SPORE™ Galactic Adventures

About

Spore Galactic Adventures is an expansion pack for Spore that allows players to create and play through their own custom space adventures. Design unique aliens, spaceships, and planets, then share them with the Spore community. Experience a variety of missions, from racing to puzzle-solving, and explore a vast universe full of possibilities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,052 reviews

story74 positive mentions

stability100 negative mentions

story
452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
74%
9%
The story aspect of "Spore: Galactic Adventures" is described as lacking depth, with many players noting that the missions often feel repetitive and simplistic. While the expansion allows for user-generated content and mission creation, the quality of these missions varies significantly, leading to a mixed experience. Overall, the narrative elements are seen as a fun addition but not a strong focus, with many players expressing a desire for more engaging and coherent storytelling.
- “One of the best things about replaying this game as an adult is that I finally understand the early stages of the game are more like a tutorial or story mode prepping the user for the final galaxy stage, in which the game becomes a wonderfully detailed and confusing and messy resource management game.”
- “Galactic Adventures is at its core, a charmingly easy-to-learn level editor that takes the creativity of Spore and applies it to the art of storytelling, and making games/levels for other players.”
- “The game expands on the original Spore game, taking players on a journey through the galaxy, where they can explore new planets, interact with alien species, and complete a variety of thrilling missions.”
- “The game is so good, there is so much you can create and you can see your creations around in your next playthroughs, but nevertheless it just gets highly dull. It doesn't feel rewarding to fix an entire planet or befriend a new species or explore the galaxy. Even in the space age, they give you this illusion of a story to follow with the Grox, but there is no story that I can find, no answers, no reasons, just a fake story that doesn't exist or if it does, I couldn't find it in 100+ hours of gameplay.”
- “The missions seem half-baked, as if this game was never intended to have such mechanics in it. It completely ruins your game, because it downloads other people's creations which are either half made and cannot be finished or the missions are made stupidly impossible by people that want you to fail.”
- “Don't buy it; it costs $20 extra for a couple of extra missions consisting mainly of terrible writing, even worse mechanics, and more walking and backtracking than anyone should be comfortable with.”
gameplay
280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The gameplay of Spore is characterized by its innovative mechanics and extensive customization options, allowing players to create unique creatures and explore various stages of evolution. However, many reviews highlight issues such as repetitive gameplay, technical glitches, and a lack of depth in certain stages, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a fun and creative outlet, it may not satisfy those seeking complex mechanics or a polished gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay is fun, it's sort of educational (evolution), and you can be really creative in it.”
- “With its engaging gameplay, stunning graphics, and extensive customization options, it's a game that is sure to please gamers of all ages and skill levels.”
- “Incredible gameplay with the ability to express your creativity.”
- “This game is ridden with game-threatening glitches that I have no clue how they got past quality control and poorly made and repetitive gameplay leading to both a boring and stale experience.”
- “The gameplay itself, however, is quite boring and linear.”
- “The controls can be a bit clunky and awkward at times, which can make the gameplay frustrating.”
graphics
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
14%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2008 release, but many players appreciate its charming art style and unique animations. While some find the visuals underwhelming by modern standards, others argue that they still hold a nostalgic appeal and contribute to the game's overall enjoyment. There is a common desire among players for a remake with updated graphics to enhance the experience further.
- “This is honestly a groundbreaking game and the audio quality, graphics, and overall functionality are showstopping!”
- “This game is an absolute masterpiece, with stunning graphics and innovative gameplay that will keep you hooked for hours on end.”
- “With its engaging gameplay, stunning graphics, and extensive customization options, it's a game that is sure to please gamers of all ages and skill levels.”
- “The graphics for the game are astonishing for the time in which it was made, but it's finally becoming underwhelming.”
- “In terms of graphics, I wouldn't say that this game has aged at all well.”
- “Graphics aren't the best and there are some glitches that happen in the game that result in you needing to restart a lot of things that you were doing.”
stability
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game is widely criticized for its significant stability issues, with players reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some users find the bugs amusing or manageable, many express frustration over the game's instability, suggesting that it requires frequent saving and may not be worth the price unless on sale. Overall, the game's charm and creativity are often overshadowed by its technical shortcomings.
- “Even though EA stopped updating it a long time ago, it still runs great!”
- “The game is very buggy and you need to delete some files before it is stable; mods are a good way to play other people's content and also just 'update' this old gem.”
- “This game is ridden with game-threatening glitches that I have no clue how they got past quality control, leading to both a boring and stale experience.”
- “Unplayable; every time I try to do the first mission of the DLC, it freezes.”
humor
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying its quirky and often absurd creature and vehicle creation mechanics that lead to hilarious outcomes. Many reviews highlight the game's charm and the fun derived from experimenting with creations that defy logic, making it an entertaining experience for both casual and serious players. Overall, the humor is considered a significant aspect that enhances the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “This game is fun, hilarious, and all around unique.”
- “The game mechanics coupled with excellent concept writing and great humor makes this game vastly immersive and incredibly fun!”
- “I love how creative I can be, I love how in-depth the creature creator can be, I love each stage, and I absolutely adore its charm, style, and humor from time to time.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players highlighting its creative freedom, diverse gameplay styles, and engaging challenges. While some aspects, like the space stage, may become repetitive over time, the overall experience remains enjoyable and encourages multiple playthroughs. The addition of expansions further enhances its replay value, making it a timeless classic that continues to attract players even years after its release.
- “It's one of the few games in existence that I've actually played through more than once, which should be telling of its vast replayability.”
- “The fact I still get into moods to play this ten years after its release is a testament to its replayability.”
- “The replay value definitely tops every game on the market, and the amount of exploration is to die for.”
- “Gets boring after a while in the space stage, but a lot of replayability in general.”
- “While perhaps not a bad way to spend an afternoon, I doubt there's any replay value to be found here.”
- “Each stage is fairly short, but replayable.”
grinding
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
17%
81%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often detracting from the overall enjoyment. Players note that the repetitive nature of missions and the need for extensive grinding to progress, especially in later stages, can make the experience feel like a chore rather than an engaging adventure. While some appreciate the creative elements, many feel that the grind overshadows the fun, leading to a lack of depth and excitement in gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This just wasn't enough to keep me engaged though, since the core gameplay felt so tedious.”
- “Not to mention the final boss of the game takes hours on hours of grinding to even get past him without dying right away.”
- “Once that novelty has worn off, all that's left is a tedious cycle of traveling between planets, trading spice (literally the only thing you get to trade), looking at ugly creatures, running home to defend against raiders, and terraforming - things that sound exciting at first and then get promptly beaten with a tediousness stick.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
75%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to evoke nostalgia, providing joy and a sense of achievement to players. Reviewers highlight the mesmerizing soundtrack and sound design, which enhance the overall gameplay experience, while also noting the option to create custom songs adds a personal touch. The balance of music and sound effects is appreciated, ensuring it complements the gameplay without becoming overwhelming.
- “It's charming music, textures, and overall gameplay makes it stunning!”
- “The content is extremely dense and easy to get lost in, the gameplay is fun and really encourages you to strategize, the graphics are great for the time and still hold up decently today, the sound design is on point, and the music is downright mesmerizing!”
- “So I reloaded, and spent the next two hours befriending thirty species, watching the same literal song and dance routines over and over again.”
- “☐ only the soundtrack”
- “But the music is sick, there's still this sense of achievement and you occasionally see sick stuff.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about childhood memories and the joy it brought them, which often leads to feelings of nostalgia and even tears. Despite criticisms of its simplification, the game remains a significant source of emotional investment and connection, highlighting its impact on players' lives and relationships.
- “I could tell you all about how my experiences in this game have made me feel connected with people I have never even met or interacted with.”
- “It was all coming back to me; I couldn't help but shed a tear when I saw my old creations, my childhood.”
- “Worth the monetary and emotional investment.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting high ping, lag issues, and frequent disconnections that severely impact gameplay. While the concept is praised, the performance is deemed poor, particularly for certain character models, leading to frustrating experiences during play. Overall, the optimization is considered a major drawback, overshadowing the game's potential.
- “It may not be what was promised to us, it may have its limitations, it may be unoptimized, but god damn it is something special.”
- “10/10 for the concept, 2/10 for performance. Ping is high; when you are peeking a corner, it's more like 70% of your body is out. Lag is real; you hit a dude 5 times, but you actually only hit him once or even none according to the kill feed. Multiple incidents of random disconnects in-game; sometimes you can't even accept your friends' party invites.”
- “Performance - a**”
- “10/10 for the concept, 2/10 for performance. Ping is high; when you are peeking a corner, it's more like 70% of your body is out. Lag is real; you hit a dude 5 times, but you actually only hit him once or even none according to the kill feed. There are multiple incidents of random disconnects in-game, and sometimes you can't even accept your friends' party invites.”
- “Poorly optimized for creatures with multiple legs.”
- “Performance is lacking.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
38%
50%
The game is praised for not incorporating microtransactions or requiring real money for in-game purchases, which is seen as a positive aspect compared to many other titles that rely heavily on such monetization strategies. Overall, players appreciate the absence of forced advertisements and excessive DLCs, considering it a refreshing change.
- “At least there's no microtransactions.”
- “At least there's no microtransactions...?”
- “[spoiler] sorry for the forced advertisement!”
- “8/10 - Spore Galactic Adventures - not the greatest expansion ever but still better than most of the 'expansions', DLCs, and microtransactions crap we get today.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for effectively enhancing its themes, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players.
- “It amplifies the theme and atmosphere of Spore.”