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. SebOss
    Sep 26, 2008
    4
    This game is mediocre at best. Very nice creature editor but bland graphics, shallow and repetitive gameplay.
    I fail to see how anyone would replay this game except for the space age, which mostly consist in running around like a headless chicken resolving annoying random events anyway.
    This game is totally overrated and underwhelming. I won't even mention the DRM issue which has    This game is mediocre at best. Very nice creature editor but bland graphics, shallow and repetitive gameplay.
    I fail to see how anyone would replay this game except for the space age, which mostly consist in running around like a headless chicken resolving annoying random events anyway.
    This game is totally overrated and underwhelming.
    I won't even mention the DRM issue which has been extensively debated all over the web.
    Please don' buy the hype.    … Expand
  2. 4ndy
    Sep 26, 2008
    4
    The the idea of this games is revolutionary - "create your own game". The dark side is, "create it in programmers limits". The game is for like 10 years max kids. They say it's like Sims - pardon me, but Sims are complex like quantum physics with comparation to this. There are 5 stages of your evolution. The programmers are putting all emphasis on the last space stage, that will takeThe the idea of this games is revolutionary - "create your own game". The dark side is, "create it in programmers limits". The game is for like 10 years max kids. They say it's like Sims - pardon me, but Sims are complex like quantum physics with comparation to this. There are 5 stages of your evolution. The programmers are putting all emphasis on the last space stage, that will take you most time. But the last stage is ironically the most boring. Your looking for useless artifacts, terraforming takes a looong time and gives you nothing, AI is simple, stupid, aggresive and "good-or-bad" like. There are no quests and i actually never finished this game, coz it bored me to death. Very unsatisfactionary. - and did i say the graphics is shameful...… Expand
  3. AnonymousAnonymous
    Sep 26, 2008
    5
    Awesome game, too bad EA distributed it. They are ruining all maxis games. That's why I and dozen of people pirated it.

    Beside that, this is the most impressive peice of programmation I have ever seen. Gameplay is amazing during cell and creature phases. Tribal phase is boring. Macro management is really hard and the gameplay is way too basic. Civilization phase is ok. You can    Awesome game, too bad EA distributed it. They are ruining all maxis games. That's why I and dozen of people pirated it.

    Beside that, this is the most impressive peice of programmation I have ever seen. Gameplay is amazing during cell and creature phases. Tribal phase is boring. Macro management is really hard and the gameplay is way too basic. Civilization phase is ok. You can build your own vehicles and buildings, but beside that, it's too long. There are too much cities to ally and/or destroy. Money is also really easy to gain. Then it comes to space phase. Micromanagement kicks back in, the ammount of place you can visit and things you can do is incredible for the actual size of the game. My main complaint about this phase is that attacks and disasters get on your nerves.
    Spore is an excellent game except for tribal and civilization phase because of aweful controls and boring gameplay. It is technically incredible, and a really fun game for people who like to create stuff. The main flaw of Spore is that EA distributed it.    … Expand
  4. BradTohtz
    Sep 26, 2008
    3
    After waiting for this game for 3 years, I'm extremely disappointed in the final product. The creature creator is simply amazing and the high point of this game. The gameplay is where this game fails. They tried to fit to much in one box and because of that this game falls flat on its face. None of the stages of the game are entertaining, and on top of that this game has aAfter waiting for this game for 3 years, I'm extremely disappointed in the final product. The creature creator is simply amazing and the high point of this game. The gameplay is where this game fails. They tried to fit to much in one box and because of that this game falls flat on its face. None of the stages of the game are entertaining, and on top of that this game has a ridiculous DRM which only lets you install the game 3 times before you have to buy another copy.… Expand
  5. AugurDragonWolf
    Sep 25, 2008
    0
    The game its self is ok gets old fast IMHO but others may enjoy it longer. I ratted this game 0 because of the DRM. The 3 activation limit may be an issue for some and my not be for others but the secret installation of SecuROM to ring 0 allowing it to override your control of your hardware is totaly unacceptable!
  6. OwenDunne
    Sep 25, 2008
    5
    This game was fun for the first 7 hours of gameplay or so, and the first creature I made I had lots of fun with making and eventually designing the buildings. However after the initial playthrough it does become fairly boring. I do remember however going through the game on my first runthrough and still expecting something more, which never came.
  7. LagaMahesa
    Sep 25, 2008
    3
    First off, this has nothing to do with DRM. Separate issue.

    This game features five levels, each linked with fun lego and plasticene building fun : Level 1 : Pacman Deluxe. Level 2 : Pacman Deluxe 2008 Winner's XTreme Rage Singing Edition. Level 3 : Age of Empires pre-alpha. Level 4 : RISK for kids. Level 5 : Join-the-Dots Galactic Edition. Now with extra RSI inducing    First off, this has nothing to do with DRM. Separate issue.

    This game features five levels, each linked with fun lego and plasticene building fun :

    Level 1 : Pacman Deluxe.
    Level 2 : Pacman Deluxe 2008 Winner's XTreme Rage Singing Edition.
    Level 3 : Age of Empires pre-alpha.
    Level 4 : RISK for kids.
    Level 5 : Join-the-Dots Galactic Edition. Now with extra RSI inducing frustration!

    A game based on evolution that a) ignores sex, b) ignores evolutionary triggers, c) allows you to add and remove chunks at will, ignoring evolutionary stages, d) in fact allows you to create an entirely different creature each time you 'mate' in the creature stage has quite obviously been usurped by the intelligent design crew... who, unfortunately, have the same idea of what makes a good game as a cat that has been deceased for 6 weeks, having been run over by an articulated truck.

    The good thing is that the game's name is spot on. Spore. A tiny seed from which something beautiful might eventually develop. Unfortunately, this particular spore's development time is going to be in the decades, well after I'm dead.

    Will Wright... you have betrayed your fans. You stood at the front door waving the golden egg back in 2005, but what we got instead was a tvrd wrapped in gold foil. I and others don't care about what 'camp' you were in - you didn't tell us, after showing us those glories, about Spore's dumbing down and "cute-fication".

    This could have been the kernel of a future Matrix, a true life sim. Instead we got 4gb of popcap games.    … Expand
  8. 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
  9. AlexSmith
    Sep 25, 2008
    0
    There comes a time when disappointment reaches a pinnacle when it comes to developers screwing with games.
    This time they have done it.
    What happened to the absolutely amazing videos they showed us a year or so ago? The dances based on your creature's design, it actually MATTERED if your creature had thirty legs and one arm. He'd be just a bit faster than the one-legged guy    There comes a time when disappointment reaches a pinnacle when it comes to developers screwing with games.
    This time they have done it.
    What happened to the absolutely amazing videos they showed us a year or so ago? The dances based on your creature's design, it actually MATTERED if your creature had thirty legs and one arm. He'd be just a bit faster than the one-legged guy next to you. Now, its all about stats. A glorified RPG.
    Oh, and don't even get me started on the DRM. I love this game. But I do NOT love what it has become, and what EA has slapped onto it (Read: Draconian DRM)    … Expand
  10. NelsB
    Sep 24, 2008
    3
    Incredibly over-hyped, very shallow, unoriginal, highly derivative game. For all of its supposed novelty and originality, Spore is nothing more than a very simple RPG/RTS. It really feels like it was made for children, which may be the correct target audience for Spore. I can't imagine that very many people who have played many computer games in the last 10-15 years will find SporeIncredibly over-hyped, very shallow, unoriginal, highly derivative game. For all of its supposed novelty and originality, Spore is nothing more than a very simple RPG/RTS. It really feels like it was made for children, which may be the correct target audience for Spore. I can't imagine that very many people who have played many computer games in the last 10-15 years will find Spore to be a positive experience.… Expand
  11. DA
    Sep 24, 2008
    0
    I had to re-install it a few times because my computer is screwed up...now I have to buy a new copy if I want to play it because the DRM prevents me from doing another install! I haven't even gotten to play it yet and I've spent more then $50 !!!
  12. 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-
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. cvs
    Sep 24, 2008
    0
    I was so looking forward to this game. Bwarp. Installed it and 10 hours later gave up on trying to get it to go. All I got was the unhelpful "Cannot Connect to Internet to Verify" message. I completely disabled my security settings, disabled firewall, uninstalled, reinstalled, installed the patch, investigated using FireShark, got some mindless suggestions from support, spent hoursI was so looking forward to this game. Bwarp. Installed it and 10 hours later gave up on trying to get it to go. All I got was the unhelpful "Cannot Connect to Internet to Verify" message. I completely disabled my security settings, disabled firewall, uninstalled, reinstalled, installed the patch, investigated using FireShark, got some mindless suggestions from support, spent hours searching the internet and tried every other method I could think of. I'm a software engineer, so if I can't get it to go, I don't know what chance most other people have. All I could figure in the end was that it was something to do with my on-board network card. Judging by what I see online, I am not the only one. Not impressed.… Expand
  16. ShallaS.
    Sep 23, 2008
    3
    To summarize my feelings about the game: it was far too short (from microbe to space in a matter of two hours to three hours), the tribal phase is dull as there are no challenges, and the space stage is so phenomenally irritating. Spice production at first is slow, and so help me if I see another space pirate again I'm tossing the computer out the window. I can't leave myTo summarize my feelings about the game: it was far too short (from microbe to space in a matter of two hours to three hours), the tribal phase is dull as there are no challenges, and the space stage is so phenomenally irritating. Spice production at first is slow, and so help me if I see another space pirate again I'm tossing the computer out the window. I can't leave my homeworld for thirty seconds without getting an urgent message, "Your homeworld is under attack!" The battles are frustrating as there are always more than one invader, and the one you are fighting will inevitably fly off and heal itself before you can get the deathblow in...all in all, I'll be sticking to the creature creator, the diamond in the rough.… Expand
  17. JesseRadin
    Sep 23, 2008
    10
    The fact that this has a 4.6 shows that most users are mentally challenged. These are the frat boys that Microsoft bribes to play Halo all day to make it seem like people actually like shitty shooters with guns that make no sense. Spore is the greatest game ever, but not for dumbasses. So if you just want to shoot things, gtfo.
  18. ZachS
    Sep 22, 2008
    0
    The hyper Maxis generated from the game is so astoundingly far-fetched given what the game could have been. It's five masterable flash games masked with an "Evolution Theme" that, if done well and correctly (could I say uniquely, too? come's on, it's MAXIS!!!) could've indeed lived up to the hype it built up over the last three years. If I wanted to play a game of FlowThe hyper Maxis generated from the game is so astoundingly far-fetched given what the game could have been. It's five masterable flash games masked with an "Evolution Theme" that, if done well and correctly (could I say uniquely, too? come's on, it's MAXIS!!!) could've indeed lived up to the hype it built up over the last three years. If I wanted to play a game of Flow or a no-depth RTS, I would've went to Google and found a flash game site. And what is UP with the DRM? Is every gamer out there a crook? Not the way to treat your customers. The only real 'revolution' here was the creature creator, which should have been the only thing Maxis released. Anyone giving more than a five on their review is either nine years old or has played the game or maybe an hour. It's just disgusting, a few idealists on Spore.com's forum could have created a better game. Too much shitty hardware to talk about. Definately not worth the money.… Expand
  19. ToddS
    Sep 22, 2008
    9
    This is a wonderful game. It's not totally nihilistic in that you have options for making allies and avoiding conflict. It gives a slight sense of the fun God must have had putting life forms together. You also don't spend all of your time destroying and killing (but you can if you want to). My son loves this as do I. It's neat to try on different roles (egThis is a wonderful game. It's not totally nihilistic in that you have options for making allies and avoiding conflict. It gives a slight sense of the fun God must have had putting life forms together. You also don't spend all of your time destroying and killing (but you can if you want to). My son loves this as do I. It's neat to try on different roles (eg carnivore/predator/aggressor vs vegetarian/ diplomat) and see how it effects your evolution as a species/lifeform/civilization.

    Also, alot has been said about EA's "draconian" DRM. I say bollocks! It's no less user unfriendly tha Steam and Their download policy isn't as sucktacular as people let on. Personally, I found EA to be easy to work with.    … Expand
  20. johnevans
    Sep 22, 2008
    0
    ok so here is how evelution is supposed to work: Creatures that are ill suited for an environment die off. Creatures that have mutations that help them out in their environment thrive and live on passing on genetic material to furthur mutate. This game does not adhear to this idea at all. In this game no matter what your design is your creature will pretty much servive, because how youok so here is how evelution is supposed to work: Creatures that are ill suited for an environment die off. Creatures that have mutations that help them out in their environment thrive and live on passing on genetic material to furthur mutate. This game does not adhear to this idea at all. In this game no matter what your design is your creature will pretty much servive, because how you build your creature has no effect on how it works. This is very dissapointing. What is the point of creating something if the only thing you can do to it is make it look different. If I do a good job creating a creature I want it to kick ass, if I do a bad job of creawting a creature I want it to die. Thats my first complaint of many about this game. 3 installs is all you get!!! thats shit. After creating your character the gameplay is very very very very shallow. So whatever. This game is stupid we all know that. Now what to do with all of these critics who seem to think that a single good gimic is enough to make antire game good. And why dont they ever talk about how crappy secur rom is and how evasive it is to your computer. Secur ROM completely crashed my computer, and my computer kicks a lot of ass. So just avoid this game get the creature creator online for free, and wait for someone else to take this creature creator idea to the next level.… Expand
  21. Pnothy
    Sep 22, 2008
    3
    It started out with a bit of promise, but when I realized that your actions don't really correspond to your evolution (you may spend points to whatever you like) and to get these points you have to repeat simple repetitive actions endlessly, the fun slipped away quickly. Compared to the Sims, the user interface is way less intuitive, so one (at least I) can miss certain essentialIt started out with a bit of promise, but when I realized that your actions don't really correspond to your evolution (you may spend points to whatever you like) and to get these points you have to repeat simple repetitive actions endlessly, the fun slipped away quickly. Compared to the Sims, the user interface is way less intuitive, so one (at least I) can miss certain essential elements of gameplay easily. For example, I upgraded my creature with a ranged attack ability, only to find out it was ranged after a friend told me. During my game, I had no clue as to why it wouldn't work in battles. Maybe I am too stupid for modern games... ;)

    The creature editor is quite fun to play, but the rest is, in my opinion, a bad implementation of an innovative game idea. Just get the creature editor and don't burden yourself with the repetitive DNA-point scraping to finally get to build the same character in a slower way!    … Expand
  22. AnonymousMC
    Sep 21, 2008
    1
    I feel like I wasted $70 on this game after all the hype.
    The first 2 stages were decent but then tribal stage rolled around and completely destroyed what could have been a decent game.
    If there was any doubt after tribal stage, Civ stage was added in just to put the final nail in the coffin. Even space stage seems cold and lifeless, the creature you lovingly created all but    I feel like I wasted $70 on this game after all the hype.
    The first 2 stages were decent but then tribal stage rolled around and completely destroyed what could have been a decent game.
    If there was any doubt after tribal stage, Civ stage was added in just to put the final nail in the coffin.

    Even space stage seems cold and lifeless, the creature you lovingly created all but disappears after the creature stage.    … Expand
  23. sporedisappointed
    Sep 21, 2008
    2
    Worst gameplay ever. Maybe those who said that you have to use your imagination to enjoy this project of a game are right: you have to imagine that it is fun and challenging. Stay away from this release, because it intends to be a 5 in 1 experience but turned out to be five epic fails in one expensive and intrusive package.
  24. AndrewW
    Sep 21, 2008
    8
    I give this game an 8 out of 10. Jumping into the game through the cell stage was a fun way of giving you a very basic idea of what you're gonna be doing for the rest of the game. Creature is a decent explore game. Tribal is by far the worst part of the game, horribly designed, and that's what gives this game an 8 for me. Civilization is a lot more redeeming when you can designI give this game an 8 out of 10. Jumping into the game through the cell stage was a fun way of giving you a very basic idea of what you're gonna be doing for the rest of the game. Creature is a decent explore game. Tribal is by far the worst part of the game, horribly designed, and that's what gives this game an 8 for me. Civilization is a lot more redeeming when you can design your own buildings and vehicles. Space stage is the most fun for me, huge and fast and full of surprises.… Expand
  25. 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
  26. RedAvatar
    Sep 21, 2008
    4
    7/10 for the game itself (and I'm being generous here - it's really more a 6/10) but -3 because it uses draconian DRM making it unbuyable. I collect games but one thing I really can't do, is buy a game that will turn out to no longer work in 5 years.
  27. HarryBarton
    Sep 21, 2008
    1
    game does not work. You get to the tribe stage then it keeps crashing! No piont buying - Huge disapointment. even if it did work it wouldnt be much fun. The way your creature is made dosnt really matter. All that matters is the parts you put on so if all the parts are in rediculous places it is still a good creature. also 2 leggs is no slower than 4
  28. DaveSmith
    Sep 20, 2008
    0
    I refuse to rent this game! I still have old PC games (Command and Conquer, Secret of Monkey Island) that I play to this day. They've probably been reinstalled at least 15 times each due to new PCs, reformatting to fix the innumerable problems with Windows, etc.) I refuse to buy a game I can't play years down the road due to the excessive greed of a megacorp. They've lostI refuse to rent this game! I still have old PC games (Command and Conquer, Secret of Monkey Island) that I play to this day. They've probably been reinstalled at least 15 times each due to new PCs, reformatting to fix the innumerable problems with Windows, etc.) I refuse to buy a game I can't play years down the road due to the excessive greed of a megacorp. They've lost yet another customer. Red Alert 3 and The Sims 3 were sure buys for me as well, but I won't buy them with this ridiculous malware attached to them.… Expand
  29. MatthewHoesterey
    Sep 19, 2008
    7
    An amazing toy. Anytime your creating creatures or buildings the "game" is fun. The problem is that once you've created something there isn't anything to do thats actually fun. The game minus the creation part is one of the worst I've played.
    Great Toy Concept now they just need to add the game part.
  30. JohnM
    Sep 19, 2008
    3
    The game has promise but completely fails to deliver. My 10 year old daughter loves it though.
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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]
    Read full review
  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".
    Read full review
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