As I have told you guys many times before, I am a huge fan of RTS and sci-fi games. So every now and then you can’t help but stumble on a game that combines both features. One such game is Sins of the Solar Empire, which now features an expansion pack: Rebellion. So far I’ve only got to play around with the demo, but the experience has been amazing. Of course, it has a couple of drawback but more on that later.

Intro

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the series, Sins of a Solar Empire is basically a large RTS type of game based in outer space. If you are tired of fighting it out on alien planets but instead want to witness spectacular battles between huge galactic battle fleets, then this is your type of game. Let us not forget fans of star wars and star trek either. Unfortunately, unlike its sci-fi movie counterparts, this game does not feature a campaign mode. Instead, there a number of skirmishes based on different maps, which offer different experiences depending on the settings. Moreover, there is also a robust multiplayer system that allows players to battle it out against each other online or a LAN network.

Gameplay

Like most other strategy games, players are required to embark on an epic journey, which involves establishing colonies on alien planets, building powerful fleet, gathering resources, employing diplomatic and cultural tools, and of course battling it out for ultimate supremacy. Personally, I found the game a little overwhelming at first but thanks to the superb UI it is actually quite easy to master the basics by the end of the first game

Of course, there are rival civilizations that feature unique attributes, providing entertaining gameplay. The earlier games of the series featured three different races: the Advent, the Trader Emergency Coalition and the Vasari. However, Rebellion has expanded on this by introducing a loyalist and rebel movement for each race, thereby raising the number of races to six. However, this is not just about introducing new weapons and ideology; the different races, feature substantial differences, which provide a very unique gaming experience.

For instance, Vasari rebels are open to alliances with other species and specialize in nanotechnology but Vasari loyalists hate all other races and have the cool ability to eat planets. The other races also feature radical changes between the loyalist and rebel movements.

In terms of technology, the unique attributes of each race is expressed in unique weapons and special tactics. For instance, the Titan class battleship can be enhanced with different offensive and defensive capabilities. These ships are essential for breaking through the defensive lines of your of opponents but these ships are not invincible. Their large size and slow speeds attract a great deal of fire and unless there are a number of tactics and escort units deployed with the Titans, the offensive might end up in failure.

Audio & Video

Since you are fighting in space, the views can be nothing short of spectacular. The battles are also stunning. Zooming in during battles also allows users to see really nice cinematic moments, especially during critical offensive and defensive moments. The music and sound effects are pretty similar to the original version so experienced players won’t notice anything new.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the game does not feature a campaign mode, the stand-alone expansion is worth it if you fancy epic space battles featuring massive battleships and a sensible AI. The gameplay and visuals are pretty solid and the wide variety of civilizations to choose from, allow for plenty of customisation and hours of entertaining battles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZfjIX_5LQ