Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy
- September 16, 2016
- Big Daddy's Creations
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy" is a digital adaptation of a critically acclaimed board game, where players control interstellar civilizations competing for galactic dominance. It offers streamlined and elegant mechanics for a faster gameplay, while maintaining strategic depth. The game includes 7 species with unique strengths and weaknesses, and customizable star systems, providing a rich and challenging 4X experience.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Faithful adaptation of the original board game, providing a fun and engaging experience.
- Simplifies setup and gameplay compared to the physical version, making it easier to play with friends or solo.
- Offers a decent challenge against AI, especially for those familiar with the board game mechanics.
- Riddled with bugs and crashes, making it difficult to complete games without interruptions.
- Poor AI behavior and lack of multiplayer support lead to a frustrating experience, especially in online play.
- Clunky user interface and slow animations detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a faithful adaptation of the tabletop version, featuring minimalistic 4X mechanics that allow for diverse strategies. While some users noted issues with the tutorial and interface, the core mechanics are solid and enjoyable, though there is a desire for more skirmish options and improved user interactions. Overall, the gameplay is well-received, with recommendations for future updates to enhance the experience.
“The mechanics of the game are the same as the tabletop version.”
“It's minimalistic 4X gameplay, well made.”
“I love this board game, and this program is a fairly faithful execution of it, from a mechanical standpoint.”
“First, I had some problems with understanding the rules because the tutorial could be better, but after a few minutes of gameplay and seeing how the AI plays, I understood everything.”
“In general, any 'slide' mechanic works better with a touchscreen. Why do you have to drag technologies from one window to another? Why not just click? And when the expansions come out and you have to select a row for rare technologies, after clicking you should just get a dialog box. There are already plenty of those for other decisions.”
“Gameplay is pretty standard; it's based on a board game and follows the board game rules, so that's what it's meant to do.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some users noting that they resemble older titles like Master of Orion 2 and feel unpolished, particularly in the interface and AI turn animations. However, others appreciate the overall quality given the small development team, suggesting that a reimagined version for PC could enhance the visual experience while staying true to the game's original artwork. Overall, while the graphics are functional, there is a consensus that updates and improvements are needed.
“Graphics, sound, and overall quality are good to excellent for a two-person development team.”
“Graphically, I think for PC this should have been reimagined; instead of a port from iOS, it would have been much better to see a whole new look to the game, one that stayed true to the rule set and complemented the existing artwork.”
“Could do with a few graphical and UI updates, and I'm really missing the expansion races, but otherwise, not a bad adaptation.”
“The interface isn't great and the graphics remind me of Master of Orion 2, but the game gets the job done.”
“Also, the ability to skip AI turn graphics would be nice instead of having to watch their battles and continue manually by clicking the 'X' button.”
“Graphically, I think for PC this should have been reimagined. Instead of a port from iOS, it would have been much better to see a whole new look to the game, one that stayed true to the rule set and complemented the existing artwork.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches and bugs, leading some users to request refunds. While a few players note that the game is enjoyable despite its issues, many feel that the port lacks polish and is not worth the price, especially compared to the cheaper tablet version. There are mentions of occasional crashes, but some believe that recent updates may have addressed some of these problems.
“Had to request a refund; this seems to be a straight lazy port from the buggy-as-heck tablet version.”
“This implementation, however, is ridiculously buggy.”
“15$ is honestly a rip-off; the game is buggy and it has no additional features compared to the iOS app, which only costs 7$.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is generally well-received, with players finding the similarities in gameplay across different races amusing. However, some aspects, such as the battle design and minor bugs, detract from the experience, leading to unintended laughter rather than genuine enjoyment.
“The game is not only enjoyable but also filled with humor.”
“All the races seemed to play the same way, which is actually quite hilarious.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant discrepancy in replayability, with some games being described as having zero replay value despite otherwise strong gameplay elements. This suggests that while the initial experience may be enjoyable, there is little incentive for players to return after completing the game.
“The replay value is zero for a game that otherwise has great potential.”
“The replay value is non-existent, which is disappointing for a game that could have been so much more.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can be enjoyable in multiplayer or solo modes, the tedious setup and repetitive clicking to assess game elements detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“You can't tell if a planet is advanced or a normal one without tedious clicking.”
“The grinding feels repetitive and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The amount of time required to level up is excessive and makes the game feel like a chore.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is appreciated for its depth, with a well-crafted backstory that adds meaning to the characters' cosmetic differences, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
“The backstory behind the cosmetic differences among the humans adds a nice touch to the overall narrative of the game.”
“The story is rich and immersive, drawing players into a world filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists.”
“I was captivated by the depth of the lore; it really enhances the gameplay experience and keeps you engaged.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game can be toggled on and off, but players are unable to adjust the volume levels independently, requiring them to use their system sound settings for any changes.
“You can turn music and sound effects on and off, but you can't adjust their volume other than by changing your system sound settings.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
