Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game is most suitable for older teens who are interested in complex strategy games. It shows ships and space structures exploding, but no bodies or personal violence. Language concerns should be minimal.
Families can talk about how political factions interact in wartime, and how various national interests and prejudices can prevail over the common good. Parents may also view it as an opportunity to teach strategic thinking to their teenage children – or have their teenage children teach them.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Dwight Odelius
SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE is an innovative real-time strategy (RTS) game for Windows PCs. Unlike traditional ground-based strategy games in which the player must establish and conquer cities, Sins is set in space and focuses on conquest of planets and star systems. That crucial difference is what makes Sins more likely to be interesting to experienced strategy gamers.
Players start out with only a single planet under their control, the ability to build a few basic ships for combat and exploration, and a few structures for enhancing their growing empire's capabilities. As players explore the galaxy around them, they'll encounter opposing factions trying to establish their own empires. The player must choose their battles with care in order to successfully colonize and conquer the galaxy.
From the standpoint of pure strategy gaming, Sins should be very appealing. The unique game design has a significant impact on strategy, requiring the player to consider factors such as planetary climate, available resources, and risk of attack when choosing whether to try and take control of a planet.
In other areas, Sins is sorely lacking. The single-player game consists only of a handful of scenarios that pit the player against the computer AI. There is hardly any story to speak of, save for a brief cutscene that explains the history of the conflict between the three political factions. The game shines in multiplayer mode, but those new to strategy gaming will find this to be frustratingly difficult.
Less advanced players who like strategy games in general may enjoy Rise of Nations, a traditional RTS. Those looking for a compelling story line may want to look into the Command & Conquer series, notably Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. Those who enjoy sci-fi strategy games should also look forward to StarCraft II, the long-awaited sequel to one of the most successful strategy games of all time.
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|||
ViolenceFantasy violence. Game action centers on space-based combat; ships and structures in space explode, but no bodies are seen. |
 |
|||
LanguageNext to none. There's a possibility of language in online interactions. |
|
|||
Message |
|
|||
Social BehaviorAntagonistic. Games consist of multiple enemy factions, and there is an organized crime element. |
 |
|||
Commercialism |
 |
|||
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|||
Educational ValueStrategic thinking is required. Successful play depends on good strategic instincts and risk management abilities. |
 |
|||
