Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment

[AlgaeEater]

If you buy it now, you get access to the beta through Impulse. I've been playing the Beta for about 2 weeks already.

There are SERIOUS current issues with balance, hence the beta phase of it, with the mines. Not only do they cause a massive performance hit (Yes, even those of you with $8000 computers will break down to 4 fps), but they're also over powered for every race. (Although TEC has the most balanced system at the moment) You can read more about it on the beta forums.

There's a lot of great things about the expansion but also a lot of headache right now. To the point where games also become unplayable due to the mine spam and performance hit.

For $9.99 it's a great expansion, but it's definitely not ready for retail release yet.

 

[JF060392]

if only games didnt last a year in this game.

 

[zerogear]

Still no Campaign story mode I'll wait.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: JF060392
if only games didnt last a year in this game.

This is a very common myth brought about by people who play it in single player (in free for all mode against 9 computer opponents on a gigantic map) who have no understanding of how the multiplayer games work.

In online multiplayer, most games finish in under two hours and many even earlier than that. When you play a team game, say 3v3, once the game has been decided, if the losers won't voluntarily quit or surrender, it doesn't take all that long to mop them up when you have two teammates.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: zerogear
Still no Campaign story mode I'll wait.

What's a campaign going to do for you? Would a lack of a campaign prevent you from playing Alpha Centauri or Civilization?

Why not just forget about the cheesy movie cutscenes and silly story lines and just play custom maps or play it in online multiplayer?

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: zerogear
Still no Campaign story mode I'll wait.

What's a campaign going to do for you? Would a lack of a campaign prevent you from playing Alpha Centauri or Civilization?

Why not just forget about the cheesy movie cutscenes and silly story lines and just play custom maps or play it in online multiplayer?

Sins isn't a 4X game, it is an RTS game. A campaign helps bring you into the game slowly and truly understand how all the complexities work. Since Sins doesn't have one, it makes the learning curve rather steep.

Plus, it is so slow paced that by the time you actually meet an enemy, they will be so far ahead of you because you aren't sure what you are supposed to be doing at the beginning. It is hard to know that you need to build specific ships or buildings, because you didn't have that campaign to guide you.

I played the game a few times, but couldn't get into it. I played through at least 2-3 games with each race; but the only real reason for doing so was to tape the large battles and view them later. I remember thinking that I really needed a single player campaign to be able to get into this game.

It didn't have much 4X type diplomacy and I wished that they would have left that out since they did such a poor job trying to implement it. I like a lot about the game, but without having a single player campaign it is difficult to get into; at least for me.

If and when they release a campaign expansion, I will purchase that. I have no interest in playing online.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: zerogear
Still no Campaign story mode I'll wait.

What's a campaign going to do for you? Would a lack of a campaign prevent you from playing Alpha Centauri or Civilization?

Why not just forget about the cheesy movie cutscenes and silly story lines and just play custom maps or play it in online multiplayer?

Because the into movie looks really interesting and the backstory is also interesting and this game really isnt much like civ or alpha centauri. What wiped out the vasari? Hell if i can guess...

Also multiplayer sucks. The time put in with the fun you get out of it just isnt worth it, its much more exciting and forfilling to play CoH or starcraft instead.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: Martimus
Sins isn't a 4X game, it is an RTS game. A campaign helps bring you into the game slowly and truly understand how all the complexities work. Since Sins doesn't have one, it makes the learning curve rather steep.

Plus, it is so slow paced that by the time you actually meet an enemy, they will be so far ahead of you because you aren't sure what you are supposed to be doing at the beginning. It is hard to know that you need to build specific ships or buildings, because you didn't have that campaign to guide you.

I played the game a few times, but couldn't get into it. I played through at least 2-3 games with each race; but the only real reason for doing so was to tape the large battles and view them later. I remember thinking that I really needed a single player campaign to be able to get into this game.

OK, I can see your point--it's less about theatrics and more of a tutorial. I don't disagree that Sins needs a "campaign" or at least an extended tutorial simply because so many people have clamored for one and I hope that they do get it. However, I don't think the lack of a campaign should keep people from playing the game.

I learned how to play the game by doing the tutorial two or three times and from reading the Strategy forums. I really learned how to play the game and how to become competitive by taking my lumps in online multiplayer and by chatting with other players and watching and playing against good players.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: MaximilianAlso multiplayer sucks. The time put in with the fun you get out of it just isnt worth it, its much more exciting and forfilling to play CoH or starcraft instead.

Unfortunately, I don't think you're the only person who feels that way.

Personally, I find the online multiplayer to be intense, suspenseful, and very challenging. It's also fulfilling when you finally see the tide turn to your side, especially if you're playing against experienced or skilled opponents.

 

[gizbug]

Is there a big online community with this? I would assume not as big as say other online strategy games, no?

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: gizbug
Is there a big online community with this? I would assume not as big as say other online strategy games, no?

Sadly, no. Online multiplayer counts have gotten as high as 170 online during prime time in the past two weeks with much lower numbers at other times. You can find games if you're patient, but sadly the player counts are pathetic for a game that supposedly sold 500,000, and it's a great game.

Some of the reason for this might be that people have had problems updating the game to the latest version using Impulse (which looks like part of the copy protection), game crashes (called minidumps), desync problems, and problems with hosting games. Overall, the game crashes and the desyncs don't happen all that often, at least not for me. However, all of those problems probably contributed to low online player counts.

Still, it's a great game if you can get passed all of that and I encourage people to buy the game and to come play it in online multiplayer. (Just play humans v. AI until you feel confident.)

 

[Maximilian]

Bump, its the 4th of feb, it should be out by now.

EDIT: Nope never mind, its been pushed back again for like the 4th time, february 11th i think, at least thats what wikipedia says.