Spore
Release Date: September 3, 2008
Simulation, sandbox, elements of strategy, arcade elements, Game Pass, EA Play, singleplayer
Steam
An unusual simulator, in which your objective is to bring to life a perfectly functioning species of organisms, starting from the lowest step on the evolution ladder. The game is developed by the legendary studio Maxis, led by Will Wright – the man responsible for such cult series as SimCity and The Sims. Mechanics combine elements of many game genres and each stage of your organism’s evolution offers a bit different quests and altered gameplay.
Will Wright is one of the most prominent characters in the PC gaming industry. He is the one responsible for such blockbuster series as SimCity and The Sims. Spore for PC is yet another production by him, drawing attention due to unusual design and gameplay.
Gameplay
Almost every game from Wright was focused on developing, be it a single person or a whole community. This is also true in Spore, where you have to bring your civilisation to greatness, starting from the lowest step on the evolution ladder – a microorganism. Gameplay is divided into stages in which you assist your creature’s development.
Each stage announces a completely new mini-game with rules differing from those in the former ones. In the first one, you face a Pac-Man clone. Your cell, submerged in water, constantly needs to be fed (with other organisms too) and at the same time not get eaten by other, similar creatures. If you provide “the hero” with enough food, you will be awarded with an possibility of development, or rather – evolution, and go to the next stage – the development of a humanoid form of life. Spore Creatures Creator always pops up at the end of subsequent stage. You can freely experiment with your creature’s looks by adding limbs, mouth, etc. Even though the game itself calculates the way our experiment will move and eat, do not cross the line. The creature that has problems with maintaining its basic life functions will not survive another stages, e.g. in the water and then on land.
With the progress the player stops taking care of the single creature and takes control over a whole tribe of bizarre beings, which brings Populous to mind. At this level, the Creature editor is replaced by a similar tool for constructing buildings. The pace in which the civilisation grows stronger and stronger depends only on the player’s creativity. When a small village turns into a humongous metropolis, it is time for another stage – rivalry with other tribes. Now there is only one step from Sid Meier’s Civilization. The moment your creatures construct a flying saucer, you go to space, where you will develop and invade surrounding planets. There is no limit on options and possibilities in Spore. It is the player who decides what to do and what the creatures will look like. From a bacterium to intergalactic empire – even though it sounds like an absurd, it all actually adds up.
Other information
Spore Creatures Creator was released a few months before the premiere Spore as a stand-alone application. Still, it is an integral part of Spore itself.
Last updated on May 22, 2016
Last Update: November 4, 2008
Spore Game Guide
This guide explains all of the gameplay’s mechanisms: from the cell to the space level.
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Videos and Screens
[2:26] Spore E3 2008 - #1
[1:59] Spore #15
The main pros of the game
- Creativity and Customization: Users appreciate the game's ability to allow for extensive creativity in designing unique creatures, vehicles, and buildings. The customization options are described as intuitive and visually appealing.
- Engaging Gameplay: The game features a captivating progression through various life stages, each offering different gameplay mechanics and challenges. Players enjoy the evolution from a single cell to a galactic civilization.
- Nostalgia and Fun: Many users express a sense of nostalgia and enjoyment, recalling fond memories of playing the game in their childhood. The humorous aspect of creating bizarre creatures adds to the fun.
- Community Interaction: The ability to encounter and use creations from other players enhances the gameplay experience, making each session unique.
The main cons of the game
- Technical Issues: A significant number of users report frequent crashes and bugs, leading to frustration and loss of progress. Issues with logging in and connectivity with EA accounts were also mentioned.
- Outdated Graphics and Controls: Some users feel that the game's graphics and controls are outdated, affecting the overall experience.
- Repetitive Gameplay: Several players noted that the later phases, particularly the civilization and space stages, can become tedious and repetitive.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Cloud Save Functionality: Users expressed disappointment over the lack of cloud saving, which can lead to lost progress when switching devices.
- Extended Gameplay Options: Some players desire more depth in certain gameplay phases, particularly in the civilization stage, where options can feel limited.
- Updates and Support: There is a general feeling that the game has been abandoned by its creators, leading to a lack of updates or improvements to address the existing bugs and gameplay issues.
Summary
- Overall, while SPORE? is celebrated for its creativity and engaging gameplay, it faces criticism for technical issues and outdated elements.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 4420 votes. 1047 players anticipated the game.
Spore Summary
Game Series: Spore
Platforms:
PC / Windows September 5, 2008
Nintendo DS September 3, 2008
Developer: EA Maxis / Maxis Software
Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc.
Spore System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium 4 2 GHz, 768 MB RAM, graphic card 128 MB (GeForce 6600 or better), 6 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista
Game Expansions for Spore
Spore: Galactic Adventures
Expansion
Simulation
June 23, 2009
The second official extension of the famous game, prepared by the creators of The Sims. This time, together with virtual creatures, we can experience a number of interesting adventures in different corners of the cosmos.
Spore: Creepy & Cute Parts Pack
Expansion
Simulation
November 18, 2008
Spore: Creepy & Cute Parts Pack is the first official addition to the extremely popular Spore game. The package containing lots of new elements was prepared by Maxis, a company known not only for the above titles from many equally popular productions (e.g. SimCity, The Sims series).