Could have been better (Spore Creature Creator (PC))

Member Name: fantiquitous

Product:	Spore Creature Creator (PC)
Date:	08/10/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: suitable for all ages, unique, creative

Disadvantages: sometimes childish, later stages disappoint

= Spore =

I am not sure if this listing is for just the creature creator or the full Spore game, but this is a review for the full game.

This article may be considered as containing mild spoilers. So this is my warning for that just in case. By spoilers, I mean it may give details away that could spoil potential surprises for some gamers.

= Minimum Requirements =

- PC (Windows XP or Vista) -
CPU: 2.0 GHz processor or equivalent
RAM: (XP: 512MB) (Vista: 768MB)
Hard Drive: atleast 4GB for game 1GB for creatures
Video: 128MB video card with support for pixel shader 2.0

- MAC (Max OS X 10.5.3 Leopard or higher) -
CPU: Inter Core Duo processor
RAM: 1024MB
Hard Drive: atleast 4GB for game 1GB for creatures
Video: ATI X1600 or NVidia 7300GT with 128MB of video RAM or Intel Intergrated GMA X3100


= Cell Stage =

Summary:
I think this section of the game is probably the best. It seems the most thoughtful, original, and complete, even though it is very simple. The graphics seem very good. Although largely 2D, it has a very 3 dimensional look. The general aesthetics are very pleasing; creatures and objects look very natural and rounded. The controls are very simple (arrow keys) and the movements smooth. Music and sounds are both pleasant and gentle, with the sounds of your creature sometimes being quite cute (but not in a sickening or effeminate manner).I loved the evolution aspect to this and was very impressed by this first stage. It seemed very suitable for people of all ages.

Description:
The game starts with an asteroid/comet hitting your selected planet. From inside the first stages of life appear, and the evolutionary adventure of your spore creature begins. You start of almost as basic as a single celled organism. Your mission is simply to feed, survive and reproduce. Depending on whether you have chosen to be a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore, you (rather obviously) search for different food types. Herbivores simply go around trying to eat green globs of algae, where as omnivores go around eating red globs of meat, or other creatures. Omnivores obviously have the option of both. You are not alone in your underwater world. There are countless numbers of other creatures inhabiting the waters. Some are afraid, some are defensive, but most are out to kill you. These creatures range greatly in size, and you are best of avoiding anything larger than yourself, whereas anything smaller is a potential meal for meat eaters. As you feed, you grown larger, and earn DNA points. After finding a mate you can choose how to further evolve your creature. With your DNA points you can acquire new parts, and evolve your character, and help them survive in their dangerous world. Once your creature (and it's brain), have reached their full potential, it's time to sprout some legs and emerge from the water.


= Creature Stage =

Summary: Although I still very much enjoyed this stage, it did not feel as finished or well rounded as the first section. I think the makers of the game could have achieved much more if the game had been more focussed on this stage, rather than making subsequent stages. A few more evolutionary options, and ways to interact with your environment would have been great. For example I would have enjoyed the option to evolve into more advanced underwater, or amphibious, creatures; perhaps take to the trees; or other such possibilities. As it is, I felt slightly limited. The aesthetics are again very pleasing, and this time things are much more three dimensional. The creatures again have a very natural look to them, and are not at all blockish. (However I would say that they are surprisingly shiny - I could not find a way to get a furrier / hairier finish). Surroundings are also very pleasant, and it makes for an interesting alien atmosphere. You would not mistake the graphics for real life ofcourse, it's more of a typical cartoony CGI look, which I think looks great and works well for the game. I really enjoyed making my own creatures (cell and creature stages), you really can make almost endless amounts of very different species. The creature creator (where you add and arrange the different body parts) is really easy to use. you simply drag and drop parts, and are able to stretch, shrink and enlarge both the main body and body parts separately. You can pick preset patterns and colours, or i think you have the option to use your own.

Description: Your species emerge, and you are now officially a land mammal, you are given no option to return to the water. You live with a family group at a small nest site. Your mission effectively remains the same as before. However things are slightly more social and advanced than before. You can make other species your ally or enemy depending on how you interact with them. Sadly I found the positive interactions somewhat childish, simple, and silly. You basically have to impress the other creatures, in ways such as singing or dancing. I would prefer the interactions to be more animalistic and complex myself, so as to better appeal to adults, as well as children, I'd personally feel slightly embarrassed or silly playing this at times. You also have the option to give a negative reaction, ie: attack, kill, and potentially eat them. However, other creatures can react aggressively to you also. I feel these negative reactions are dealt with more sensibly and work in a more playable, adult friendly manner. Many creatures are neutral towards you, and their reaction is dependant on how you interact with them. But there are those who have pre-programmed reactions to you. There are some creatures who have a natural dislike for you and are likely to attack, and those with a natural fear of you, that simply do their best to run away. But these can generally be changed dependant on interaction. As before, you collect DNA points, but it is more dependant on how many allies you make, or how many creatures you kill, rather than just from eating. These points are still used to purchase body parts, but from a larger and different range than before.


= Tribal Stage =

This stage is a little different from the previous two, in that it no longer has much to do with evolution.

Your creature is now fully evolved. Although it is still the same race of creatures you designed, they now possess much more human traits, including their own language. You may also select some basic clothing items (which is now the only real change you can make to their apperance). Your species now live in a tribal setting and you have control over tribe members, either singularly or as a whole, ordering them to do certain tasks. A fair amount of time is spent gathering and storing food, which also works as money. With this money you can buy different tools for your tribe, which benefit in either gathering food, making alliances, or fighting. Other tribes appear during play, and the main aim of this stage is to either ally with or attack them, until you have effectively taken over all other tribes.


= Civilization Stage =

Summary: In my opinion, this is where the game really starts to go off course from it's beginnings. The game now has little to do with your creatures at all, and you can no longer interact with them individually. As with the tribal stage, you can select some basic clothing items for them, but little else. This stage, similarly to the last, focuses mainly on world domination. I wondered what it had to do with the initial levels, and how my species was relevant. There are many other world domination games out there, so I was a little unsure of the point. I suppose it's reflecting the evolution of humans - but I'm not really interested In that.

Description: In this stage you work on building your city / cities. Along with either trading or fighting with other. You increase your city's size, wealth and by choosing different buildings and the manner you arrange them also affects things. You are able to design your own town hall, houses, factories, and entertainment centres. And this is done as easily as you design a creature. Although if you are lazy, you can pick something ready made. The same also goes for the methods of transport you use to aid you in world domination.


= Space Stage =

Summary: To me this stage seems a little too similar to a standard space game. Since I am not a fan of these (and didn't think it was what the game was about), I found this to be quite a disappointment. As with all the other levels it's all very pleasing to look at, but it is sadly neither fun nor engaging, infact I found it somewhat tedious. Especially as it took me a while to discover there was apparently no ending.

Description: As with the previous stage, you have rather limited contact with your actual creatures, aside from video links when contacting your species or others for trade etc). And again only clothing changes can be made to your creatures. I'm not entirely sure what the aim of this stage is, but I would assume it is to simply explore planets, expand your empire, and meet new creatures; who with which you can ally & trade with, or attack and eradicate. You complete various small missions given to you by your own empire, and by those you are allied with. You can also trade with them for various objects to improve your ship and ships weapons / tools. The spices you trade with are mined from the planets your species have inhabited, which you are able to collect and then sell on to other empires for a profit. Your species, or empire, are able to expand by inhabiting new barren planets, or by taking over already occupied ones. However this does mean you will have to protect them from invaders. As well as being able to inhabit planets, you can also change the atmosphere and appearance using various tools. With a bit of work you can make the planets inhabitable not only by your race, but other flora and fauna which you may import from other plants. You can have mild interactions with less evolved creatures, but only by such means as killing or abducting them.

Summary: i had great fun creating my own creatures