Darkspore

Sometimes when a developer releases a game and they make something really unique and special this creates a solid fan base and a following. This is, of course, very attractive for publishing companies. Son back in 2008 when Maxis released their species and evolution simulation game, everyone went crazy. Even today there are still some amazing things you can create in this game that are completely new. So, they took it an extra step, to make a game in a grittier direction with part of the same core mechanics, and that's how we got Darkspore. Yes, that's really the title, but what is this game all about? Well, let's talk about it!

About the game

The first time we play 'Darkspore' we discover a carefully crafted setting that recreates a universe of pure science fiction, based on alien races, astrophysics, and landscapes as impossible as beautiful. After a quick introduction, we will know that we are members of a race called the 'Cryogenitors', an advanced alien race dedicated to preserving in stasis the last or the most gifted individuals of each species. Although our role is that of 'supreme nurse', a new danger threatens the Universe, forcing us to become true warlords.

The 'Darkspore', a mutant race dedicated to corrupting entire races and worlds, are consuming system by system all the galaxies. In response, the Progenitors are awakening their best protégés and turning them into warriors, and preparing them for a war that will decide the fate of every living thing on Creation.

Gameplay

It is a sort of hybrid between RPG/action game, a great universe of possibilities for the fan in terms of editing and isolated drops of MMO, all linked by a concept indebted to the original Spore in many ways: design, concept, the origin of the idea...

In essence, what Darkspore brings is a brighter and nicer version of the classic concept of which Blizzard's Diablo saga is the maximum exponent. Here, however, narrative elements or interaction with NPCs are even less important, reducing the whole game experience to an entertaining short-distance kill-kill game.

the game mechanics are so simple that it doesn't take much trouble to explain to the user how it works. With the left click of our mouse, we signal where we want our character to go and which enemy we want him to attack with his standard offensive maneuver, while with the right we will use our special assault, and the central wheel of the mouse will be used to zoom in and out of the action as we wish. In the purest RPG/Action style, the numeric buttons on the keyboard will be used for the "spells" or rather special abilities that we will use to fight.

Review: 6.5/10

Darkspore borrows the basic mechanic of creating your species from its older sibling Spore, but once you get a little into the game those similarities are gone, and the game becomes something completely different.

Pros:

• Great setting
• Solid gameplay
• Fun character creation

Cons:

• Feels unrewarding
• A bit too shallow