RTS fans get ready to get damp in the pants because Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is finally here. Prepare for warfare at an inter-galactic level and test your strategic skills and time management in the ultimate battle to control the universe!
Cool space battle.
Sins of a Solar Empire was first released on PC on 4th of February 2008 as a Real time Strategy (RTS) game on an unrivalled scale. 4 years later we get the first “Stand Alone” expansion for the title called Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion (Hereafter referred to as SSE:R). As unfortunately I have never had the privilege of playing the previous versions, I must say that SSE:R more than compensates as a game in itself. If you are indeed looking for an RTS game that you could sink hours into a single play through and really test your skills against multiple opponents and friends then you would have an absolute blast with this title.
An example of a capital ship for size comparisons.
Titan is much bigger.
Much to my surprise, the single player doesn't offer a campaign. Instead you get the choice of a massive array of different systems ranging from a small random system to something you could spend days traveling around. Each map is different and therefore requires a different tactic to gain the upper hand on your enemy. You get the choice of numerous factions to play as, each with its own special space craft and abilities. As I have read previously, I have found the most noticeable difference to SSE:R is the addition of the Titan flagship which I must say is pretty impressive though rather costly and time consuming to get around.
Much to my delight I was greeted with a multiplayer option which just makes it that much more involving. The ability to strategize with friends to defeat a vicious enemy was well worth the effort even though we all died in the end, heh.
A fleet of ships about to warp to a neighbouring planet.
I had a lot of difficulty getting my head around my first initial play-through as there is just so much that needs to be done at once in order to win. Diplomatic connections to ally factions in neighbouring systems, fleet maintenance and building along with defensive and civilized structures to help protect against incoming pirate or enemy factions was an absolute thrill and confusing all at once. Luckily you get a list of tutorials to help you out with each individual aspect of the game. The only part it falls short from is using all of them at once. A slight bit of patience and a few cans of Mother later and I was owning half the system and surrounding my enemy. Once you get the hang of it its great.
The controls are smooth and provided you can maintain everything in a timely manner, everything should flow into place. I must say, being a fan of prior RTS titles, this is definitely working out to be a new favourite.
This is what the call a "Medium System" capable of hosting 4 teams.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion may come across as intimidating at first but is well worth the playing. This along with the current daily specials on Steam can see you currently owning this title at just $29.99 USD which is a massive 25% off the original price! Well worth the money in my books and I can see this title getting a good amount of play time.
5 out of 5 in my books and it could easily go down as one of the best RTS titles in PC history.
