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. Alex
    Sep 7, 2008
    4
    Nice looking game with extremely primitive and easy gameplay. Game is worth playing for 2-3 days.
  2. 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.
  3. Karl
    Sep 7, 2008
    5
    5 sub standard games rolled into one. Not much depth, more of a casual games for people who dont usually play games.
  4. 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.
  5. SteveA.
    Sep 7, 2008
    4
    A unique concept, but precious little depth. In all, it's rather dull to play.
  6. LarsV.
    Sep 7, 2008
    5
    Creation process and graphics are top notch but there just isn't much of a game. I kept feeling I didn't understand the game only to discover that the pushing of 1-3 buttons was the game. Sad to see so much promise unfulfilled. There is no game.
  7. JennyC.
    Sep 8, 2008
    6
    Spore is a series of oversimplified and unimaginative minigames wrapped around groundbreaking procedural animation editors. While these editors are impressive and may herald a new future for customization in games, they alone can't save Spore from monotonous and linear gameplay. For all its claims of being a sandbox, the gameplay of Spore is anything but. While users can create an Spore is a series of oversimplified and unimaginative minigames wrapped around groundbreaking procedural animation editors. While these editors are impressive and may herald a new future for customization in games, they alone can't save Spore from monotonous and linear gameplay. For all its claims of being a sandbox, the gameplay of Spore is anything but. While users can create an infinite variety of creatures to inhabit their worlds, the performance and futures of these creations are entirely determined by diet, fixed stats and objectives the player must complete in each stage. This wouldn't be damning on its own, but where Spore falls apart is in the depth of each stage - there isn't any. There is no strategy, planning, tactics, or creativity in anything you'll do outside of the editors. Solving conflicts and making friends is a simple game of "Simon Says" imitation done by mouseclicks and evolving your creature is a matter of literally pulling body parts out of the ground to add to your collection. In the Creature stage alone you'll be forced to do these actions dozens upon dozens of times with no unique consequences by interacting with AI. Speaking of AI, there isn't any. The animals of Spore either roam in mindless packs or stay concentrated around their nest. They show no desires or emotion. Example, a herbivore character rushes into an unfamiliar albeit neutral carnivorous species' nest, knocks its eggs out, stomps all over, eats the fruit on their nearby trees and then leaves, all without the homewrecked species reacting outside of backing away to keep a foot or two of distance when the player bumps into them. There is a lot more wrong, or rather disappointing, in Spore, and the rest of the stages offer little more than a barebones linear RTS. People have argued that the expectations of this game were too high, but I would counter that gameplay of this calibre is what's expected of a young child's game, not just something meant to appeal to 'casual gamers.' 5 for the editors, 1 for gameplay, overal.… Expand
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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!
  13. RSmith
    Sep 8, 2008
    1
    Nothing but problems with the DRM. I feel ripped off.
  14. 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
  15. MaxB
    Sep 8, 2008
    6
    I'm severely underwhelmed. Repetitive minigames, some not even worthy of a flash game on the web. The only good thing about it is the creating things part, and even that's impotent in some respects. I think if they make a Spore 2 it'll be much better. I think this time they tried to do to much and so the entire thing suffered. The whole "world" feels extremely compact, too. I'm severely underwhelmed. Repetitive minigames, some not even worthy of a flash game on the web. The only good thing about it is the creating things part, and even that's impotent in some respects. I think if they make a Spore 2 it'll be much better. I think this time they tried to do to much and so the entire thing suffered. The whole "world" feels extremely compact, too. I don't feel like a species on a planet. I feel like a few creatures in a sandbox. On the whole, the best thing to come out of the game is the procedural generation and animation of models, which hopefully will be adapted to other games [make all your own models for an RTS, perhaps?].… Expand
  16. JamesO.
    Sep 9, 2008
    5
    Tries to be everything thus being pretty average overall. Not a bad game but not a good game either.
  17. 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
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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
  21. 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.
  22. DarrenS.
    Sep 9, 2008
    3
    Fun for couple hours, okay for a couple more, then tedium.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. WolfgangF.
    Sep 9, 2008
    3
    Beautiful editors that have almost zero impact on the simplistic and shallow gameplay.
  26. 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.
  27. sandraD.
    Sep 9, 2008
    5
    Well its fun at the beginning, everything is new and cool and you waited sooo long for this game. Tell you what, I play lots of games, I've played spore for two and I'm already fed up with it. I've given a 5 just cuz the people of maxis worked hard on it but sorry guys you can't beat your own sims.
  28. 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.
  29. KL
    Sep 9, 2008
    6
    This game is pretty bad in my opinion. Everything preceding the space stage took around 2 and a half hours to play. Beyond that, the heavily promoted space phase isn't even that impressive. First, there is no seamless transition to the planet stage like there is in Sins of a Solar Empire. Second, terraforming is an arduous affair, where you have to randomly sprinkle plants and This game is pretty bad in my opinion. Everything preceding the space stage took around 2 and a half hours to play. Beyond that, the heavily promoted space phase isn't even that impressive. First, there is no seamless transition to the planet stage like there is in Sins of a Solar Empire. Second, terraforming is an arduous affair, where you have to randomly sprinkle plants and animals on the planet. Third, the missions are pointless and tedious, with most missions requiring you to find something on the planet surface. This is reminiscent of the planet roving on mass effect, albeit worse because now you have a time limit. This was a disappointing game. I suspect they implemented the 3 install DRM because it sucks so badly people will want to sell it off quickly.… Expand
  30. 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.
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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

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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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