Recent reviews by Porotagonist

This is actually a good game (with some minor design problems), but there are relatively common game-ending bugs that would simply kill your run/process.

I enjoyed my time with this game and I wished recommending this one, sadly not with such bugs.

Okay game overall, and if you like the genre, this one might give you some chill time for some time. However, not recommended for the ones not familiar with the genre.

I got stuck in 4th tutorial (hence the low playtime). In this game first 5 missions of the campaign are considered as (are also designed as) tutorial. Problem with 4th tutorial is that some of the game mechanics are locked (that will be introduced in 5th tutorial , probably), results with impossible funding management of the city and the the inevitable bankruptcy. One of the 2 income mechanics (and the main one) is locked for this mission (to introduce in 5th tutorial) whereas the 2nd income mechanic does not even provide a sustainable financial setting, let alone profiting.

I like micro-managing. But I don't like micro-managing with some mechanics of the game locked away. Problem is: The game (its mechanics, features, settings etc.) is designed as a whole (theoretically). Locking away some mechanics of the game without adapting other parts will cause problems, as with 4th tutorial here.

4th mission is doable, yes. If you "rush" one of the objectives with certain steps, or if you plan "long-term", like really "long term" and make certain steps for it, with just cheating or modding etc. But this is a tutorial, let the player have a chill playthrough for the tutorials. This is an elemental design flaw (just my opinion) that put me away from the game

It's more like playing through a movie. A short game (let's say 7 hours) with relatively easy puzzles (100% completion might might take more time). Not an excellent execution of the genre, but if you're into detective games, you might give it a try

I'd not recommend at full price

Game becomes repetitive through the progress.

RNG is unnecessarily effective on the outcome of combat, and this is especially frustrating on final boss. When you beat the final boss, what you feel is "I was lucky" instead of "I conquered the game", and this means that RNG influence in the game is just a bit too much.

it takes time to get used to mechanics, but overall, a good game

At first glance, as it is a relatively new game, stellaris feels a good game. But as you progress in game, this feeling wanders away. Because the game feels incomplete.

Diplomacy is shallow, not worthy of a "grand strategy game". There is nothing dynamic about diplomacy. Diplomatic actions are either successful or not, and you cannot do anything to manipulate and change them. As the in-game AI is bad, you'll often don't want any AI interaction (e.g. coalition, allies, or even sector commanders) which strips you out of so-called diplomatic aspects

Combat system is awful. In almost all of the cases, bigger fleet power decides the winner. You can have customized ships (equip the ships with your choice of artillery, lasers, shields etc.) which is actually a neat concept. But ultimately, your choice regarding weapons, and overall design of your ship are not important. Because there is not enough information about combat (both during and after) and you cannot decide whether what you do is effective or not. Moreover, if your fleet is stronger than the enemy fleet, have fun catching enemy fleet (they'll just run and run and run). Of course it is logical that for the weaker fleet to escape if they are 100% to lose & die, but since they keep running away again and again, you can't have battles, and you can't win battle points, and therefore you cannot your enforce war demands. Not a good war mechanic at all.

Researches and abnormalities become boring quickly. At one point, you may find yourself in a position such as that you wait "just for one another research" to finish.

what you can do in the game is limited, how you can play the game is also limited (presence of different winning conditions do not create different playing strategies) cause there is only one way to prosper and build a strong fleet (and if you dont, you just lose and the game ends).

As I wrote before, the game feels incomplete, and all those points I expressed may be improved. Additional content may be introduced (graphical, game mechanic etc.). But you know what that means, right? Pay up for the upcoming DLCs. In order to have a complete game, you need to pay more than you did initially (yay!). Also, if you decide to pay for upcoming DLCs, good luck with the prices as well (cause they will cost more than the original game, and if you decide to wait for content to get cheaper, pre-defined & previously released content prices may change, I mean increase, pointlessly)

Graphics are good. Voice acting is also quite good. As for the story, although there is nothing new (typical post-apocalyptic scenario: zombies trying to kill you, other people trying to kill you, people trying to use you, and you're trying to find your friends/family), it is fine, too.

But the controls are unbearable. This game doesn't seem to be designed for PC. Controls feel clumsy, the character will not move as you wish, you'll fail to interact with environment/enemies as you desire, and sometimes the character will not do what he supposed to do because of bad controls (I'm referring to the collapsing building but there are other parts, too).

You'll fail and die not because of the difficulty (this game is not hard for sure) but because of the controls, and this is annoying

As I said at the beginning, this game has good aspects. Nevertheless, for this kind of game, one of important things is the quality of controls, and the game fails at this point.

I'm sorry but I cannot recommend this game.