Sword of the Stars

 PC
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 23
  3. Negative: 3 out of 23
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  1. PC Gamer
    89
    While Sword of the Stars doesn't possess the battlefield variety of the "Homeworld" games that inspired it, it remains an ambitious and engrossing strategy triumph. [Nov. 2006, p.78]
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  2. PC Zone UK
    83
    In much the same way that "Total War" proved that the war game could be stunning to look at, accessible and fun, SOTS is almost as impressive in its own low-budget way. [Oct 2006, p.76]
  3. GameShark
    83
    One of the best “pick up and play” renditions of a 4X space strategy title I’ve seen to date, and with the possibility of third-party mods opening up and even an expansion pack, I’m looking forward to seeing that the future brings for this interesting title.
  5. Boomtown
    80
    In spite of some minor ambiguity as concerns the control interface, it's a game that has a fairly shallow learning curve, yet promises much in the way of long term amusement for those who don’t like their 4X to be too taxing.
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  6. AceGamez
    80
    If you let it, Sword of the Stars will consume your life. You'll forget you have a girlfriend or a job, you'll rush home from school (or simply not go) to carry on playing and that's exactly what a great sim should do.
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  7. IGN
    77
    I love the slick, high-tech look of the interface. A little more functionality would be nice, of course, but the game looks much more futuristic and advanced than any other space empire game on the market.
  8. GameZone
    76
    The lack of variety of units is hurtful, but not as much as the lack of information when selecting parts for your ships or after a battle has been fought.
  9. Game Informer
    75
    Even with a well-balanced multiplayer experience, I can't say that Sword of the Stars is incredibly ambitious, but it's definitely an entertaining and accessible way to extend your galactic influence. [Sept. 2006, p.99]
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  10. GameSpot
    74
    Despite some flaws with the combat, Sword of the Stars distills the complex space strategy formula to a slick, streamlined, and enjoyable package.
  11. GameWatcher
    73
    An involving game, with interesting varied strategic options and challenges thrown at the player.
  12. Pelit (Finland)
    72
    The battles look and sound nice, but do not offer much in terms of tactics and are often frustrating because of the ship captains' low IQ. [Oct 2006]
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  13. GamesRadar+
    70
    It's a snap to learn and a breeze to play, whether tackling one of its half-dozen goal-driven scenarios or wrangling with a few friends online.
  14. eToychest
    70
    While a bit of a lopsided contender in the 4X market, those with a propensity for responding violently to problems - like me - will have little trouble stepping right into the shoes Sword of the Stars offer.
  15. Yahoo!
    70
    If you're coming to Sword of the Stars from titles like "Galactic Civilizations," things may seem stripped down... but "focused" is a more accurate way to look at it.
  16. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    70
    Get over the interface and the steep learning curve (even beyond the tutorial, which is a bit light) and this is a stylish strategy game that, while hardly threatening to take over your life, will certainly provide a lot of challenge and reward for the time you invest in it.
  17. PC Format
    68
    Solid, but hampered mostly by a terrible lack of depth. [Oct 2006, p.95]
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  18. VideoGamer
    60
    Combat is a breeze and the four playable races create some intriguing situations. Yet, for a game of this type, the interface issues are almost inexcusable and the relative simplicity of the game only makes these problems all the more frustrating.
  19. GameSpy
    60
    Sword of the Stars is full of solid ideas and offers interesting strategic challenges and fun multiplayer action to those willing to weather its quirks, frustrations and obscurities.
  20. G4 TV
    60
    The races behave in unique, meaningful ways and we really appreciate the attempt to minimize the strategic tedium. That’s why it’s so strange to see a game that is clearly trying hard to attract new players to the genre come up with an interface that is at time incredibly hostile.
  21. GamePro
    55
    This is perhaps the only game in the genre to actually make each race feel unique and balanced... However, it isn't enough to compensate for the flawed tactical combat that lies at the game's core; nothing save a complete overhaul can redeem SotS from its current mediocrity.
  22. PC Gamer UK
    47
    An idea tangled in shoddy design. [Oct 2006, p.86]
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  23. 1UP
    40
    There are some really cool ideas here that belong in a better game: the tech tree, the random encounters, command ratings, and the shipbuilding, for instance.
  24. Computer Games Magazine
    40
    The inevitable galaxy of patches to come will surely help, but for now, the vacuum abides. [Nov. 2006, p.82]
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Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 73
  3. Negative: 15 out of 73
  1. Neian
    Oct 31, 2011
    0
    Very disappointed in this game. Was released on October 28th through Steam, but Paradox changed the release date to the 31st for physicalVery disappointed in this game. Was released on October 28th through Steam, but Paradox changed the release date to the 31st for physical copies and I can see why. The original released version was a Beta, wrong file uploaded to Steam, I understand mistakes happen, so another version was uploaded the following day. Well nothing really changed and the publisher admitted on their forums that they knew the product was bad they were going to release and patch it. Menus are grayed out so they cannot be selected, such as options, no scenarios maps but a tab, the encyclopedia which they tell you to use for information appears to be mostly empty. The manual was a draft copy that the published put on the forums, how do you not have a manual completed for release? The graphics are beautiful but without just clicking around its next to impossible to figure out how anything works. No tutorial, no intro missions, no manual, no encyclopedia. Horrible game, horrible release.… Full Review »
  2. OrdvaagMcSizzle
    Jan 12, 2009
    0
    You can always tell who the fanboys and shills are in these comments because they always give the game a 10 and their entire comment isYou can always tell who the fanboys and shills are in these comments because they always give the game a 10 and their entire comment is dedicated to addressing and refuting other people's comments, rather than justifying the 10 rating. They want you to think that it's a crime to not like a game, and to call a turd a turd. This game is a turd. It is a 4X game for people who don't like 4X games. Why they can't just go back to playing The Sims, who knows. Conversely, therefore, people who do like 4X games will not like this game, because it lacks everything that makes 4X games good and distinctive and addictive.… Full Review »
  3. eldaras
    Nov 17, 2011
    8
    Sword of the stars is a great game with lots of replayability. The graphics are (or were) not bleeding edge when the game was released and theSword of the stars is a great game with lots of replayability. The graphics are (or were) not bleeding edge when the game was released and the voice over is really bad. But the game... the game is really, really good. for example, the technology tree is not the same on each game, which forces the player to think about new strategies, and the different combinations of weapons and ship types makes it even more challenging.

    The tutorial that comes with the game is RUBBISH, but if you want to learn how to play it and the different technologies the the site http://sots.rorschach.net/ is a great resource (it was build by the same guy who did the tutorial videos). I have to say that given that the game is quite complex, no tutorial might be enough to explain all the game (imagine a Flight Simulator tutorial in a super-real game).

    Games also takes a while to finish (~3-4 hours for a short game with 60 stars). I've never played a big game (350 stars, 8 players), but I reckon that it might take about a week and get boring when each player has already researched all the technologies.    … Full Review »
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