Sid Meier's Starships
A turn-based strategy game of interstellar fleet command.
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Sid Meier's Starships is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K, released on March 12, 2015, for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and iOS. It is a stand-alone title that shares the same universe as Civilization: Beyond Earth, putting the player in control of a fleet of space-faring craft.
The player uses the fleet to explore the galaxy, meeting other human and alien forces, and dealing with problems through a combination of military, diplomatic, and other strategic options. Spacecraft in the fleet can be highly customized for meeting certain goals. The game features cross-connectivity features with Beyond Earth for those that own both titles.
Reception
According to the review aggregation website Metacritic, the iOS version received 'generally favorable reviews,' while the PC version received 'mixed' reviews. IGN said of the same PC version, 'Sid Meier's Starships produces a few good tactical battles before its AI loses steam and its strategy gets frustrating.' The Escapist gave the PC version a score of four stars out of five, saying it 'lacks the strategic depth of Civilization, but the added tactical layer, and shorter game times make it a fair substitute, especially if you're looking for bite-sized strategy.'
National Post gave it a similar score of eight out of ten, saying the game 'may lack the complexity and nuance of other strategy games, and it feels a bit rough around the edges in places, but its accessibility, terrific turn-based combat, and bite-sized duration combine to create a tempting alternative to a multi-evening marathon campaign.' Metro gave it a score of seven out of ten, saying, 'Fast-paced and accessible are not words commonly used to describe turn-based strategy games, but Sid Meier's latest is a fun, breezy strategic time killer.'
GameSpot gave the PC version four stars out of ten, saying 'it's a strategy game without strategy, enabling you to sleepwalk your way to triumph.'
Did You Know?
- Sid Meier's Starships was based on Sid Meier's idea of extending the Beyond Earth setting, in which the player guides the development of one of several human colonies on an alien world.
- Meier considers Starships a further narrative of Beyond Earth, exploring the universe and encountering other human colonies and threats it may hold.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Sid Meier's Starships (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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