Space Settler

Space Settlers is an online multi-player Sci-Fi game for iOS iPhone iPad, featuring "mecha combat and real-time strategy".

I went into this game not really knowing what to expect. After playing the game for a while, I now know what this game is all about. Space Settler is essentially a cross between StarCraft and EVE: Online, with elements of Farmville thrown in.

What I mean by that is that the actual 'mecha combat' is very similar to StarCraft's mechanics. The vehicle (called chariots in game) setup is like a super simplified version of EVE: Online, and now Dust 514's fitting tool. And the gameplay at your base is a lot like Farmville, with you having to manage your resources to create different things in your different buildings.

While this makes for an interesting game, it really isn't that unique. On top of this, the multiplayer portion of the game (which is everything other than the base gameplay) is extremely difficult. When you go out to capture a planet, which is part of the tutorial, it only gives you options for planets that are owned by people who are several ages ahead of you, making it impossible for you to destroy any of their things, much less capture the planet.

It is my opinion, at least during the tutorial anyway, you should only have to fight against players that are the same level as you or against computer opponents of the same level. As it sits currently, you can't progress through the rest of the tutorial (much less any of the game) unless you take over a planet, and that just isn't possible. I have tried and tried to defeat anyone for days on end and it's just not possible to win against the higher leveled players.

An average rating for an average game.

After considering everything, I decided on a 5½ star rating. While conceptually good, the game really needs some work before I can justify a higher rating. The game isn't really that unique, and the botched tutorial makes the game essentially unplayable after a certain point. Even considering that, the parts of the game that I was actually able to play were fun. If the developers were to fix the tutorial, I would say that SS is a good game, but as it sits right now, it is only average. If you would like to try this game out, it can be downloaded from the iTunes Store for iOS devices.

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