, 2008
    2
    The precursor stages lack any sort of depth or actual gameplay and as such every gamer will simply skip to the space stage on their second go. As bread an butter of the game, the space stage suffers from horrible controls, insane amounts of micromanagement and game mechanics which will invariably see you quit every game after 3 or so hours of getting precisely nowhere.
  62. DeadP.
    Sep 7, 2008
    0
    Horrible game, I don't think it can get anymore casual. Not to mention that it speaks volumes about EA and Maxis on how they sell out, when the 2005 demo of the game looked far better than the 2008 version.
  63. SteveA.
    Sep 7, 2008
    4
    A unique concept, but precious little depth. In all, it's rather dull to play.
  64. JayF.
    Sep 8, 2008
    2
    - online activation only - three activations only (on 3 separate computers OR one computer w/configuration changes, which are not disclosed by EA - activations are NOT revoked upon uninstallation - exceeding the 3rd activation and needing another requires approval from EA - for some disks will be unreadable by their DVD drives due to Securom manufacturing process - already longstanding - online activation only - three activations only (on 3 separate computers OR one computer w/configuration changes, which are not disclosed by EA - activations are NOT revoked upon uninstallation - exceeding the 3rd activation and needing another requires approval from EA - for some disks will be unreadable by their DVD drives due to Securom manufacturing process - already longstanding problems resulting from Securom conflicts w/other programs still occur - resale is virtually killed due to activation limits - no refunds are given for downloaded games - games purchased via EA Download Manager require additional payment for access to them after 2 years - EA Download Manager installation required for patches - Securom does not uninstall when the game is uninstalled - Securom transmits unknown iinformation over the internet without user's knowledge or consent - Securom accesses Ring0 to detect emulation software - Securom installs hidden files/folders/registry entries upon execution of the game - Securom is made by SonyDADC, with whom purchasers have no contract when they buy an EA game - Securom is not named or identified in any EA eula - activation limits are not disclosed to the purchaser in any packaging or documentation prior to purchase - toll free EA support phone numbers are not available outside of the US - Securom is well known to cause conflicts w/factory installed emulation utilities, older versions of itself, optical drive software, antivirus software, and other peripheral software None of the above is conveyed by EA to any purchaser until after purchase...nor in any of the quoted reviews listed in this aggregate. This metacritic rating therefore means nothing.… Expand
  65. AlenC.
    Sep 8, 2008
    3
    Very pretty, about 1 hour of intense play -- followed by boring repetition. Maybe I'm missing something? Oh, and the copy protection scheme used will make uninstalling a nightmare. Thanks EA, for another marginal product with ugly strings.
  66. JohnH.
    Sep 8, 2008
    2
    Really Dumbed down game, the revolutionary idea of including five game types into one has just resulted in five abysmally simple, broken and repetitive minigames. combined with DRM which means you are essentially renting a game for $50 gets it a big big thumbs down from me. cell mode is so simple to finish youll have a hard time starving yourself long enough to pick up all the parts you Really Dumbed down game, the revolutionary idea of including five game types into one has just resulted in five abysmally simple, broken and repetitive minigames. combined with DRM which means you are essentially renting a game for $50 gets it a big big thumbs down from me. cell mode is so simple to finish youll have a hard time starving yourself long enough to pick up all the parts you need, creature mode involves choosing between killing a new creature or dancing for hiim. and then you must repeat this some 200 times to advance. in tribal stage the lack of ai begins to really show, computer players do not interact with each other, and barely with you other than to respond to attacks with small raiding party's. civilisation mode again is painfully simple, you can destroy every other group on the map before they expand beyond one city with ease, nobody chalenges you for your resources or threatens your cities. and finally space mode involves suddenly expanding to a word with literally hundreds of thousands of new systems, and a thousand new civilisations, all of whom have the power to warp fleets of 20 ships to your home world from the other end of the galaxy. which they will do incessantly. and there is no trade automation meaning you will spend 60 % of your time collecting and selling resources, and 39% defending your planets against random attacks. leaving you 1% to realise how dull all the hundreds of unlocks are.… Expand
  67. KevinH.
    Sep 8, 2008
    1
    Game is boring, oversimplified, uninvolved and your actions have little meaning. However the real problem here is DRM. I'm NOT OK with having a hard-set 3 install limit and then having to plead my case to EA to install it further. No thank you, I will be telling everybody I know not to buy spore. At this point, pirating it is easier.
  68. MichealB.
    Sep 8, 2008
    1
    I'm without Internet this week due to the fact that I'm up at camp. This game doesn't want to work unless I authenticate!
  69. RSmith
    Sep 8, 2008
    1
    Nothing but problems with the DRM. I feel ripped off.
  70. AnonymousMC
    Sep 8, 2008
    4
    The "game" segments between editing your creature work as a good pacing device and little else. The Cell stage gives you little creature options, but lets you play and define what you want. The actual gameplay of the cell stage is superior to any of the other stages as interaction is quick, dynamic, and throws new things at you before you can get bored. The Creature stage is where youThe "game" segments between editing your creature work as a good pacing device and little else. The Cell stage gives you little creature options, but lets you play and define what you want. The actual gameplay of the cell stage is superior to any of the other stages as interaction is quick, dynamic, and throws new things at you before you can get bored. The Creature stage is where you really define what your creature looks like and does, but unfortunately it has the worst gameplay. The world feels very empty sterile and your only interaction is attack or socialize, and both options result in the same gameplay mechanics and outcomes. The interactions are dreadfully simplistic. It's basically WoW without other players, stores, or exploration. Now comes the civilization stage and all that fine tuning of your creature now makes little difference. Finally there is more to do than just atack/socalize as resource gathering for once comes as a relief. This is probably the part of the game with the deepest gameplay as what you equip different units with affects how they perform. The next stage puts you on the planetary scale and your fighting your own creations. Oddly this stage is much simpler than the tribal stage as unit choices don't seem to mean a damn thing anymore. Simplified resource gathering streamlines your right into the overly simplistic tactical gameplay. You have one type of unit for land, and one type for water. Since there is no more variety or meaningful differences the gameplay degrades into simply sending a swarm of units to attack and little else. Don't tell me religious units perform different than military, a beam of religion seems to blow stuff up all the same. The Civilization stage does however constantly bombard you with the building/vehicle editors which gives you a chance to exercise your creativity, however the choices you make make no difference outside of visuals.… Expand
  71. Tenfyr
    Sep 9, 2008
    2
    Once I got passed the issues getting this game to actually start on my PC (I had to install it 4 times before I could launch the game) it was fun at first as I found each stage rich in innovation but thin on gameplay, making this something I will only play for a short time then never pick up again. If I could log into the EA server to experience other users creations this might have more Once I got passed the issues getting this game to actually start on my PC (I had to install it 4 times before I could launch the game) it was fun at first as I found each stage rich in innovation but thin on gameplay, making this something I will only play for a short time then never pick up again. If I could log into the EA server to experience other users creations this might have more replay value but sadly this feature seems very broken at the moment and there is no indication of when it will be fixed. No doubt it will be at the point where I've forgotten it ever existed.… Expand
  72. LynnD.
    Sep 9, 2008
    1
    The DRM this game uses makes the game worthless to me. I can only install on 3 machines for the whole life of the game. If i make a call to EA I will have to provide proof of purchase to get another activation after 3. Ridiculous.
  73. RoH
    Sep 9, 2008
    0
    Finding out about the Drm and only getting 3 installs after I paid for the game killed any fun I could have had with it. I think I'll go reinstall Warcraft3 for the 100th time and play that. Good story. Good Graphics. and worth the money I paid for it.
  74. FredM.
    Sep 9, 2008
    4
    A game 4 years in the making should have a little more than some fancy programming. Not only does it lack a good AI engine, but the entire game can be "beaten" in two good days of playing. Of course the game can't really be beaten. One of the features of the game is the thousands and thousands of star systems you can visit. However the space stage lacks the UI to make it plesant. As A game 4 years in the making should have a little more than some fancy programming. Not only does it lack a good AI engine, but the entire game can be "beaten" in two good days of playing. Of course the game can't really be beaten. One of the features of the game is the thousands and thousands of star systems you can visit. However the space stage lacks the UI to make it plesant. As a space game I would much prefer "Sins of a Solar Empire." A game with an innovative UI and enough gameplay to keep you busy. So even if you like the creature, tribal, or civ stages of spore, you get less than about 8 hours of total gameplay for those stages all together. you CAN keep playing those stages before choosing to evolve. BUT the game doesn't make it rewarding enough to spend any more time than you have to. I could keep going. But I'm sad I waited so long for this. I'm gonna per-order that new star wars game though. At least that has the Euphoria engine.… Expand
  75. burrkw.
    Sep 9, 2008
    0
    An all around disappointment. the core of the game is the editor where you design things, instead of actually playing the game.
  76. DarrenS.
    Sep 9, 2008
    3
    Fun for couple hours, okay for a couple more, then tedium.
  77. SteveH.
    Sep 9, 2008
    1
    Unimaginably horrible. With a DRM scheme that limits you to three activations. Stupid, repetitive and simplistic gameplay reminiscent of Black & White. What is there to like? What a load of crap. Very disappointed, I expected so much more.
  78. EricS.
    Sep 9, 2008
    4
    If you like sub-bar succession of pac-man, 3rd person shooter, RTS and space exloration game, youre in for a treat.
  79. WolfgangF.
    Sep 9, 2008
    3
    Beautiful editors that have almost zero impact on the simplistic and shallow gameplay.
  80. ShiladieQ.
    Sep 9, 2008
    0
    Great game, horrible DRM, do not buy this game! if you wish to play it, pirate it and send Will Wright your money directly, thus bypassing the big brother software EA will be putting on your computer.
  81. JimW.
    Sep 9, 2008
    4
    This is not very deep as far as a game goes. It may be fun for pre-teens and maybe even teens but any adult gamer will lose interest fast. I also disliked the DRM which prevents more than 3 installs...ever. I am tired of paying customers being treated like criminals.
  82. Vincec
    Sep 9, 2008
    0
    The DRM is terrible and the game a sprawling bore. Several distinct game modes but all but the last one are utterly uninteresting.
  83. ChrisG
    Jan 10, 2009
    2
    This game is not what i thought it would be. Its too simple...everything is! More complexity would be cool for a casual audience! More complexity means more creativity and coolness! Most people who will play this will be 13 and up, so complexity wont be an issue but they made it too simple for us to enjoy...
  84. StevenShaw
    Mar 1, 2009
    3
    Spore was awesome... for an hour. Creating my own creature was really cool. The editor is very powerful and easy to use. Unfortunately, I think they forgot to make the rest of the stages fun. As soon as you get to the tribal stage, the game sucks. Hard. It's not hard, it's not anything. The A.I. for for enemies sucks and the pathfinding for your own units suck.

    Buy the    Spore was awesome... for an hour. Creating my own creature was really cool. The editor is very powerful and easy to use. Unfortunately, I think they forgot to make the rest of the stages fun. As soon as you get to the tribal stage, the game sucks. Hard. It's not hard, it's not anything. The A.I. for for enemies sucks and the pathfinding for your own units suck.

    Buy the creature creator, you'll have way more fun.    … Expand
  85. MarkHumphreys
    Mar 20, 2009
    4
    The biggest disappointment in gaming in a long, long time. Years of development and hype put spore in the spotlight as something to really get excited over. The E3 2005 presentation was mind blowing, it was stunning... And then for 3 years, spore went into hiding as the developers set about refurbishing their creation for what they thought was mass appeal: The realism and science wasThe biggest disappointment in gaming in a long, long time. Years of development and hype put spore in the spotlight as something to really get excited over. The E3 2005 presentation was mind blowing, it was stunning... And then for 3 years, spore went into hiding as the developers set about refurbishing their creation for what they thought was mass appeal: The realism and science was removed from the game, in favour of kid-friendly cuteness and more simplistic methods of applying stats to the creatures: Gone was the idea of the skeletal structure influencing the movement speed, or of the arm length and positioning being relevant in combat - no, it was watered down to an arbitrary number assosciated with a given type of foot or claw. Watered down is pretty much the story of spore. The game that promised to pull the industry away from catering to the lowest common denominator did just that, with Will Wright's words on the situation being 'We decided that we would rather have the metacritic and sales of the sims, rather than the metacritic and sales of half-life'.

    It was all about money.

    But there's a lesson to be learned: Spore has neither the sales, nor the metacritic of halflife OR the sims.    … Expand
  86. StevoW
    Mar 3, 2009
    2
    I have no beef with DRM or EA and my score simply reflects the poorness of the game. However, EA should be ashamed of itself with the hype attached presale. Even some of the "official critics" right here suggesting the game rates akin to Sims obviously did not play it very long! Had the critique been realistic I would not have bought this game in 1m years. I found myself looking for some I have no beef with DRM or EA and my score simply reflects the poorness of the game. However, EA should be ashamed of itself with the hype attached presale. Even some of the "official critics" right here suggesting the game rates akin to Sims obviously did not play it very long! Had the critique been realistic I would not have bought this game in 1m years. I found myself looking for some depth 1 hour into the galactic phase. While the GFX and creatures might be cute, the AI is non-existent and the options are far too shallow. The interface is inconsistent pre-galactic while the galactic stage is tedious to endure. Having to roll the mouse wheel backwards and forwards over and over to pick up spice from each system is poor design. A quick double click would have made all the difference. Even simple auto trading vessels would have been nice so that you would not have to travel to every system personally and collect the spice while repeatedly chasing your tail against nuisance value missions. (Having to constantly fight pirates, aliens and be an Eco-hero fixing extinctions requires anger management classes when you get beyond about 7 star systems.) What about when you're on the other side of the galaxy and get lost travelling through mindless blackholes with no clue as to their destination! And then some species wants ever-increasing amounts of graft repeatedly so they don't become annoying and start bombing your planets simply because you wouldn't pay the bribes. What the heck! I could go on but I need some time now to find a game that will provide enjoyment beyond a single day! I paid A$80 for this and it's worth no more than about $20.… Expand
  87. KevinD
    Apr 11, 2009
    3
    This game was hyped as 'Sim Everything'. All the pre-game marketing, screens, previews, led us to believe it would be awesome, and I believe it was intended to be by it's creator, Will Wright. Now that EA is releasing additions to the game it seems to me that greed at EA must have been the issue here. I suspect that the game was 'minimized' and a lot of good This game was hyped as 'Sim Everything'. All the pre-game marketing, screens, previews, led us to believe it would be awesome, and I believe it was intended to be by it's creator, Will Wright. Now that EA is releasing additions to the game it seems to me that greed at EA must have been the issue here. I suspect that the game was 'minimized' and a lot of good content was saved for later release as an addon, like 'Galactic Adventures'. It seems that the addons have a lot of things that were hinted at prior to the games original release. Thanks a lot EA!! You turned an awesome vision into 2 weeks of disappointment. If you had just released it all as one game it would have been the greatest game of all time!! Instead it has turned into a flop!!! Based on the number of bad reviews I have seen I would guess most other people agree. I am not sure if I will buy any of the new content... depends on how bored I get I guess... Regards, Former Spore Fan.… Expand
  88. LuisP.
    Oct 11, 2008
    3
    I tried to vote on this disregarding the hype that surrounded the game, however, it is still a low score... simple mini games bundled together... The strategic part of it is laughable... The creature creator, albeit fun, has nearly no influence on how your creature will perform. Will not last you more than a couple of days and then you'll be looking for other games.
  89. StevenP.
    Oct 10, 2008
    2
    Extremly poorly designed space age gets boring very fast. Fun for about 4 hours.
  90. Niklas
    Oct 10, 2008
    4
    Fun for one playthrough, but lacking real re-play value and the five stages is far from deep enough to provide a solid gameplay. The galaxystage is endless and make sure you notice that the first 10 minutes of it.
  91. JonathanL.
    Oct 1, 2008
    1
    I am rarely speechless but after 3 tries at installing this piece of dung on my machine, I gave up and tried installing it on my daughter's machine. I "played" it for about 2 hours before I realized that there is no game. Boring as hell. Can't believe it's a technological mess, a crappy game, and so popular? What's up with the press score? Pre-release versions?
  92. MorelyD.
    Oct 1, 2008
    1
    Un-freaking-believabale. Non configurable controls, no evolution to speak of, disjointed gameplay, and crummy DRM to boot. Why bother?
  93. amalll.
    Oct 1, 2008
    1
    Man, I played this lousy game and thought there must be something wrong with me if all the critics like it as much as they do and i hate it. Then I saw the meta user scores. LOL do I hear you all.
  94. MatthewS.
    Oct 16, 2008
    3
    A truly exciting concept, dumbed down and made into an overly-simplistic game, lacking any real challenges. I've heard the argument that each part of this game could be a game in its own right. Well, they'd be terribly dull games in their own right. Spore is of such a quality that playing four Flash games in a row would be both more fun and better value for money.
  95. PhilN
    Oct 22, 2008
    2
    Spore gets real boring, real quick. Sure it's fun creating a few creatures, eating some others, blah blah blah... then you get to the space stage and it is soooo incredibly repetitive. Find a plant, develop it, sell the spice it produces, win the game. It's so easy, so repetitive, it's horrid. This is coming from someone who has played games like simcity, civilization, etc, Spore gets real boring, real quick. Sure it's fun creating a few creatures, eating some others, blah blah blah... then you get to the space stage and it is soooo incredibly repetitive. Find a plant, develop it, sell the spice it produces, win the game. It's so easy, so repetitive, it's horrid. This is coming from someone who has played games like simcity, civilization, etc, to death a million times and loved it. Spore is just too simple to be either challenging or interesting. Booo!… Expand
  96. CB
    Oct 23, 2008
    1
    Massively overrated. Absent the massive hysteria before the launch, this game would be a 5 or 6 out of 10. But the massive media propaganda for this (give me a break, Robin Williams advertising Spore??) makes this a bomb. The multi-stage nature of the game forces each stage to be very simplistic, but gains continuity and the feeling that you have created your creature from a single cell Massively overrated. Absent the massive hysteria before the launch, this game would be a 5 or 6 out of 10. But the massive media propaganda for this (give me a break, Robin Williams advertising Spore??) makes this a bomb. The multi-stage nature of the game forces each stage to be very simplistic, but gains continuity and the feeling that you have created your creature from a single cell to a galactic civilization. The problem is that the creature design, as graphically impressive as it is, HAS NOT IMPACT ON GAMEPLAY. Or rather, it has a very simplistic impact (do you want to add a +2 attack beak or a +2 health claw?). This doesn't come even close in complexity to the simplest Civilization-like games. The actual graphical design of your creature is a waste of time and the novelty quickly wears off. The simplest change that could have made this game much more interesting is to have the physical structure of your creature (not simply the mere enumeration of features) meaningfully impact its effectiveness - since that is were most of the time is spent by the user and since that is what makes the game really unique.… Expand
  97. AaronM
    Oct 23, 2008
    3
    I bought this game thinking it was going to revolutionize game play. The whole experience is very shallow and simplistic. Once I got to the space age I just didn't care anymore. The oppressive DRM certainly didn't help any. I think I played this game for a few days...now its collecting dust.
  98. JillC.
    Oct 25, 2008
    4
    Far too simple to be enjoyable longer than a week at most. The gameplay is too shallow to be enjoyable for more than one play-through. Spore doesn't live up to the hype of many different demonstrations in the past. In fact, its most interesting features were stripped away, leaving a hollow shell of what could have been a very deep game.
  99. MayQ
    Oct 27, 2008
    3
    Spore is a little difficult to rate because there are so many good things about it and also so many bad things. Creating your creature can be very fun. Customization of my creature was great, as I was able to change its body and add pre-made parts however I wanted to. The bad? Each part I added had a certain amount of skill: social, fight, defense, etc. Despite how many times I put the Spore is a little difficult to rate because there are so many good things about it and also so many bad things. Creating your creature can be very fun. Customization of my creature was great, as I was able to change its body and add pre-made parts however I wanted to. The bad? Each part I added had a certain amount of skill: social, fight, defense, etc. Despite how many times I put the same part on my creature, it didn't increase that particular skill. i.e. If you put a mouth with a biting force of +4, putting a 2nd or 3rd mouth will still leave it at a +4 rating. Each stage is fun at the beginning, but it gets very repetitive very quickly. I focused on bettering my creature in every stage only to find out that in the next stage, what I did to it did not matter anymore. I feel the cell and creature stage went by way too quickly, and I was rushed on to the next stages. In the creature stage, the other creatures in the surrounding vicinity were all within my strength range, so they were easy to defeat or ally. There was no challenge because the developers placed everything in conveniently strategic places. The space stage is, by far, my favorite stage because I liked exploring the other planets and changing its climate. But, that also became repetitive. There are (what seems like) a gajillion galaxies and exploring them all is very tedious. Colonizing and terra-forming the planets became tedious as well after a while. Anyway, I could go on but you see my point. I was very excited about this game when it was first introduced by Will Wright. It seemed innovative, creative, and revolutionary... Wright got the idea down right but it failed in execution. Oh, and there is the now infamous SecuRom DRM that came hidden with the Spore software. EA, in its effort to combat piracy, just ticked off the consumers... HONEST consumers, might I add. Now I have this darn DRM stuck on my computer, and it won't uninstall when I uninstall Spore... great.… Expand
  100. RenatoB.
    Oct 27, 2008
    3
    Spore is one of the biggest disappointments I've had in years for the PC. Ever since I first heard of it in 2004, I've waited impatiently for it to come out. When it finally did, it came with that draconian DRM and it RUINED the game. I've already used the three allowed installs, and I've had this game for only two months. That means that I effectvely lost my money Spore is one of the biggest disappointments I've had in years for the PC. Ever since I first heard of it in 2004, I've waited impatiently for it to come out. When it finally did, it came with that draconian DRM and it RUINED the game. I've already used the three allowed installs, and I've had this game for only two months. That means that I effectvely lost my money already, and I am not too savvy on buying my own game again. Do not buy this game. It is a mistake, and a big one, even if the core concept is one of the best I've ever seen.… Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PC Game of 2008
2
#2 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 75
  3. Negative: 0 out of 75
  1. Play (Poland)
    90
    How to design a game that spans from swimming in a drop of water to ruling the galaxy? Will Wright knows how: as simple as possible. Spore deserves success on "The Sims" scale. [Sept 2008]
  2. PC Gamer UK
    91
    Spore's triumph is painfully ironic. By setting out to instill a sense of wonderment at creation and the majesty of the universe, it's shown us that it's actually a lot more interesting to sit here at our computers and explore the contents of each other's brains. [October 2008, p.64]
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  3. PTGamers
    100
    Spore manages quite some feats – it's accessible for casual gamers, but at the same time so real and dynamic, able to offer hardcore gamers a demanding experience and, obviously, a more appealing one than in "The Sims".
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