Distant Worlds 2

Distant Worlds 2 is a new game that is sure to spark a lot of support and interest among gamers worldwide. Why? Well, this title is one that take space exploration to a whole new level for players to enjoy.

Synopsis

The galaxy: an infinite number of unbelievably diverse worlds, each one hiding an opportunity. And Achadaf, the Ackdarians' home planet, is merely one of them — a tiny blue dot lost in the atramental emptiness. Okay, now that I've established the stage, let's talk about UI and automation possibilities!

What strikes me the most about Distant Worlds 2 is how effectively it manages to make sitting at the helm, commanding a slew of really complicated systems, feel approachable. The fact that it shows information in a logical manner aids in this regard, but the star of the show is a tremendous set of automation capabilities, which I believe anyone building a tough strategy game would do well to shamelessly mimic.

Freedom to the players

Everything in Distant Worlds 2 may be toggled between Manual and Automated modes (or somewhere in between) at your leisure, from diplomacy to economic management to warfare. You may hand over control to the computer and reclaim it anytime you choose, focusing just on the parts that interest you the most. Distant Worlds 2 is pretty similar in gameplay to titles like Aurora 4x and City of Gangsters.

You could definitely unload the most of the gameplay and roleplay from the perspective of your empire's leading gasoline tanker designer (I didn't). Advisors will occasionally appear with ideas to lend a helpful hand (and, once they become a nuisance, can be silenced permanently). It all seems amazingly natural and effortless. I wish my life could be like this.

Gameplay

Fans of the franchise will recognize the gameplay loop — a rich environment to explore and numerous details to play with, from mining to migration. Many of the differences between Distant Worlds: Universe and Distant Worlds 2 have already been discussed, including improvements to the research and resource systems, as well as an upgraded ship designer. The fact that Distant Worlds 2 has considerably fewer (seven) playable races right now will probably be the most difficult sell for series aficionados, though I assume more may rear their scaly/furry/chitinous heads sooner or later.

Verdict

The enhancements to the user interface and controls are remarkable. In a hundred small ways, Distant Worlds 2 improves on its predecessor's clunkiness. The information is displayed neatly, and the game does a very good job of emphasizing the relevant ships, faction, or star system you're interested in with a simple mouse hover.

Pros

• Fun gameplay
• Great user experience

Cons

• A steep learning curve