Recent reviews by Thikum

Common sense is for architects.
This is for the Enjenirs.

As a game, the controls and the basics are pretty straight forward. However there are mechanics, strategies and even entire game-play features that are not explained in in-game tutorials. You either have to figure it out yourself as you go along or look on YouTube.

The game itself in my opinion is great and rate it 5/5. What attracted me to this game was the amount of design and role play possibilities there are. Being a game from paradox you should expect the grand strategy aspect, but unlike other paradox games you can really design and change your empire and gaming experience. Playing as different empires with different governments and traits also gives you different events and reactions. You will have to come up with different strategies, reaction to events and exploit different mechanics.

Graphics are beautiful.
The music and background audio can get annoying after a while.
It's not a hard game to learn.
Can get very resource intensive for computers. Even if you meet the requirements, be advised that late game your still going to hear your fans spin and your game slow.

Edit. After 100ish hours later and after alot of multiplayer fiascos I increase my recommendation and rating of this game from 10/10 to 1̸̪̼̤̳͕̲̬̲͒̄1̶̢̛͖͓̖̳̗͈͍̄̅̄͂̈́͘͠/̵̨̛̫̪̺̂̈́͊͛̃́͝͝1̵̟͉͂̀̌̎̒͒̿0̷̨̜̭̹̙̤̯̉̉̔͋͐͘

I had 50 hours in this game when I originally reviewed it. Now 700 hours later I thought it time to update this review with a more balanced perspective.*

So do I recommend this game?
Short answer, Yes.
Long answer, also yes but there is more to it.

The Beginning -
When I started this game my builds and all of my creations were bricks. No curvature, no shape and definitely no personality. However, they were efficient (and efficiency is at core in this game). I started my first few hours in this game trying to figure out what to do. When I got the game originally the state of development was clearly different. Survival was harsher-ish. If you didn't know what you were doing at that time survival would have been the most absolutely infuriating process. Today they streamlined and made everything alot more noob friendly. To a tutorial scenario, to drop pods, to a clear progression phase. Even an idiot could figure out what to do and trust me I know that better than most. If you get the game you'll expect the game to be pretty chill, especially if you play by yourself. No problems, no worries, just clang.

Clang -
Clang can be split into two understandings. 1- The physics engine glitching. 2- The physics engine god and cult who is now punishing you for your non-conformist ways of artistic and engineering expression. Essentially if you try and break the game, the game will break you. Simple rule.
Be wary of clang, he is always watching.

Multiplayer -
For older players multiplayer stability has been a more recent thing. But the devs have done a really good job. The base multiplayer servers are small, but are really fun. Especially if you like to mess with people or have 1v1s. Multiplayer lobbies are great places to get emotionally and physically degraded (both literally and figuratively) but are also great places to get knowledge on build metas, tricks, tips and even script integration.

Multiplayer is so much larger than the base server list. You can sign up to massive custom tournament servers where you try not to have a stroke while out-building the laws of physics and trying to uncover the face of God. You can sign up to massive multiplayer server where you are put in large factions that battle or ally each other in custom scenarios.
Tip - Modded servers are insane.

Conclusion -
This game is the canvas on which your need to create is expressed. It's essentially a place to build whatever you want but it's better because it has SPACE. I really do recommend this game but as you've seen there are game cults, physics breakers and modded madness. It's not the game for everybody but the interesting this is that it can be. The devs went from realising a patch or an update once every blue moon to have 2-3 major changes a year.

You want to do architecture and interior design. BAM this is the game for you!
You want to blow ♥♥♥♥ up? BAM!
You want create complex systems and automated machines?
You want to just vibe?

This game is really great, and really broken. But that's part of the charm.