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Stellaris | Reviews

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Eurogamer - Recommended
If you've ever wanted to dip your toe into this incredible genre, but found Paradox's other stuff a bit intimidating, this is the one to play. If you've enjoyed their other stuff, this one's even better.
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Destructoid - 9/10
This is a game for anyone who has already enjoyed the grand strategy genre or anyone who has always wanted to. There is a strong sense of accomplishment from starting an empire and guiding it along the path you choose, even if it eventually ends in failure. Stellaris is easy to comprehend and exciting to execute, which is a perfect combination for a genre notoriously difficult to break into.
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Gamewatcher - 9/10
Stellaris is simply wonderful. If you enjoy grand strategy games then you’ll love this. If you don’t then this could be the one to change your mind. If you’ve been too intimidated to try the genre before now, then here’s your ideal starting point. - See more at: http://www.gamewatcher.com/reviews/stellaris-review/12559#sthash.FG5WjhN2.dpuf
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TheSixthAxis - 8/10
Marrying Paradox’s particular brand of real time grand strategy to the familiarity of space and 4X empire building has worked wonders, making this the most welcoming and accessible of their games that I’ve played. There’s a few minor niggles, but it’s compelling and it’s easy to lose yourself in Stellaris for hours at a time, as you build your empire and explore both the galaxy and the stories that it can contain.
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PCGamer - 7/10
Given Paradox's history, I hope upcoming patches and expansions can fill in the gaps, and smooth out the omissions and weird quirks of diplomacy. I desperately want the full game to match the promise of its opening. Tweaked in the right way, Stellaris has a chance to become an enduring classic. Right now, it doesn't meet its full potential.
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IGN - 6.3/10
Stellaris is filled with good ideas, and it’s not difficult to see the outline of a great space strategy game where those ideas could come together. But beyond the early game, it’s only compelling in bits and pieces – it turns into a largely uneventful slog after that. Paradox has developed a reputation of major upgrades to their games for years after launch, and Stellaris is going to need all that love and more to reach its potential.
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RockPaperShotgun - "...incredibly assured and confident, if perhaps a little too tidy and streamlined"
The great experiment of the game was not so much the change of scenery, from history to science fiction, it was the decision to create a Civ-like game of expansion with some complexities and aspects of simulation borrowed from grand strategy. It’s in the simulation of a living galaxy that most of the complexity has been lost, but what has been gained is a precise and finely tuned machine. Less erratic and surprising than its ancestors, but much more elegant in its design.
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Paste - N/A
In two days this game managed to transform me from someone who didn’t care about strategy games, to someone who wants to play them all, starting with this one. To some, this might just be another fish in the genre’s ocean, but to me, Stellaris has opened my eyes to a whole new world of videogames.
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From what I gathered of the 3MA podcast and the review is that Kaiser is disregarding the game for not being closer to EU4? It definitely sounds like he wanted EU4 in space.
 
(Lengthy reads)

Explorminate - https://explorminate.net/2016/05/09/stellaris-review/
Exemplary - TL;DR: Stellaris is an absolute masterpiece, combining the Paradox sensibilities of grand strategy and epic international relations with the best that space 4X has to offer. Those looking to experience a huge range of spectacular encounters, in a seemingly endless galaxy, while feeling like true space emperors, are going to be very, very happy. The game isn’t perfect, but knowing that it can and will grow almost makes it more of a pleasure to play. Stellaris is a landmark in the genre and we fully expect it to have a lasting impact on the games we play and love.
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Spacesector (not a review but first impressions but since it goes into more depth than a lot of reviews I think it's worth mentioning) - http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2016/05/stellaris-first-impressions/
Stellaris is certainly the most immersive 4X and Grand Strategy game I played to date. Also, the gameplay seems solid. However, this is a Paradox game and it uses the trappings of the Grand Strategy genre which I have discussed earlier. However, I find the mix blends well together with the 4X genre.

.. Personally, I think Paradox has hit their mark with Stellaris.
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Dang it! Where's my popcorn!

Interesting viewpoints from genre vets. Looks like there's a great launching pad there, as well as gaps that need filling in.

Hopefully Paradox's traditional Grand Strategy blueprints will bear out with Stellaris. Much like CKII & EUIV, kind of bare bones at the start, with game patches, tweaks, and DLC presenting a more realized product down the road.

I'm personally really excited to be getting in on the ground floor with this one. Looking forward to the perspective it will allow as I see the game grow and mature.

Bring it!
 
singhr1 said:
Their criticism that the rest of the game doesn't match the opening hours is echoed thru other reviews though. Just the arbitrary score is different
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I'm just reading some of the others now. It seems to be that all of them believe the opening hours to be the strongest part of the game. I just find the way different people 'find' the final score fascinating, so it's interesting to see IGN being the outlier here.
 
GameSpew - 9/10

Unreasonable expectation of perfection aside, Stellaris is an expertly blended mosaic of 4X, grand strategy and self-created narrative. For the relatively small niche that this game occupies, it is the undisputed master and commander. It’s also a nice platform for DLC and modding so as if the game didn’t provide enough substance out of box, then I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of content for years of come to constantly rejuvenate the experience. If you’re the type of person who dreams of galactic empire, write a nicely worded letter to the people in your life saying “see you later” and pick up Stellaris.
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Aaron D. said:
Hopefully Paradox's traditional Grand Strategy blueprints will bear out with Stellaris. Much like CKII & EUIV, kind of bare bones at the start, with game patches, tweaks, and DLC presenting a more realized product down the road.
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Yeah. And maybe in 5 years I can get the complete edition. It's crazy how many add-ons they pile up for the games. Never a perfect time to jump in if you want the complete experience. Are they still releasing add-ons for Crusader Kings 2?
 
Unicorn said:
Is IGN still forming their opinion?
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They played it for 80hs they claim and talk about the problems in mid and endgame, while other reviews state no time played and talk about how great the first hours are. Go figure =)

PC Gamer is not too happy aswell with that 7/10.
 
jiggles said:
Well then,
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Right there with ya. I'm very excited to play some of this.
 
Reading the IGN review and I'm enjoying how much it goes in on certain systems. As is often the case the base game is going to need a generous sprinkling of mods and expansions to really hit its stride.
 
Shifty Capone1 said:
Generally reviews do not bother me too much, but it seems odd how much of an outlier that IGN review is.
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Not really. PC Gamer review says the same, the game gets boring and slow after mid game.

Still, it's nothing Paradox can't solve. They must make the AI declare more wars and add more instability and randomness in mid and late game.
 
Hari Seldon said:
Paradox games don't normally review that well, my only concern is that the game suffers from being too simplified.
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Well I mean there really isn't much to compare to, Europa Universalis was also considered simplified upon release but look at it now, and in terms of other 4x games, Stellaris is way ahead that reviews also point out, there's really only one other 4x/grand strategy hybrid I found to have depth and that is Distant Worlds: Universe. I mean even just the concept of waging war in Stellaris with war goals and the negotiating process with treaties for example is already leaps ahead of every other 4x game out there. It may be simplified for those of us that are grand strategy vets, but I don't think it'll stay that way for long.

derExperte said:
German PC Games: http://www.pcgames.de/Stellaris-Spiel-55972/Tests/Video-Review-Wertung-Weltraumstrategie-1194652/ 75%

His main beef is with the performance, stuttering and temporary freezes during late game.
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Yeah gamestar.de mentioned same with performance, though a community manager has said they have already have perf fixes in the QA process
 
Krisprolls said:
Not really. PC Gamer review says the same, the game gets boring and slow after mid game.

Still, it's nothing Paradox can't solve. They must make the AI declare more wars and add more instability and randomness in mid and late game.
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I just read the PCGamer one. You're right. Seems to be the same 'issues' both EU4 and CK2 had. The AI just always seems to either destroy me early, or I win. Once I get going the AI has nothing in its arsenal to stop me. Love multiplayer in these games, but getting a dedicated group to complete a game is a challenge. However when it happens, man it is one of the best gaming experiences out there.
 
Krisprolls said:
Not really. PC Gamer review says the same, the game gets boring and slow after mid game.

Still, it's nothing Paradox can't solve. They must make the AI declare more wars and add more instability and randomness in mid and late game.
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Hello end game crisis that have crushed multiple prominent (experienced) streamers the last week.
 
singhr1 said:
Their criticism that the rest of the game doesn't match the opening hours is echoed thru other reviews though.
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Hari Seldon said:
Paradox games don't normally review that well, my only concern is that the game suffers from being too simplified.
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Yeah, these two points are what I was worried about when hearing about the game, I'll see if it ends up bothering me or not.
I also assume this will be fixed through the usual Paradox free and DLC updates.
 
IGN's criticism makes a lot of sense if you've been watching streams. The mid-game has been pretty boring in all the games I've watched. I'm sure either patches or expansions will bring things in line, like Civ games.
 
Listened to half of the 3MA pod during my commute.

I wonder how much of the 'emptiness' of the mid game that put Rowan off is due to the fact that it's set in a wholly fictional world. My games of EU4, CK2 and HOI3 seemed to hit up against the same things he describes (though often earlier than the midgame), but there was always the neatness of remaking history to keep me engaged. But if you're already disengaged, stuff like this - which is present in every 4X game and every Paradox GS game - starts to really irritate:

PC Gamer said:
But the glacial pace feels intentional, and the long periods of inaction bring other limitations to the fore. How most research is purely a stat boost, with only a scant few technologies progressing the story in fun, inventive ways. How presidential candidates have so few mandates, often cycling between just two basic objectives. How espionage is an obvious omission, especially when effective combat is so depend[e]nt on information.
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Aaron D. said:
Dang it! Where's my popcorn!

Interesting viewpoints from genre vets. Looks like there's a great launching pad there, as well as gaps that need filling in.

Hopefully Paradox's traditional Grand Strategy blueprints will bear out with Stellaris. Much like CKII & EUIV, kind of bare bones at the start, with game patches, tweaks, and DLC presenting a more realized product down the road.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Most games would receive quite a lot of criticism for such an approach :) I guess Paradox has quite forgiving fans. Personally, I think I'm gonna wait when there is more meat on the bone :)
 
Cubed3 -- 9/10

Stellaris strikes the rare balance in the 4X space strategy genre of bringing enough new things to the table, while retaining what works from the past. An amazing amount of customisation in skills, traits, and abilities seamlessly flows into the background without ever bogging the game down. The single largest difference from others in the genre is a heavy focus of the early game and "eXploring," as you actually feel like you are leading a brave race into the empty space and its dangers. All the subtle touches, decisions and excellent GUI make this a rare pleasure to play and an absolute recommendation to fans of the genre.
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IGN Italy - 9.3 / 10 .... Nice spread from IGN lol.

Curious about the amount of time reviewers have actually spent playing. Paradox grand strategy practically demands multiple playthrough and ridiculous hours to get a glimpse of all many mechanics and changes per game. Having said that, Stellaris is a bit more of a mix with 4x vs other grand strategy
 
Nzyme32 said:
IGN Italy - 9.3 / 10 .... Nice spread from IGN lol.

Curious about the amount of time reviewers have actually spent playing. Paradox grand strategy practically demands multiple playthrough and ridiculous hours to get a glimpse of all many mechanics and changes per game. Having said that, Stellaris is a bit more of a mix with 4x vs other grand strategy
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On the 3MA pod, Kaizer says he put in 74 hours, so a substantial amount. But in each of his games, he didn't get the same events/problems that the other players did.
 
Nzyme32 said:
IGN Italy - 9.3 / 10 .... Nice spread from IGN lol.

Curious about the amount of time reviewers have actually spent playing. Paradox grand strategy practically demands multiple playthrough and ridiculous hours to get a glimpse of all many mechanics and changes per game. Having said that, Stellaris is a bit more of a mix with 4x vs other grand strategy
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Yea also wonder how much they've played previous Paradox Grand Strategy games.
 
Gothos said:
Interesting. Most games would receive quite a lot of criticism for such an approach :) I guess Paradox has quite forgiving fans. Personally, I think I'm gonna wait when there is more meat on the bone :)
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Perhaps.

I think the closer truth is that fans understand that with each Paradox grand strat release, they're investing in a platform. One that receives constant, significant updates for years after launch, in the form of gameplay balancing & tweaks for everyone and original content DLC. Crusader Kings II launched over 4 years ago and it's still getting major DLC, the last pack coming out 2 months ago.

So if you buy in early, you understand that the game is going to grow and evolve over the coming years. Maybe that could account in large part to the "forgiveness" factor. The realization that if Paradox held back any random title until it was "complete", they would only release a single game every 10 years. But otherwise in the real world, fans enjoy the base games that already sport more content, depth and complexity than the vast majority of strat-genre peers as well as looking forward to the constant balancing and support that will continue for years down the line.
 
Aaron D. said:
Perhaps.

I think the closer truth is that fans understand that with each Paradox grand strat release, they're investing in a platform. One that receives constant, significant updates for years after launch, in the form of gameplay balancing & tweaks for everyone and original content DLC. Crusader Kings II launched over 4 years ago and it's still getting major DLC, the last pack coming out 2 months ago.

So if you buy in early, you understand that the game is going to grow and evolve over the coming years. Maybe that could account in large part to the "forgiveness" factor. The realization that if Paradox held back any random title until it was "complete", they would only release a single game every 10 years. But otherwise in the real world, fans enjoy the base games that already sport more content, depth and complexity than the vast majority of strat-genre peers as well as looking forward to the constant balancing and support that will continue for years down the line.
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Just to back up your point, these games are fundamentally different than most releases. Fans of these games play them for years and years until a sequel is finally released. All of my grand strategy games are on rotation and I just recently finished a 2 month long bender of Vicky 2 where I put in like 150 hours into it.

Someone might put 20-50 hours into Stellaris and then in 6 months another 100 hours and then a year after that another 200 hours maybe...depends on the quality of the patches and expansion content.

The end result is that the reviews can be largely academic and not representative of what a person gets out of them. These types of games have way more in common with early access titles in terms of content at release or MMOs in terms of gameplay hours.

That's not to say that sometimes fans just won't like what they offer. I hate HoI3 with a burning passion so Darkest Hour is still where I go for my WW2 fix for instance.
 
Gamecentral reviewed it today:

In Short: A disappointingly flawed grand strategy game, which for every good idea seems to have another that works actively against it.

Pros: The randomised alien races and their different ideologies work very well. Early exploration is always fun and the random end game elements are a good idea.

Cons: Overly passive artificial intelligence is no fun to deal with, especially in terms of the dull diplomacy and restrictive alliances. Strange lack of trading or espionage options.

Score: 6/10

http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/10/stellaris-review-galaxy-quest-5871361/
 
Finally finished the 3MA pod.

This game bounced off Kaizer, and somewhat on Rob Zacny. But take the former's thoughts on the game with a grain of salt: There were UI cues and functions that he (kind of amazingly after 74 hours) missed - things that probably were a big part of why he found so many other things irritating.

All in all, and based off of my 49 mins with the game and reading/listening to reviews, it feels like a Paradox 4X game should: There's a dollop of GS, but so much room for more.
 
Gothos said:
Interesting. Most games would receive quite a lot of criticism for such an approach :) I guess Paradox has quite forgiving fans. Personally, I think I'm gonna wait when there is more meat on the bone :)
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CK2 and EU4 were fully featured and deep games at launch.

So far Stellaris is definitely the most accessible Paradox game I have played. I'm in the beginning phase still and it is pretty amazing. I'll see how it holds up in the mid game.
 
bonesmccoy said:
Finally finished the 3MA pod.

This game bounced off Kaizer, and somewhat on Rob Zacny.
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I'm about halfway through, and while Kaizer is obviously welcome to his opinion, man does he suck all the oxygen out of the room on this podcast.

Yikes, what a wet blanket.
 
anddo0 said:
So how accurate is IGN's 6.3 review?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoAkomMEFQo


Does the game really lose it's enjoyment after expanding past 5 sectors?
Does it start great, and fall off as bad as they claim?
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It definitely falls off mid game after a great start for several reasons :

- you lack diplomatic options (trade, spies...)
- AI is a bit too passive
- the lack of tactical battles hurt the game a bit too : when 2 fleets fight, it's like a big number fighting another big number, so not that exciting. You don't control anything.
- the techs you chose don't matter enough. Too often it's just 5 % something or 10 % something.

Then again, I had a lot of fun finding anomalies, missions and places to found new colonies, and I had some AI surprises (see my story about a fallen empire attacking my alliance). Politics and traits are great too.

Overall until now I'd give it 8/10. Pretty good but not great.

With multiple DLCs and patches though I can see it becoming a classic.
 
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