It's official

Sins is the best game I've seen in a decade or more

from Sins Forums
Hey folks. Just to set the stage, I've played RTS and turn-based strategy games since before the genre had a name. 15 years ago (maybe longer), I played Dune II until the wee hours in my barracks room (I was in the Army at the time). It was the first game to really grab my attention and not let go.

Since then, I've gotten out of the military, gotten a real job, gotten a real life- In short, I'm much older. ;) I still play tons of games, from EVE Online to Hellgate, TF2, Bioshock- even installed Black and White a few days ago for old times' sake.

But I don't do the "play until you're suprised at what time it is" thing any more. I mean, come on- I'm almost 40 years old, only kids do that sort of thing.

I was completing my first victory in Sins last night and rejoicing in the cinematic glory of my massed fleet reducing the Advent fleet to so much space dust. This was after having eliminated the pirates completely. My combined arms fleets, with mixed capital ship groups and logistical support, were making sheer rubble out of everything, and what my fleets couldn't kill quickly, the Novalith Cannons I built ensured nobody would bother me.

Ah, I told myself. Finally, it's done. I can get some sleep, I've got work tomorrow, this going to bed at 1 is for younger people than me.

It was six AM.

So congrats to the minds behind this game; it's an amazingly deep experience that truly captures the fun I haven't fully experienced since those days laying waste to Harkonnen battle formations behind my 80486 DX2/66 while listening to my roomate snore.

My wife officially hates you. ;)
53,396 views 33 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Yeah, I don't want to even remotely tell people how much sleep I have lost to this game.

Coffee is definately a lifesaver and thank god it's Friday so I can sleep in!
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I ploughed through my first full game last night-- phew! This is going to be a long weekend.
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Though I am not that uber super enthusiastic about the game like most people around here I was really surprised about the amount of time that had passed after each of my first games. Even if you play on a small map with fast research and fast speed it's a matter of hours to finish it.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
ROFLCOPTER!
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Been there, done that... from Dune II to Sins (and even in the Barracks) :)
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Hehe...you think you've lost some sleep PLAYING it.. :P
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Hehe...you think you've lost some sleep PLAYING it..
End of quote

Well you had a head start with that whole develoment thing... give us time once the mod tools catch up and some of us will give you a run for your money in the sleep-lost category :)

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
There are many complaints about games taking too long - but have you noticed no-one seems to remember there's a "Save" option to take up the game the next day...?  ;)  And yes, I haven't used the "Save" option either.

Congrats to Ironclad in building a game that sucks you in and doesn't let you go that easily!

There's much to be studied about the game dynamics, and I think the devs should hold off on too many changes just because of initial whinings. Otherwise, Sins will merely morphy into the goo that comprises all the existing games out there - and I think Sins started and should stay distinctly different from them.

We players need time to learn and adjust - and only then will we be in a position to seriously complain :-)
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Ha ha. I aggree. I'm 36, and haven't found a game that's kept me up like this for several years. It's so hard to get away from. I'm really enjoying Sins.
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Hehe...you think you've lost some sleep PLAYING it..
End of quote


Heh. Well, I sympathise; my real job is a dev too. Not games, but I know your pain of the sleepless nights.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
I too have been playing RTS/TBS since Dune II caught my attention all those years ago and I have to say that I feel Sins will have as big an impact on the RTS genre as Dune II did.

I am totally amazed with everything about this game. From the beauty and "wow-ness" of the graphics, to the depth of the gameplay, everything about this game is impressive. I have never played an RTS that had me telling myself "one more turn" like this game does.

Excellent job!!
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
There are many complaints about games taking too long - but have you noticed no-one seems to remember there's a "Save" option to take up the game the next day...?    And yes, I haven't used the "Save" option either.
End of quote


Oh, I used it a few times. But then I'd say "Ah, just a bit more- I'll take that next planet" or "I'll queue up some research and start building a buffer of (insert resource here)".

Just one more...

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
There are many complaints about games taking too long - but have you noticed no-one seems to remember there's a "Save" option to take up the game the next day...?    And yes, I haven't used the "Save" option either.

Congrats to Ironclad in building a game that sucks you in and doesn't let you go that easily!

There's much to be studied about the game dynamics, and I think the devs should hold off on too many changes just because of initial whinings. Otherwise, Sins will merely morphy into the goo that comprises all the existing games out there - and I think Sins started and should stay distinctly different from them.

We players need time to learn and adjust - and only then will we be in a position to seriously complain
End of quote


Hey, that "One More Turn" has now become that, "Five more minutes!" I tell myself. I'll stop and save at 11:30. Then it will 12:30 and I'll tell myself, I stop at 1:00AM, and then, well, you know drill.

Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
I haven't had much sleep in 3 days. This game is going to kill me and my old body. I can't game night after night to 3 am anymore! But I'm sure trying. :D
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
Haha, I'll never forget playing Dune II for the first time in high school. Being compared to it favorably is a dream come true. :)
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
While i agree its a great game, saying its the best game in a decade is a pretty bold statement.

In the last 10 years, the following games have come out.

1. Portal (if you dont like this game you are wrong and should feel bad)

2. Starsiege and starsiege tribes. Both where awesome games (i liked starsiege better than tribes, and to its credit the old master server is STILL up and running and people are STILL playing it online.. just.. a dozen or a score or so is all thats left ;_;)

3. Dwarf fortress=P This is a great game once you figure out its complexities.

4. Xenogears. Whos initial japanese release was february 11th, 1998 and so falls within the boundaries of your statement.

There, 4 games from 4 different genres that are all great and awesome. Im not sure i would be able to say if this game is 'better' than they where. Im sure there are plenty of other great games, but these are the ones that have come to mind.

If you would shift your claim to the best game in its genre then i would be inclined to agree. But then thats like saying you are the most popular person on a deserted island.
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
While i agree its a great game, saying its the best game in a decade is a pretty bold statement.
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Bold statements on the intarwebs? Never.


In the last 10 years, the following games have come out.

1. Portal (if you dont like this game you are wrong and should feel bad)

End of quote


Have it, love it, still play it regularly.


2. Starsiege and starsiege tribes. Both where awesome games (i liked starsiege better than tribes, and to its credit the old master server is STILL up and running and people are STILL playing it online.. just.. a dozen or a score or so is all thats left ;_;)
End of quote


Played both quite a bit back in the day. I was a pretty effective artillery dude.



3. Dwarf fortress=P This is a great game once you figure out its complexities.

4. Xenogears. Whos initial japanese release was february 11th, 1998 and so falls within the boundaries of your statement.
End of quote


Haven't played either of those.


There, 4 games from 4 different genres that are all great and awesome. Im not sure i would be able to say if this game is 'better' than they where. Im sure there are plenty of other great games, but these are the ones that have come to mind.

If you would shift your claim to the best game in its genre then i would be inclined to agree. But then thats like saying you are the most popular person on a deserted island.
End of quote


I stand by my statement, because I'm making it from *my* perspective. RTS/TBS/4X games have always been my favorites. In the real world I play Starfleet Battles whenever I can find an opponent, and I play complex variants of the same game type in play by mail/play by email games.

Since I like the genre better, I like Sins better than any game I can think of since Dune II.

Now, my feelings won't be hurt if others fail to share my opinion. ;) "Best" and so forth are very subjective terms anyway and I'm not speaking for anyone but me here. If I were speaking as a game reviewer or something, I'd use different language.

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
elysion, i must admit, i have never heard of any of those games... :)

now back to dune II and sins....

i must say, dune II was the first great one... i loved that game...
then i found moo2, and that game also made me play it for hours on end..
and now this, sins game, made me also forget time, and just game away...
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
DWARF FORTRESS!!!!

Anyone who hasn't played that before and is of the, "a steep difficulty curve only means the game is more fun to play" category should go and play it now.

But yeah, I hate Stardock and Ironclad. This game alone has made me lose around 40% (and counting) total grade in my classes this term in missed and late assignment as well as missed classes. Thanks so much.

However, this game has not beat Dwarf Fortress on my personal awesome-scale. In terms of time wastage... this would be number 3. 2nd being Medieval and 1st being the abovementioned Dwarf Fortress. Did I mention to go play Dwarf Fortress? Not that Sins of a Solar Empire isn't all that and a bag of chips.
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top

Hehe...you think you've lost some sleep PLAYING it..
End of quote


You were at 96 hours no sleep last I heard -- did you guys finally break down and get some rest?
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
I have to say, when i played Dune2 i was impressed but it wasnt until CnC that i started being a strategy fanatic. Red Alert to me was the best game i have ever played in any genre. Now after playing this for a couple of days i think im gonna have to put RA to the second position. Even in my mind this sounds like heresy but this is what i have been waiting for since forever!
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
What? subjective? bah!

Besides. Its universally accepted that the best game of all time ever is duck hunt =p

Also you guys should check out dwarf fortress (its free) the next time you are bored. Its super complicated, confusing, and no matter what you do you will probably die in the end. (its a city builder strategy combat sandbox game thing wherein you construct a fortress with a few dwarves, and then try not to get yourself killed from the hundreds of active and passive causes of death the game provides you, such as accidentally flooding your fortress with magma or angering a carp)

I try to be a moderate reasonable middle ground. So when i see things such as 'best ever' or 'horrible' or whatnot i attempt to hammer them back down to a reasonable level of good or bad ^_^

This game is good, which is a lot coming from someone who says all video games suck. *yes im aware i just did what said i try to stop people from doing*
Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
My wife officially hates you!
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Hehehehe - I was getting married this May... that was until I bought Sins! ;-)

~JO
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
I've been getting up at 5am to get some play time in before work and away from the kids and girlfriend. This game is causing me some considerable fatigue and pain :)

That said, I haven't finished a full game yet - I keep starting over, ashamed at how badly I'm messing stuff up. I've got some empty house time tonight though and I'm going to go get lost in space.
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
Haha, I'll never forget playing Dune II for the first time in high school. Being compared to it favorably is a dream come true.
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Cheers- it's a valid comparison. :)