There is nothing here that expands upon previous genre entries it’s a paint-by-numbers 4X game with little to differentiate it from the pack. You colonize planets-which StarDrive is smart enough to make as simple as the click of a button, no unit-wrangling required. You conduct diplomacy, which is one area where StarDrive is behind the curve: Interstellar war negotiations are alarmingly simple, entirely unpredictable, and burdened by an especially difficult UI.

You construct ships, or custom build your own. It’s all standard 4X fare, and executed in a way that’s entirely inoffensive, but not great either. Then, with your civilization selected, it’s time go about the gruesome business of conquering the galaxy. 'StarDrive is not the kind of experience that offers a welcoming introduction to the genre.' It’s also worth noting that the alien races employed in StarDrive are wonderfully weird and refreshing, from samurai bears (you read that right) to some kind of Portal-inspired AI that has a race of owls working for it (you read that right, too). This allows for some very enjoyable tinkering, giving players a chance to optimize their civilization for the way they like to play. Each faction (“species” might be a more applicable term) can be played using preset traits-starting flagships, attack bonuses, etc.-or by picking your own from the game’s large lists.

Currently, there's only one game mode: Sandbox, where you're plopped into a random map with a civilization of your choosing and told to conquer or assimilate all that you find.

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