Sins of a Solar Empire 2
- September 21, 2022
- Stardock Entertainment
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"Sins of a Solar Empire II" is a real-time strategy game that combines 4X depth with tactical combat. As emperor and battle commander, lead one of six factions in a battle for survival against extinction. Experience epic space battles, manage vast empires, and discover unique gameplay moments with fully simulated ships and strategic landscapes."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Sins of a Solar Empire II is a worthy successor to the original, delivering an exceptional blend of real-time strategy (RTS) and 4X gameplay.
- The updated graphics are stunning, creating visually striking planets, star systems, and massive space battles that truly feel epic in scale.
- The game mechanics have been fine-tuned to offer a deeper and more rewarding experience, with new factions, ship designs, and technologies to explore.
- The game feels more like a remaster than a full-fledged sequel, lacking significant new content and features compared to its predecessor.
- The AI is often predictable and can lead to unchallenging gameplay, especially in single-player modes.
- The use of AI-generated art for the tech tree and unit icons has been criticized for lacking clarity and visual coherence.
- gameplay956 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sins of a Solar Empire II" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new features that enhance strategic depth, such as unique faction mechanics, orbital dynamics, and improved resource management. Players appreciate the streamlined interface and quality of life improvements, although some feel that the game lacks significant innovation compared to the original. Overall, the game offers a familiar yet polished experience, appealing to both veterans and newcomers with its engaging mechanics and stunning visuals.
“The core gameplay remains as addictive as ever, blending real-time strategy with 4X elements in a way that keeps every session dynamic and engaging.”
“The new mechanics, such as the dynamic galaxy and enhanced fleet management, add layers of strategic depth.”
“Sins of a Solar Empire II is a worthy successor to the original, delivering an exceptional blend of real-time strategy and 4X gameplay.”
“It's a game with a ton of depth in mechanics in all the wrong places and dull repetitiveness in the important aspects.”
“Unfortunately, any form of advanced gameplay is utterly reliant on annoying micromanagement of your fleet - leaving the dozens of abilities on autocast or allowing your ships to position themselves and pick targets is a sure road to immediate disaster.”
“The gameplay is a carbon copy of the first, and while I wouldn't expect everything to be completely different, the fact that none of it feels off-putting.”
- graphics799 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Sins of a Solar Empire II" have received widespread acclaim for their significant improvements over the original game, showcasing stunning visuals, detailed ship models, and immersive space battles. Many players appreciate the modernized engine that enhances performance, allowing for smooth gameplay even during large-scale conflicts. However, some criticisms arise regarding the reliance on AI-generated artwork, which some feel lacks the charm of the original's hand-crafted designs, and the limited graphical customization options available in the settings menu.
“The graphics are not only beautiful, they also convey important, real-time game information clearly and efficiently.”
“The new graphics engine brings the galaxy to life with stunning detail, making massive space battles and planetary systems more immersive than ever.”
“The graphics are stunning, the gameplay better.”
“The vast majority of the artwork is AI-generated, and not even decently AI-generated; it rings hollow and takes a great deal away when your visual cues look off.”
“The graphics are not much improved from the previous version.”
“The only thing it really provides is updated graphics at the cost of a lot of the basic and essential customization options that any RTS should provide.”
- optimization254 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Overall, "Sins of a Solar Empire II" has received high praise for its optimization, with many players noting its impressive performance even during large-scale battles involving numerous ships. The game runs smoothly across a variety of hardware configurations, effectively utilizing multi-core processors and showing minimal lag or stuttering, even in late-game scenarios. While some users mentioned minor issues, the consensus is that the game is well-optimized, offering a significant improvement over its predecessor in both graphics and performance.
“Unbelievable performance with thousands of ships and no visible lag or slowdown.”
“The game runs smoothly all the way through, improved graphics, sound, and the ability to customize capital ships and planets with more depth.”
“The performance is stunning and the optimization is amazing.”
“Optimization stinks.”
“The only thing that I kind of wish they would have optimized more though is the ability to increase fleet cap beyond vanilla to allow even bigger fleets, or more types of fleets without the game bogging down like it did with the first game.”
“Unfortunately, the game suffers some balance issues (Advent Wrath v. everyone else... looking at you) however there are no huge performance problems and no major game-breaking bugs.”
- story147 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a single-player campaign or any meaningful narrative content in the base game. While some anticipate future expansions that promise a story-driven campaign, the current focus on multiplayer skirmishes leaves the experience feeling shallow and lacking depth. Overall, players are eager for more lore and storytelling elements to enhance their gameplay experience.
“I'm really looking forward to the mentioned story content and single-player campaign adding new experiences to this game.”
“While it may not cater to those looking for a story-driven campaign (at least for now) or a complex empire-building experience, it's perfect for players who crave action-packed skirmishes infused with deep strategic elements.”
“'Times of War' campaign expansion: a full single-player story-driven campaign that relates the tragic story of the TEC, Vasari, and Advent.”
“Worse, there’s no story or campaign unless you pay extra for the premium edition.”
“If you're looking for a long single-player campaign with a full storyline, this is not the game for you.”
“There is no story at all; at least other games of this genre have interesting narrative beats, this has none.”
- music124 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its beauty and cinematic quality, while others find it repetitive and lacking the memorable impact of the original game's soundtrack. Many users noted that the music fits the game's atmosphere but expressed disappointment over its limited variety and the absence of a complete soundtrack at launch. Overall, while the sound design is generally well-received, the music is seen as a step down from its predecessor, with calls for more diverse and engaging compositions.
“The music is superb, the graphics are improved and updated, the UI overhauled and easier to use.”
“The music and aesthetics are what make the game.”
“The sound design, from the booming cannons of your battleships to the immersive ambient music, pulls you into the heart of the interstellar conflict.”
“The music is a complete snoozefest; this game is not finished.”
“The soundtrack is generally weaker than Sins: Rebellion.”
“It feels like they ran out of budget for a soundtrack, because there is far less music in this game, and the music in it is of a much more generic style and quality compared to the incredible scores we got in the first.”
- stability49 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 41 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report that it runs smoothly and looks great, especially on older hardware, there are significant issues with bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Some users experienced game-breaking bugs, crashes, and performance inconsistencies, particularly in multiplayer settings, but others noted that the game is technically polished and performs well during large battles. Despite the presence of bugs, many players express confidence that these issues will be addressed in future updates.
“Runs great, no stuttering or lag even with large fleets and many players.”
“Polished and bug-free during launch.”
“The game runs great and looks amazing, and has no problem simulating war on a large scale.”
“Awesome game with equally terrible glitches and cloud save issues.”
“Tl;dr - this game is a buggy mess, maybe good enough to play against bots but way too many game-breaking bugs for PvP against other players.”
“Buggy as hell with constant crashes.”
- replayability39 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, "Sins of a Solar Empire" offers significant replayability, particularly through its multiplayer and skirmish modes, diverse factions, and strategic depth. While some players note limitations in single-player content and a lack of dynamic gameplay, many appreciate the variety of strategies and modding support that enhance replay value. The game is generally regarded as engaging, with potential for hundreds of hours of play, especially with upcoming DLCs and improvements.
“However, the multiplayer and skirmish modes are where Sins of a Solar Empire truly shines, offering hours of replayability.”
“With the different factions and difficulty settings, there is a lot of replayability in this game.”
“These changes and more have added a level of flexibility and customizability for the player that will dramatically increase the replayability of this game.”
“A game with no single player campaign and a dead multiplayer community, Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is a beautiful RTS that offers less value than a 30-minute sitcom with about the same amount of replay value.”
“Even with the minor factions and orbiting planets, replayability is rather lacking, with there not being too much difference between different sessions.”
“Its a space RTS... it has no replayability though.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration. While some automation features help alleviate certain tedious tasks, many still feel that the gameplay loop becomes monotonous, especially in late-game scenarios where micromanagement and resource management can feel overwhelming. Despite some positive notes on graphics and smoother gameplay, the consensus leans towards a need for improvements to reduce the grind and enhance overall enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It all amounts to the most tedious tactical experience I've ever had in a game.”
“The game went from fun to tedious.”
“Whole gameplay loop is order ships, conquer new planet in the line, order mines and/or defensive structures, order more ships, conquer... rinse and repeat, becoming extremely repetitive and tedious even at first playthrough.”
- monetization22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 68 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players perceiving it as a cash grab, particularly due to the reliance on AI-generated art and the presence of a 'content pass'. While some appreciate the absence of aggressive microtransactions and the commitment to regular content updates, others criticize the game's pricing and the exclusion of integral features, feeling that it exploits nostalgia without delivering a complete experience. Overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment regarding the monetization strategy, with calls for more transparency and value for the price.
“And thank god there weren't any other microtransactions shoved down my throat other than that of the content pass that is offered.”
“A full game with no issues or microtransactions, it's like I'm in the olden times.”
“In a world of marketing focus groups, microtransactions, and e-sports chasing, this game steps away from the pack.”
“As a fan of the first games in this franchise, this game feels like a cash grab.”
“It's clear that this was a cash grab rather than a true successor.”
“All the quality of life features and improvements were great, but the use of AI to make portraits and backgrounds in the research tab just makes the game feel cheap and sloppy, sort of like a cheap, quick cash grab.”
- humor12 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny, particularly in the absurdity of certain mechanics and voiceovers, while others feel it can be overly silly or repetitive. The comedic elements, such as quirky character voices and puns, elicit laughter but can also frustrate due to their frequency and execution. Overall, while the humor adds a lighthearted touch, it may not resonate with everyone, especially given the game's serious themes and long development history.
“These raids were hilariously both a blessing and a curse in Sins 1.”
“My fault, still laughing about the voices in this game... are you serious about your seriousness level.”
“- The voiceover actor for the TEC has a lisp in some of the announcements that is a bit hilarious, as he nails the pronunciation in other announcements using the same word.”
“While I appreciate the pun about debris, it loses its charm when the capital ship repeats it every single time.”
“The jokes feel forced and often fall flat, making the humor more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“I expected clever humor, but most of the jokes are stale and lack originality.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its stunning visuals, detailed environments, and improved user interface, which enhance the overall experience. However, the music becomes repetitive over time, and there are calls for more diversity in character portraits to better reflect the game's atmosphere. Overall, the artwork significantly contributes to the immersive quality of the game.
“Expands on Sins 1 beautifully down to each small detail from each ship and structure to the planets and atmosphere itself... not only visually, but the UI has been greatly improved, tech tree better fleshed out with many QoL improvements!”
“Environment: atmosphere lighting, graphics, and details of ships and planet bodies look amazing.”
“The artwork is great and really adds to the atmosphere of the game in general.”
“The portraits in general need to be more diverse in atmosphere and expression and body type.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt improvements over its predecessor, showcasing a dedication to refining the experience rather than simply rehashing it. Reviewers appreciate the genuine effort to enhance the game's emotional depth, contrasting it with the often lackluster sequels and remakes in the industry.
“As a matter of fact, Sins is a great game, and Sins 2 includes some genuine heartfelt work to improve upon it.”
“Yes, Ironclad did technically just make Sins 1 again, but instead of going the lazy route, they more or less 'refined' the whole package, removing all the negatives, touching up all the aged stuff and adding some nice quality of life features.”
