Spore: Numero Dos

A newly released (in Beta) game by EA and Maxis is called Darkspore.

It has the exact same functionality as the original Spore but this is a lot more of a hack and slash game. The theme is a lot darker and angled for a slightly older audience.

You start off with pre-made heroes that can be completely customized as in the original Spore but they have an Element associated with them. Each element has an element they are strong against but are weak against their own element. You create squads out of your heroes and can create a very dynamic team due to this. The game is aimed more at multiplayer and you can have up to four people on your team in multiplayer each with their own squad of three heroes so each persons choice can impact upon the team in a serious way.

In the campaign you are against creatures known as "Darkspore" again each with an element. They are supposed to have destroyed or invaded your homeworld and you are a cloned/pre-made hero that has to fight to retake the planets they have invaded.

So far im rather impressed by the game (as i was by the original Spore) but they have improved alot of the annoying aspects of the original and created an actual storyline and removed alot of the pointlessly large game map quests (The star map of the universe) however seeing as it is only in beta and alot of the game may yet be changed i cannot say for sure how the game will progress. I have enjoyed what i have played and if done correctly, scaled etc, it may prove to be a very worthwhile game. My main concern for the game is that it is currently charged at €50 which i think may be too steep for people to show any interest in. However the Beta is currently free and worth a play i would advise downloading it and playing over a weekend and gauge your own reaction.