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. seans.
    Sep 11, 2008
    1
    EA has failed us once again there is no challenge effort or in depth game play everything was cut short and the space age was boring colonize planets make money you have the only ship for youre entire race it would be great if you could build fleets and invade planets but you cant its like playing asteroids a version of glactic civs with the enhanced graphics would be a far more EA has failed us once again there is no challenge effort or in depth game play everything was cut short and the space age was boring colonize planets make money you have the only ship for youre entire race it would be great if you could build fleets and invade planets but you cant its like playing asteroids a version of glactic civs with the enhanced graphics would be a far more entertaining game the ai is horrible kill or make peace lame dissapointing save youre 50$ im selling my copy on Ebay.… Expand
  2. AlexG.
    Sep 11, 2008
    2
    Totally unfulfilling/nonexistent gameplay. No-brainer action mixed with level grinding. If you like that, this is your game. The Creature Creator is all very well but is pretty much irrelevant as all the important elements are either gone or reduced to simple stat-boosters; editing basically makes no difference to gameplay whatsoever.
  3. HenrikA
    Sep 11, 2008
    2
    This 2game" does'nt deliver nearly enough game. It all becomes one giant snooze fest even before you manage to play through it once. And I had such high hopes...
  4. SamD.
    Sep 12, 2008
    0
    Awful game, repetitive and uninspiring, without direction or cohesion. Draconian DRM.
  5. DanP
    Sep 12, 2008
    2
    Such a huge disappointment. Just about as fun as watching paint dry. I found this game to be extremely easy and it doesn't seem to have any penalties for dieing or messing up. This game might be enjoyable for a 5 year old... Don't buy it! Do what I did and just download it for free off a torrent site. I swear you'll get bored of it within the first day of playing it.
  6. MikeV.
    Sep 12, 2008
    4
    For all the hype that was generated for this game, I wasn't very satisfied with the end result. I admit the game is clearly one-of-a-kind and it's creature creator is extremely fascinating. The problem is the repetitive tasks, lack of multi-player interactions, and it's broad user group; it's more of a child's game. I'd recommend playing at a friends house For all the hype that was generated for this game, I wasn't very satisfied with the end result. I admit the game is clearly one-of-a-kind and it's creature creator is extremely fascinating. The problem is the repetitive tasks, lack of multi-player interactions, and it's broad user group; it's more of a child's game. I'd recommend playing at a friends house before spending 50 big ones.… Expand
  7. TS
    Sep 12, 2008
    7
    While it was a ton of fun to toy around with for a few hours, I lost interest. The simple, really F$@#ing simple gameplay makes me thing I'm playing an educational game mean for five year olds sans the education. This is a devolution of gaming. I am so disappointed with will wrights "masterpiece" that I'm not going to buy any more of his games until a good year after their out. While it was a ton of fun to toy around with for a few hours, I lost interest. The simple, really F$@#ing simple gameplay makes me thing I'm playing an educational game mean for five year olds sans the education. This is a devolution of gaming. I am so disappointed with will wrights "masterpiece" that I'm not going to buy any more of his games until a good year after their out. Shame on you for releasing this hunk of crap, mr. wright. Shame on you.… Expand
  8. RyanS.
    Sep 12, 2008
    2
    The games cell stage was generally what I was expecting, but after that I felt the game just didn't have enough depth. The whole civilization stage was so simple it took an hour to complete. I didn't feel like playing it again either as I felt I had experienced everything it had to offer. The space stage is where this game gets decent, for about 3 or so hours. After that, again The games cell stage was generally what I was expecting, but after that I felt the game just didn't have enough depth. The whole civilization stage was so simple it took an hour to complete. I didn't feel like playing it again either as I felt I had experienced everything it had to offer. The space stage is where this game gets decent, for about 3 or so hours. After that, again you feel underwhelmed. There is a large assortment of tools, 80% of which are useless stamps, colors, and so on. And attaining these tools requires you to collect many badges, so that throws sandbox out the window until you play for a boring 12 hours. All in all, this game needs a lot of work to be good. The Civilization, Tribal, and Space stages need a redo. As it stands, the game is only decent in its Space stage.… Expand
  9. XhenkA
    Sep 13, 2008
    0
    This game is crippled by horrible, horrible DRM. Additionally, the gameplay has been simplified way too much. Spore was preseted on science symposiums for god's sakes, and the final product feels more like a children's game than a scientifically correct piece of software. Thanks to the DRM the game will also stop to function in the relatively near future (earlier if you reach This game is crippled by horrible, horrible DRM. Additionally, the gameplay has been simplified way too much. Spore was preseted on science symposiums for god's sakes, and the final product feels more like a children's game than a scientifically correct piece of software. Thanks to the DRM the game will also stop to function in the relatively near future (earlier if you reach you maximum of 3 installations quota). I would love to, but I simply cannot give it more than a 0 rating, as I would never recommend a $50 RENTAL for a mediocre game.… Expand
  10. dougs
    Sep 13, 2008
    5
    Really dumbed down. Crashed on me last night after a lot of progress in space stage and I dont feel like wasting time doing the same thing again.
  11. mikeh
    Sep 13, 2008
    0
    I wish I had my $50 back! This game was in development for so long, yet they couldn't make it interesting for more than a few hours?
  12. groovicusmaximus
    Sep 13, 2008
    5
    It is just not very exciting. My kid would probably love the initial stages, but they are pretty short.
  13. ThoughSporeWouldBeBetter
    Sep 13, 2008
    4
    Three Words: Space is Broken! I thought space was going to be the great and immense final chapter, the one to redeem the overall shallow game I was playing. No, I am not going to pay for expansions that should have been in the game in the first place. Even if the game was built for casual gamers (as Mr Wright indicated it was), the Space stage will drive anyone but the most dedicated Three Words: Space is Broken! I thought space was going to be the great and immense final chapter, the one to redeem the overall shallow game I was playing. No, I am not going to pay for expansions that should have been in the game in the first place. Even if the game was built for casual gamers (as Mr Wright indicated it was), the Space stage will drive anyone but the most dedicated away. Repetition is the key factor, and it isn't fun. It has left me frustrated, and pissed off. I basically spent $50 to get mad. Thanks Maxis! I was running out of ways to feel cheated (I guess it is a creative game after all). The only great thing about the game are the Creators, and even then the designs don't truly have a tangible effect on the game itself (more legs doesn't equal more speed, more guns on spacecraft doesn't equal higher firepower, etc...) Try the Creature Creator for free, skip this game, and if you need a fix for civilization, space, and old school games, buy the following three all for less money than Spore: Pacman (cell stage is same premise, without DRM!), any Civilization game (even the old ones are more complete than the civ stage in spore), and Freelancer (all the fun of an epic space game, without the hair pulling of spore space stage). You've been warned.… Expand
  14. MM
    Sep 13, 2008
    3
    Having eagerly looked forward to this gamea few years now, I'm more disappointed than most. Not only am I feeling let down, I feel that I've been lied to. Fact is, nowehre in the game does Spore even begin to simulate 'evolution.' The player is left to design their species to whatever parameters they wish. Play style has the most minimal effect on this. And don't Having eagerly looked forward to this gamea few years now, I'm more disappointed than most. Not only am I feeling let down, I feel that I've been lied to. Fact is, nowehre in the game does Spore even begin to simulate 'evolution.' The player is left to design their species to whatever parameters they wish. Play style has the most minimal effect on this. And don't be fooled -- intilligent design this ain't. Players are able to make the most outlandish creatures they can think up, no matter how infeasible they might be. You might think this is a plus. It's not. Aside from determining a few statistics (health, combat power, etc.), the choices made in designing your creatures have virtually no effect on how the game plays out. And later in the game they simply don't matter as the individual specimen isn't even seen. The central premise of the game, then, is entirely absent. But maybe we could forgive Maxisif the game were fun. It is not. The controls in each phase are extremely limited and it's often difficult to navigate around the map. It almost feels like an inexperienced developered rush a console game to pc; really, these are some of the worst controls I've had to deal with, a fact that's made even more inexcusible because of the simplicity of the gameplay. The gameplay of the first four phases can be summarized like this: click on neighbors to make them die. Progress to next stage. You can go about it differently, but the core mechanics are the same. Your race will reach the stars in a matter of hours at the most. At first, I thought the space phase completely reedemed Spore. Beautiful graphics, workable controls, and a lot to do. Well, first impressions are often wrong. The graphics are indeed first class, but the controls turn out to be worse here than in any other phase. You can't adjust the camera angle, combat is impossible (you're supposed to click on fast moving ships) and the minimap is frustrating. The user interface is cluttered. More than this, the freedom I expected -- and briefly enjoyed -- is curtailed pretty quickly once you realize that not only are you not alone in the galaxy, but you're surrounded by hostile alien races that WILL constantly raid your planets and thwart your efforts at retaliation by throwing three ships against your one, and so on. Moreover, there's more drudgery here than in any other phase; you have to establish trade routes, collect goods, plan colonies, and so on. All in all, it's not a good game. If the whole evolutionary thing weren't a gimmick and if the space portion were enjoyable, we'd be looking at a decent game. Until then (Spore 2?), don't bother. Oh, and though the DRM is atrocious (you won't be able to install this game more than three times -- after that, throw it out, it'll be unplayable), I don't think we need to factor that into the score. It's not likely that anyone would ever reinstall this.… Expand
  15. BobJ
    Sep 13, 2008
    0
    Pure disappointment. It's boring. It's overly simplified. The editors don't do anything useful. Everything is too cartoony, so it feels like the target audience is 8-year-olds. The interfaces are clumsy and hard to use. The whole game is piss-easy, until the space stage, which is repetitive, unbalanced, unfair, frustrating, and hard to use, yet somehow still manages to be Pure disappointment. It's boring. It's overly simplified. The editors don't do anything useful. Everything is too cartoony, so it feels like the target audience is 8-year-olds. The interfaces are clumsy and hard to use. The whole game is piss-easy, until the space stage, which is repetitive, unbalanced, unfair, frustrating, and hard to use, yet somehow still manages to be piss-easy. And all the editors have a Nazi-like adherence to bilateral symmetry. Fixing all the problems Spore would be more like making an entirely new game than patching bugs. Spore is a very bad game, and the DRM is pure evil. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!! (and especially don't buy the strategy guide).… Expand
  16. GucioG.
    Sep 14, 2008
    2
    DRM and a lot of wasted potential. Overhyped, overdumbed, lacking in every aspect. After the initial "wow" factor is gone, there is pretty much nothing left. Simply not enough game in this game.
  17. JonathanS.
    Sep 14, 2008
    0
    I've been looking forward to playing Spore for a very long time. I would've given it a 10, but I actually played it, and then I found out about the DRM restrictions. I really thought this would be a game for the players, but I guess money is more important. Good luck with the sales. I'm telling my friends to download it instead.
  18. BoP.
    Sep 14, 2008
    5
    Could have been more. Great Idea! Crap implementation. Now after 2 days of playing I'm gonna leave Spore in its corner and hope for some free addons and updates to come out so its fun to play again.
  19. madlep
    Sep 14, 2008
    0
    This game and it's SecureROM virus kicked me in the nuts and stole my baby, then set my computer on fire. Say no to invasive DRM!
  20. SamM.
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    Disappointing, not revolutionary and DRM is stupid. That's all I need to say.
  21. DaveB.
    Sep 15, 2008
    5
    Spore is an interesting program, but it's a terrible game. The creator elements, where players can sculpt creatures, buildings, and vehicles are very novel and pretty well done, but the actual gameplay is all five stages is unbelievably shallow. I understand that the game is supposed to be accessible, but the game doesn't start simple and gradually allow you to go deeper; it Spore is an interesting program, but it's a terrible game. The creator elements, where players can sculpt creatures, buildings, and vehicles are very novel and pretty well done, but the actual gameplay is all five stages is unbelievably shallow. I understand that the game is supposed to be accessible, but the game doesn't start simple and gradually allow you to go deeper; it starts simple and just gets boring. Unlike previous Maxis projects, the game - which doesn't take very long to get through - has virtually no replay value despite the available customization because there's no real challenge and most of the choices you make don't really matter. The creator modes are indeed very cool, but the game they support is totally just tacked on.… Expand
  22. AndreR.
    Sep 15, 2008
    3
    Potential great game, tested it on a friends house and loved it, but DRM ruined it.
  23. RatamaA.
    Sep 15, 2008
    2
    Basically a watered down series of flash games, barely connected by your creature. There is little interconnectivity between them, every choice is mostly pointless come the next "game" in Spore. Ultimately kiddy-pool shallow, over hyped, over produced, but goddamn if it isn't gorgeous on a decent setup.
  24. AnthonyR.
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    Ok enough of the random attacks designed to simply lower the user score. Herewith a summary of what is wrong with this game: 1) Disjointed game play between 5 unrelated and un-fun mini games; 2) Draconian DRM scheme from hell 3) No configurable controls for movement. Our way or the highway; 4) No invert mouse; 5) No real evolution. You can add body parts but they have no effect. Ok enough of the random attacks designed to simply lower the user score. Herewith a summary of what is wrong with this game: 1) Disjointed game play between 5 unrelated and un-fun mini games; 2) Draconian DRM scheme from hell 3) No configurable controls for movement. Our way or the highway; 4) No invert mouse; 5) No real evolution. You can add body parts but they have no effect. You're just dressing up the same capabilitiy creatures; 6) Bass ackwards marketing that assumes we will be so enamored of the game that we will want to buy Spore Sanitary Napkins and Spore lawn seed. Guys: First get the game right. 7) No FUN in sight. The one thing they forgot to add. So there you have it. The reason this POS deserves the ass-kicking it's getting on the word-of-mouth circuit.… Expand
  25. JerryS.
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    Wow, could the reaction to this game get any worse? I thought Black & White sucked, but this takes the new record for best POS from an overrated and singularly lucky designer: Congratulations!
  26. LindaC.
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    I'm not sure why eveyone hates this game so much but I know why i do and I wanted to warn people. be careful, I couldn't install this until I replaced my cdrom drive. they're cheap now only cost $20 but boy was i disappointed when i finally got it working lol. Nvm
  27. GregoryU.
    Sep 16, 2008
    0
    Didnt know it contained DRM when the game was installed. DRM is like giving a car dealer the keys to your house when you buy their car. This Is why i uninstalled the game and tossed it in the fire.
  28. VincentO'.
    Sep 16, 2008
    3
    Professional reviewers appear to have been overawed by the marketing rather than the game play. In reality, it appears to be possible to experience the entire depth of the game in a single day's paying. All of the five mini games that make up this package are very heavily predirected with the no great mental engaugement required other than clicking as directed for as long as directed.
  29. PatrickA
    Sep 16, 2008
    2
    Failed to meet the hype. The stages zoom past, and really don't contain anything of value to pull over from stage to stage. Don't waste the $50. :-/
  30. RyanP.
    Sep 16, 2008
    0
    I refused to buy into the hype, so I think I'm reviewing this game pretty objectively. It is garbage. The gameplay is incredibly simplistic, basically amounting to 2 actions in each stage, which is repeated over and over and over. How your creature "evolves" is based on which action you take, but this has almost NO impact on your creature in the next stage. UI is annoying, especially I refused to buy into the hype, so I think I'm reviewing this game pretty objectively. It is garbage. The gameplay is incredibly simplistic, basically amounting to 2 actions in each stage, which is repeated over and over and over. How your creature "evolves" is based on which action you take, but this has almost NO impact on your creature in the next stage. UI is annoying, especially the camera, and the minimap seems needlessly confusing... a surprising detail considering that minimaps have been more or less adaquate since Warcraft II. Its one redeaming quality is the extremely powerful unit, building and vehicle editors. However, you could make your creature a flat streak on the ground or a giant column and it would have absolutely NO effect on how your creature fights or moves. A truly horrible game.… Expand
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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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