Gemini Wars

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Gemini Wars is a space-based real-time strategy game that takes place in a divided galaxy. Players can command fleets, research new technologies, and manage resources to gain an advantage in strategic space warfare. The game offers a single-player campaign as well as skirmish and multiplayer modes, with a focus on large-scale space combat and tactical decision-making.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

31%

Audience ScoreBased on 121 reviews

story11 positive mentions

graphics5 negative mentions

The game features a solid science-fiction story and atmosphere reminiscent of classic 80's sci-fi movies.
It has a customizable control scheme and allows for resolution adjustments, meeting some basic gaming requirements.
The core concept of base-building and resource management can be engaging, providing potential for strategic comebacks.

The game suffers from numerous technical defects, including glitches, poor AI performance, and a lack of support for modern resolutions, making it difficult to recommend.
Gameplay is often slow and grindy, with long wait times for resources and repetitive mission objectives that can lead to boredom.
The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making it challenging to manage units effectively, and the overall execution feels unfinished and lacking polish.

story
42 mentions
26 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as a predictable and clichéd sci-fi narrative, reminiscent of 80s sci-fi films and other titles in the genre, with themes of universal domination and familiar plot twists. While some players appreciate the engaging briefings and mission variety, many criticize the story for lacking originality and depth, often feeling repetitive and uninspired as the campaign progresses. Overall, the narrative is seen as the game's strongest aspect, despite its shortcomings in execution and gameplay mechanics.
- “The story and the atmosphere are spot on, like a predictable 80's sci-fi movie.”
- “A terrific game in the grand Homeworld tradition with an interesting story.”
- “Good strategy game with a very entertaining story and campaign.”
- “The storyline is a typical sci-fi tale of domination over the universe, with a few twists that aren't very twisty in 2023.”
- “The story is not original, pretty much follows the exact storyline and game mechanics as Haegemonia.”
- “Graphics are meh, strategy is so-so, and the story is cliché.”
gameplay
26 mentions
31 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a slow pace, requiring players to wait for resources and ships to accumulate, which can lead to frustration due to a lack of meaningful AI challenge and numerous bugs. While it incorporates interesting mechanics and has potential, many players find it uninspiring and clunky, often comparing it unfavorably to more polished titles in the genre. Overall, the gameplay experience is marred by technical issues and a lack of depth, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy the game.
- “If you're a fan of sci-fi, it's worth considering giving this game a shot, despite its limitations, as it provides decent gameplay for its price.”
- “The game is a bit slow, but the mechanics are interesting.”
- “The gameplay isn't bad.”
- “The gameplay largely involves waiting for resources and ships to accumulate, while the AI fails to present a meaningful challenge.”
- “It's now somehow buggy - mission critical components are missing or broken, unit cap mechanics are broken, steam achievements aren't registering, and even 'easy' throws so many enemy ships at you that it is just frustrating.”
- “The game's interface was complex to the point that it gets in the way of the gameplay.”
graphics
24 mentions
17 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they resemble those of early 2010s indie titles or even earlier DOS games. While some players find the visuals thematically fitting and manageable, others criticize the low-resolution textures and simplistic design, particularly in comparison to contemporaries like Homeworld. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience for those willing to overlook them.
- “The audiovisuals are thematically fitting.”
- “In addition, the graphical design of the spaceships and buildings themselves are clearly composed of simple polygons and geometric vectors.”
- “From the visuals, you would probably expect this is some kind of awesome Homeworld-inspired 3D space RTS... and you'd be wrong.”
- “The graphics definitely look old, so I was surprised this was a 2012 release.”
- “From the combat mechanics to the resource mechanics, to the user interface and the graphics, I'm usually not too concerned about graphics if the game is good, but on max graphics, weapon projectiles are very low-resolution textures. Come on. Homeworld 1 in 1998 had better projectiles with higher resolutions.”
stability
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting a variety of glitches that lead to game freezes, missing components, and unregistered achievements. While some players did not experience major bugs, the overall consensus suggests that the game feels unfinished and akin to a beta version, detracting from the overall experience.
- “While this game exhibits a promising concept, it still feels like a work in progress given the multitude of glitches and shortcomings.”
- “The game is plagued by various glitches that can lead to game freezes, necessitating relaunches.”
- “It's now somehow buggy - mission-critical components are missing or broken, unit cap mechanics are broken, steam achievements aren't registering, and even 'easy' throws so many enemy ships at you that it is just frustrating.”
music
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a looped soundtrack that effectively contributes to the overall atmosphere, though some users found the title screen music lacking. Overall, the sound design is considered decent, enhancing the gaming experience.
- “The feeling, the atmosphere, the sound, and the music are all excellent.”
- “The looped soundtrack creates an immersive experience.”
- “The music on the title screen was not very good.”
- “The soundtrack is looped, which can become repetitive.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is reminiscent of a classic 80's sci-fi movie, effectively capturing the essence of the genre with its engaging story, decent sound, and music. Overall, it creates a nostalgic and immersive experience for players.
- “The story and the atmosphere are spot on, like a classic 80's sci-fi movie.”
- “The feeling, the atmosphere, the sound, and the music are all excellent.”
- “The feeling, the atmosphere, the sound, and music are all decent.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as unintentional, particularly when viewed in widescreen, leading to a somewhat amusing visual experience that may stem from a lack of testing rather than deliberate comedic design.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”
- “The quirky characters and their witty dialogue add a delightful layer of humor that makes the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for the AI's poor performance in skirmishes, often making questionable decisions that can quickly lead to defeat, such as recklessly sending its construction ship into danger.
- “The AI's performance in skirmishes is lackluster, as it sometimes makes peculiar decisions that lead to swift defeat, such as sending its starting construction ship into harm's way.”