Star Ruler 2

1. sicclee

   Mar 28, 2015

   10

   One of the best games I've ever played, in any genre.
   
   The game is deceptively simple: colonize a planet, link it's resource, repeat andOne of the best games I've ever played, in any genre.
   
   The game is deceptively simple: colonize a planet, link it's resource, repeat and gain affinity. Design and build ships to defend and attack. It's easy to get started and fun to explore and fight. It's top down universe management is excellent for controlling your empire, but the ability to zoom in on ships makes battles rewarding and exciting. It's a blast to call fleets from the four corners of your empire to jump through FTL gates and converge on an enemy capital ship, then zoom in and watch them get annihilated.
   
   But there's a very complex under belly to SR2. resources create pressure on a planet, which influences what civilians build on your planet. These civ buildings are what provide you with affinity generation (labor, money, research, energy, influence and defense). Pressure limits are controlled by population, which is controlled by planet level. Linking resources from other planets increases planet level. Building up your planets is necessary to make sure you are utilizing your resources effectively. In order to build large, awesome fleets you're going to have to utilize labor and research at the cost of cash generation. The game is all about balance and macro-management.
   
   That being said, it's not a spread-sheet manager. The interface is intuitive and nicely done. The hud is customizable and the ship design is exciting (especially in multiplayer!) and well thought out. Every ship I've made is different, with researched techs enabling more specific purposes for the ship's systems.
   
   There's so much to explore. The diplomacy is inventive and I'll admit at first I wasn't interested in it but after a couple games I realized how powerful it can be. Being able to annex an enemy system once you win the vote in the senate is rewarding and fun. Calling for a patriotic surge from a planet under siege can buy you the time to get your capital ship into it's gravity well.
   
   Then there's energy, the wildcard affinity. It's used to activate awesome artifacts, cloak ships, prevent enemy escapes and a ton of other really cool abilities.
   
   The races are varied and unique. The way they utilize things like orbitals and FTL tech make every game feel special. One race requires a special material to build ships out of, another race can't grow population, only build it. There's a race that can't build on planets, but instead lives on orbitals in the gravity well. Each one is different and worth playing.
   
   But... Modding is what is going to make this game great. It's accessible and easy. There are already a few talented modders and once the game gets traction this community will be bustling with all new ship sets, game mechanics and god knows what. In essence, how do you make a great game even better? Make modding a focus. They've done it, and it rules.
   
   The bottom line is, if you like strategy games, you can't miss this. If you like space games, get it now. If you like massive battles, they got em. If you like sandbox games with a focus on building and design, this is probably for you.
   
   The game's so good I bought a copy for two friends. Get it. Get it now.
   
   One last note: The devs are awesome. They are active in IRC all the time, listen to feedback & act on it, and fix bugs asap. They are passionate and invested, like all devs should be.… Expand

   • 12 of 18 users found this helpful
2. Ellendel

   Dec 27, 2015

   10

   Not sure why this game isn't up in the 8's and 9'. It's one of the best 4X games I've come across so far. Others have written it up betterNot sure why this game isn't up in the 8's and 9'. It's one of the best 4X games I've come across so far. Others have written it up better than I can/will, but I wanted to add my weighting into the score. After the dissapointing lack of innovation in Gal Civ 3 (so far. I'm hoping that will change!) I was really pleased to find SR2, and highly recommend it. The community and dev are also good.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
4. Aribar

   Apr 20, 2015

   10

   This is an absolutely amazing and innovative game that breathes new life into the 4X genre. It builds on the systems from Star Ruler 1 andThis is an absolutely amazing and innovative game that breathes new life into the 4X genre. It builds on the systems from Star Ruler 1 and adds new ones that are really unique. Custom building your fleet is still really fun and the mod support will guarantee we'll have toys to play with for a very long time. The game has a neat way of handling empire management so you don't have to micromanage every single planet, but still get the experience of controlling an entire space civilization.
   
   The diplomacy is super unique and fun. You gain different powers through a card system like putting riders on enemy proposals or promising support for a proposal in return for getting diplomatic power over that civilization later. It takes the standard 4X/Civ style diplomacy of "Trade XYZ? Increase/decrease relationship modifier? Declare war/treaty?" and puts it to shame.
   
   An overall fantastic game worth every penny.… Expand

   • 3 of 3 users found this helpful
5. Cronstintein

   Jul 24, 2015

   9

   Quite literally my favorite 4x game ever. I love how it respects your time by minimizing the micromanagement. This allows me to spend myQuite literally my favorite 4x game ever. I love how it respects your time by minimizing the micromanagement. This allows me to spend my time worrying about overall strategy instead of concentrating on building a barracks, granary, boatyard, etc.. on every damn planet.
   
   While not the sexiest things to concentrate on, the economy and trade systems are what really blow me away in this game. I love how you pillage resources from smaller planets to fuel (level up) the ones you care about. It really makes your lv4 homeworld feel powerful when it's connected to ~15 subordinate planets. It also gives importance to those outskirt planets. Once they start going down it can really wreak havoc on your economy.
   
   I also really like how civilian infrastructure builds itself based on economy 'pressure' (which is derived from what elements you've got). It really cuts through the majority of the bs micromanagement which is much appreciated! The same system is used on 'defense pressure' which is an easy, and micro free, way to give your planets some defense. In this way you are only ever controling a handful of fleets which keeps things elegantly manageable.
   
   The last thing I'll touch on is the diplomacy system. While 1-on-1 diplomacy is pretty rudimentary (a couple treaty options but that's about it), the galactic senate system is something I really enjoy. You basically develop a resource called 'influence' which is used to buy and activate diplomacy cards. They have a wide range of effects, some of which require a senate vote to pass. It's all very well done and I get some real enjoyment out of dominating the senate. You can annex planets and system this way, stealing them w/o going to war (or losing units).
   
   All-in-all I think it's a very cleverly designed 4x game that does some new things.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
6. Bloodyduck

   Apr 20, 2015

   9

   Very good 4x game that mixes up the formula a bit. Colonize planets and grow an empire to a galactic scale. The game is truly a must haveVery good 4x game that mixes up the formula a bit. Colonize planets and grow an empire to a galactic scale. The game is truly a must have for any 4x fan that is bored of the standard civ formula. The game has so much depth to it, but is also very accessible to players like me who don't have a massive amount of time to put into just learning a game. The game also features online multiplayer which is also great for strategy games. The only thing that turns me off a bit id the graphics. The game is very well done under the hood, but unfortunately features some boring artwork. I would definitely recommend this game to any strategy or sci-fi fan.… Expand

   • 3 of 3 users found this helpful
7. JonnysBeard

   Apr 11, 2015

   8

   If you want to learn a lot right here right now check out siccless's comment. Sums it up pretty good.
   
   It's an unique way to do things in anIf you want to learn a lot right here right now check out siccless's comment. Sums it up pretty good.
   
   It's an unique way to do things in an RTS but it all works pretty well. It's heavily macro orientated so don't expect any Homeworld like space fights.
   I would love to see some gameplay elements expanded but mod support is a key feature and you can access the community at any time from within the game.… Expand

   • 7 of 8 users found this helpful
8. Loki64

   May 26, 2015

   0

   I played many 4x games. Ranging from Master of Orion to the Endless Space.
   More horrible art and design interface I've yet seen.
   The entireI played many 4x games. Ranging from Master of Orion to the Endless Space.
   More horrible art and design interface I've yet seen.
   The entire game runs on rule - send all resources to the capital, about the rest of the planet forget.
   Very boring..… Expand

   • 3 of 9 users found this helpful

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