SPORE™

I really do like this game.
It does crash a lot these days but the game is still a great one.

I might create a VM and play it on an older OS windows 11 still has several "issues"

Childhood game, love it. just as good as i remember it however it does crash every now and then

Good for all ages that can read, not the most educational but a relevant game to teach the basics on evolution

The best non-human character creator in any video game, hands down. This was my favorite childhood game, and I've spent way more than just 37 hours with this game throughout my whole life (no idea exactly how much time, but a lot). If you are patient enough to reach the space stage then you have an entire galaxy of star systems to explore. My main issues are the game's glitchy-ness and lack of depth.

Fun, and i think universim is a rip off of this game

It locks you at 30 fps which is dumb and if you try to go into the file to fix the stuff it still doesn't work. also online doesnt work.

Every time I play I finish the cell stage but when i advance to the loading screen it just freezes. Please help, I see a lot of potential in this game.

If u like updates this game is not for u....


But its overall good and passes the time quicly

The game is so much fun! I can play for hours without getting bored. There is so much to do at each stage, and they all come with unique challenges.

My one problem with this game is: The game crashes a lot!! Especially when saving which is very frustrating. There is also no auto save so I have had to redo portions fairly often.

This is a very fun game to play when you want to forget things.

somehow, 16 years after release, spore servers are *still* up.

for me, this is a childhood game that had technical issues & was never particularly deep- but the sheer sense of scale, from cell to space, coupled with a user creation focus is something that no other game has ever captured. growing between all of the stages, the game becomes more complex- and the earlier stages never become irrelevant.

my replays have been getting shorter and shorter as i find the game has less and less depth for me, but there really is no other game like this.

the cheats are the best part
also for new players
to open the terminal
press CTRL+SHIFT+C simultianiusly
search up spore cheats for the cheat list

It gets lame real fast once you move past the faze of being able to be a terrifying monster and eating all the other species on the planet.

So, the game itself is good. Dated, but good.

Ea however is an pain in the rear.

Apparently to create an account, you now need the receipt and the proof of purchase on steam.

Why do you need the emailed information? It is unclear. They do not elaborate. They do not allow workarounds. nothing. SOL.

Without said account, your forced to deal with the very limited base creatures, which is alright, but takes away much the appeal of the actual game.

Anyway, apparently this is a known issue. I'd honestly refund it, but I purchased it years ago.

I'll probably play it a few more times since I own it and there is zero shot I can get a refund.

But I'd advise against buying it if you haven't already.

great game would recommend if you enjoy creature building

Reminds me the good old days that EA didnt suck. Anyway they suck cuz they shut down the servers but still a good game

Great game. I literally cannot play it. My old CD works but the steam version just does not work.

epic cool and very fun game freerome and alot of opsions(probobly miss spelt sorry) i got it cuz of wellv youtube but its still very fun to play:))

I still have the original CD for this game, but I am so glad I was able to get it on Steam. Hell, I still have my original account from the CD version on Steam!

Deadass probably one of the best well-aged games to have ever come out.

Spore is an absolute masterpiece of a game, its wonderful, its fantastic, Its some other third thing. Even though EA's purchase of Maxis stopped this game from being the greatest of all time its still a wonderful experience that no other game can top!
All seriousness, spore is a fun game to run around in and challenge yourself in that I find very fun and amusing, but its jankey, boring at times and very very unpolished, like there's a chuck of the game missing and it really brings down the game. The creature creator while fun is very limiting and can cause you to dummy down what you want, but almost every aspect of your species is customizable and makes for something that feels perfectly you, I feel like if spore was given more time to grow (and a better parent company) it really could have been a more than amazing game, but what we have is a very fun and enjoyable game that sadly feels like a part of it is missing.

This game is pretty unique, maybe even to this day. The game allows you to use your imagination and, with a bit of learning on how the game works, you can basically make anything you want. Will say it does kinda suck that we didn't get an aquatic stage and space stage is kinda ehhh, it's still pretty cool to watch your creation go from a cell to an interstellar empire. Pretty good stuff!

This game is creative and enjoyable. A huge variety of planets are available to explore and terraform and a lot of alien species to interact with.
The main disadvantage is that this game crashes sometimes and you lose some of the progress you have made.
I strongly recommend this game.

i have encounterd a bug where the game visuals wont load, im on the newest verion of windows and on a new laptop. i would think this game needs a bug fix update but other than that its great

Fun stuff even in 2024!
the space stage is the hardest even on easy. its confusing and its very boring
i would recommend if anyone likes evolution games!

the game is fun, and the cell creator is fun, but EA is a rat and shut down online mode on steam so we are forced to use their client. do not buy.

very good game u r sperm eating other sperm until you become bigger sperm then u are walkin g sperm than later you are flying sperm in space

opened creature stage, found a volcano, jumped into a volcano, got launched into the stratosphere, and felt my mind expand from the low-quality view

10/10

Solid game for hours of entertainment. Its bright and fun but does get tedious once in space.

My favourite game. The replay value is unlike any other singleplayer game. Each playthrough is a new experience. Especially if you log in to a Spore account, 'cause then you can encounter other players' creations. Also, the creature creator is of course fantastic, even by today's standards.

this is one of my favorite games ever! it's extremely fun! one problem though you have to change the screen resolution. but don't let that stop you from buying it. I think you should buy it on sale though. it's a great game consider buying!

Online play on with the Steam version is *theoretically* possible, but the amount of hoops you have to jump through to access a standard feature is frustrating to say the least.
The game itself is enjoyable, but as usual EA does their best to make things worse.
9/10 game - 0/10 developer

Even after all these years, I still like to pop in and play some spore - from beginning to full space conquest, no other game has quenched the thirst for adventure the same way.

Just spent many hours playing. No f-ing auto-save feature. What a waste of time lmao cba. Don't was your time if you're one to expect auto save/no crashing. Crashed on a mid/high system.

This game usually only works for us on a PC. Not working on the Thinkpad and other flat foldables. :( The PC that can run the game runs it well though. Probably worth getting a PC for it as it is not very demanding as my PC is slooooow 1-2 hours to power it up. windows 10. and still played this game smoothly. I like growing my creatures and eventually uplifting other little empires allover the galaxy. Least fav parts are the cell stage and the tribe stage because ive had better. The space stage is cool b/c you can meet and interact with other saved games as you find their location on the galactic map. Bro made a eye ball with a huge horn on it as his creature in the 'creature building stage of existance'. We watched his horned eyeballs come up on the land, it was marvelous and awsome.

Great game from my childhood, as an adult it can be pretty repetitive. But it's still a great way to kill time if you can't play a game that requires more of your attention.

The only thing I don't like is the lack of steam achievements. Spore is very replay-able especially with the creature and buildling creator. I really like how each stage of the game has very different machaniacs you have to learn. None of the stages are too short or long apart from the final space stage which I find boring after a while.

It's a game with a variety of gameplay experiences, some in my opinion are sooo under cooked like the tribal stage and space (they did dlc to address that, I have the dlc still haven't played it), it's fun for what it is, if you like creating horrible creatures that beg for mercy it's a must get game, if you are not very creative person but like a variety of gameplay styles this is a good game for you, but if you can pass both the previous points this game is still fun but you can pass on it.

This game was a major part of why I enjoy open world, creative, and sci-fi games. Its simple and lots of fun. Its childish but that just adds to its charm.

The first parts of the game are far more developed than the latter stages but the later stages are still fun and allow for large amounts of creativity for such an old game.

It really is a shame there was never a second game. I would buy a Spore 2 in a heartbeat without any hesitation whatsoever.

Words cannot describe how much I need a sequel. I absolutely adore this game, I love life sims and Spore really manages to hit the balance of good gameplay, fun visuals, and silliness. Unfortunately EA led to losing alot of content, and we'll likely never get an official sequel, but I can hope! Still worth it after all these years

rly fun game but do beware of buying this on steam because you'll have to go through a whole process with ea help to get the ea games version of spore
this is because you dont get the cd key from the steam version so you kinda need the ea games version to play spore. its very annoying but once you get past that then its pretty good

A Comprehensive Exploration of the Ultimate Evolutionary Adventure

Maxis's "Spore," released in 2008, is often hailed as one of the most ambitious and unique games ever created. Developed by Will Wright, the visionary behind "The Sims," "Spore" takes players on an extraordinary journey through the evolution of life, blending elements of simulation, strategy, and creativity. Its complex, multi-faceted gameplay offers something for everyone, from budding biologists to creative builders. Here’s a deep dive into why "Spore" stands out as one of the best games ever made, examining each stage, mode, and the diverse ability paths players can take.

### **1. Cell Stage: The Beginning of Life**

**Gameplay Overview:**
The Cell Stage is where players start as a microscopic organism in a primordial soup. This stage is fundamentally a survival and exploration game, where you control a cell navigating through a 2D environment, consuming other cells to grow and evolve.

**Ability Paths:**
- **Herbivore:** By consuming plant matter, players can grow larger and evolve more peacefully, developing features that help with movement and digestion.
- **Carnivore:** Eating other cells leads to the development of offensive traits and better hunting capabilities. This path focuses on aggression and predation.

**Why It’s Great:**
The Cell Stage introduces players to the concept of evolution through survival and adaptation. The customization of cell parts and the early choices in diet and behavior set the tone for the rest of the game. This stage offers a taste of what’s to come, showcasing the game’s potential for creativity and strategic planning.

### **2. Creature Stage: Emergence of Complex Life**

**Gameplay Overview:**
In the Creature Stage, players transition from a single-celled organism to a complex, multi-cellular creature. This stage is a blend of exploration, combat, and social interaction, as players navigate a 3D world teeming with other creatures.

**Ability Paths:**
- **Social:** By interacting and forming alliances with other creatures, players can evolve to be more diplomatic, gaining abilities that enhance social interaction.
- **Aggressive:** Developing offensive capabilities and engaging in combat leads to a more predatory evolution, focusing on strength and territorial control.
- **Omnivore:** A balanced approach, consuming both plants and other creatures, results in a versatile creature capable of thriving in various situations.

**Why It’s Great:**
The Creature Stage allows for deep customization of your creature’s appearance and abilities. The blend of social and combat interactions provides a dynamic and immersive experience. This stage is a testament to the game’s core strength: the ability to shape your world and creature based on your choices.

### **3. Tribal Stage: The Rise of Civilization**

**Gameplay Overview:**
In the Tribal Stage, players guide their creature as it develops into a small tribe of beings. This stage introduces more structured gameplay elements, focusing on resource management, diplomacy, and conflict.

**Ability Paths:**
- **Pacifist:** Building alliances and trading with neighboring tribes allows for a peaceful progression through this stage.
- **Militant:** Engaging in combat and conquering other tribes provides a more aggressive route to dominance.
- **Balanced:** A mix of diplomacy and warfare can be employed to expand your tribe’s influence and resources.

**Why It’s Great:**
The Tribal Stage shifts the gameplay from individual survival to societal management. It combines strategy with interaction, allowing players to shape their tribe’s development and approach to conflict and cooperation. The evolution from a single creature to a tribal leader marks a significant progression in gameplay depth.

### **4. Civilization Stage: The Expansion of Empires**

**Gameplay Overview:**
In the Civilization Stage, players oversee the growth of their tribe into a full-fledged civilization. This stage emphasizes city-building, economic management, and global strategy.

**Ability Paths:**
- **Economic:** Focus on building a strong economy, trading resources, and developing advanced technologies to dominate through wealth.
- **Military:** Build a powerful military force to conquer rival civilizations and expand your empire through warfare.
- **Diplomatic:** Form alliances, negotiate treaties, and influence other civilizations through diplomacy and cultural expansion.

**Why It’s Great:**
The Civilization Stage takes the strategic elements of earlier stages and amplifies them, adding layers of complexity with economic, military, and diplomatic strategies. The transition from tribal society to a global empire offers a satisfying sense of progression and achievement.

### **5. Space Stage: The Ultimate Frontier**

**Gameplay Overview:**
The Space Stage is the final stage of "Spore," where players explore and colonize the galaxy. This stage offers an expansive sandbox experience with a focus on space travel, colonization, and interstellar diplomacy.

**Ability Paths:**
- **Explorer:** Focus on discovering new planets, interacting with alien species, and mapping the galaxy.
- **Colonizer:** Establish colonies and develop planets, managing resources and infrastructure to expand your empire.
- **Conqueror:** Engage in interstellar warfare and conquer other civilizations to dominate the galaxy.

**Why It’s Great:**
The Space Stage represents the culmination of everything players have experienced up to this point. The vastness of space offers endless opportunities for exploration and creativity. The freedom to choose between exploration, colonization, or conquest provides a rich and varied gameplay experience, allowing players to fully customize their journey.

### **Overall Appeal:**

"Spore" stands out because of its ambitious scope and the way it combines diverse gameplay elements into a cohesive experience. Each stage offers a different type of gameplay, from survival and social interaction to economic management and space exploration. The game’s emphasis on creativity and player choice allows for a personalized experience, making every playthrough unique.

The ability to shape your creature, tribe, civilization, and space empire provides a deep and engaging experience. The integration of different gameplay modes and the evolutionary progression ensure that players are continuously challenged and entertained.

**Final Thoughts:**

"Spore" is a groundbreaking title that offers an unparalleled blend of creativity, strategy, and exploration. Its innovative approach to gameplay, combined with its expansive scope and depth, makes it a game that truly stands out in the gaming world. While its reception was mixed and it faced criticism for certain aspects, its ambition and the freedom it offers players solidify its place as one of the best and most intriguing games ever made.