SCI FI PI

Out now. In Shops and Downloadable For PC.
Available from stardock.com


Stardock.com is THE home of Windows wysiwig modding on the net.

If you don't know what that means, best not to worry too much. It's just that when PC geeks get bored with their Vista or XP or 98 interfaces, they like to change the look, and you can get programs that change boring old windows into something that looks (literally) like the interior of a spaceship. It's the spiritual geek home for PC geeks.

So when they make a game, it's 'geek take notice!' time.




The Tec - the 'human' race, and then there's weird religious guys and evil aliens. You can be any of these.


Stardock have focused previously on strategy games - noticeably, Galactic Civilizations, favoured for gameplay and not graphics, released to popular acclaim. Sins of a Solar Empire falls into a similar category - it's real time strategy space-based management and combat game (but the graphics are better!).

A rough guide to fans of the genre - it's a melding of the Masters of Orion and the Homeworlds. With graphics levels closer to Homeworld, and in many ways, slightly better.



The interface can be planetary or solar system wide. Clean and easy to get around.


If you are an RTS fan with a defensive style of play, this is not really for you - expand or die! Collect planets, conquer enemies, set up trade routes and cultural influences, all the while making sure your tech is up to snuff. Three distinct races make for a pleasing shift in mood for each game, and the varied 'maps' mean single players have a great deal to get through - you may get to an understanding of what works, but you can't just repeat what worked in one map for another.

Multi-player of course provides the ultimate challenge.



Capital ships come in all shapes and sizes. One thing in common - they're all dangerous - and expensive.


The resource collection is very straightforward, but getting upgrades and increased efficiency is what this game is all about, not just finding more stuff. When it comes to the space battles, you can create many different styles of fleets, and all are pretty straightforward to comprehend - but make sure you read the instructions or follow the tutorials properly - otherwise you will be screwed - you cannot win a game if you don't now how to create more than one capital ship.

The sound effects and the visual effects of the battles look great, and you can zoom your camera all over the place to have your very own Bab5/DS9/BSG style boondoggle. Missiles, fighters, bombers, lasers, ion canons and all sorts of weird and wonderful weapons are all rendered in 3D to unleash upon your foe.



Build up defenses, resources and technology - but always keep an eye on your 'culture'. Aliens can take over at any time!


When it comes to the capital ships - they are pretty darned good, every race has a few types and they all have their strengths and weaknesses - they are battleships that you cannot just 'spit out' - thus building up a fleet and unleashing death with swarms of fighters support frigates is one of the simpler joys of galactic imperium. Why deny yourself this?



You travel to other planets along hyperspace 'corridors'. This is an in-game close-up, not a cut-scene.


The 'space' environments are beautiful, the planets pretty good with their 'roads' of space traffic and the zooming in and out of the map interface is pretty intuitive - you can also click on icons to help you navigate, so you really can breeze around your empire with out too much fuss. Combat orders are pretty straightforward too - with proper tactics - you don't just chuck everything at everyone - your AI will work pretty well by itself in that regard - as will your opponents.



Battles are as fast and furious and as up close and personal as you want. Be an armchair general or a bloodthirsty space-slayer.



Once you're through the learning curve, it's pretty good - and be warned, time consuming in the larger maps. Of course, when you achieve mastery you can always set the play standard higher. For fans of space strategy, this looks to be a keeper and at around $50 for a download, well worth the money.