So what are we all using as a reference to set our Stellaris expectations?

[balmung60]

Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic Civilizations II form my most recent frame of reference for space 4X (I do not consider Civ: BE to be so much "space 4X" as "different planet 4X", as the scope is still a single planet), and I'm imagining some of those with some EU4 mixed in.

I never played Gal Civ III, Endless Space, or Distant Worlds because they are not available on my platform (Linux (I played GC2 and SoaSE before switching)) and with the amount of native support that now exists, I'd rather play a game with native support than use Windows Steam through WINE to try to run Windows games that may or may not actually work.

 

[KillSteenKill]

I will enjoy watching people's expectations crash and burn when they realize Stellaris is just a game and not the second coming of Christ.

Paradox hasn't dissapointed yet.

 

[brifbates]

Haven't really played much of any space 4x game since MoO 2. The GalCiv (overhyped in my opinion) ai that depends on map knowledge cheating turned me right off it although I did like the alignment stuff. Sword of the Stars had some good points (I especially like the tech system which PDS seems to have duplicated at least to an extent with the random nature and possibility to not get everything). Only played a little Endless Space and Star Ruler, not enough to have any comment on them.

I just hope it doesn't take the worst aspects of Vic, EU, and CK; just the good ones...

 

[Held der Arbeit]

I'm basing my expectations on 20+ hours of gameplay footage

 

[Ezumiyr]

CK2, because of how immersive this game is (especially with mods). I hope to have the same kind of attachment in Stellaris.
Civ 5 for the gameplay. It feels smooth and intuitive. It's my best example of a easy to play, hard to master strategy game. I played CK2 since the beginning but I don't know how I would react if I tried it now that so many DLCs made it more complex to learn.

And yes, not one space 4X. I always found them to "mathematical", and I hope Stellaris will feel more organic.

 

[mrinku]

Been a very long time since I played any space 4X... probably MOO2, though it wasn't for that long. Reach for the Stars is the only one I really played a lot, back in the day. My main 4X game has been Civ (I to IV). So probably I'll be coming from a blend of CK2 and Civ IV, myself.

 

[xandor9]

Hopefully it will be Distant Worlds with better balance and ai and less ressource managment.
I only fear that their will be a low fluff factor, generic experience as in Beyond Earth, but there are right now mods to come, maybe their will be an MoO2 mod

 

[RickMP80]

Civilization 5, CK 2 and Eu4

 

[Khunter]

It's definitely Distant Worlds for me, with a heavy splash of MoO2 nostalgia thrown in.

I hope at some point they add a private sector like DW, one that actually works within the political landscape. The thought of having a galactic market where you could buy and sell resources to other empires, and actually needing to move the items vs the instant transfers they currently have, imo would add so much depth.

 

[Autoclave]

EU4 mostly.

 

[SolarGuy]

Well, I sometimes compare it with Space Empires IV. That game is actually pretty awesome, but it seems somewhat small when you know about Stellaris...
I don't think I have to mention Endless Space here

 

[kolpo]

Pop Ethos and factions reminds me of Victoria 2. Stellaris also seems to have a good amount of peacetime management like Victoria 2

 

[Jolly Reaper]

I will enjoy watching people's expectations crash and burn when they realize Stellaris is just a game and not the second coming of Christ.

Heretic! I'd purge your POP for talking like that, except I've got no idea which one it is. Better purge the whole planet Erf, I guess. Well, except for Swedes, because doing that before Stellaris launches would net me -200 diplo penalty from the entire galaxy.

Seriously though, +1 for EU4. I'd except Stellaris too needing a few patches and expansions before it really starts to shine.

 

[The_Meme_Man]

I've actually compared this to Endless Legend more than anything, particularily in regards to quests and diplomacy (Endless Legend had more or less pretty substantial diplomacy, though could have been a lot better).

 

[Quget]

Europa Universalis 4 in Space

 

[anomalacaris]

Mix of eu, civ and galciv and...
Most importantly: moo and moo2
I only played these after wow is out BUT still find them superior in design.

 

[Mackrels]

EU4 with various space 4X titles mixed in.

Actually my favorite part of all the EU games is the exploration/colonization phase and Stellaris kind of looks like EU:4 with extended exploration/coloization + space sprites

 

[DàbiànLājīdàrén]

Heretic! I'd purge your POP for talking like that, except I've got no idea which one it is. Better purge the whole planet Erf, I guess. Well, except for Swedes, because doing that before Stellaris launches would net me -200 diplo penalty from the entire galaxy.

Seriously though, +1 for EU4. I'd except Stellaris too needing a few patches and expansions before it really starts to shine.

Don't know why everybody just downvotes me. The truth is that there comes a time when no matter how good a game is it's never going to match up to the expectation the hype has built. Judging by how everybody's foaming at the mouth to lick the digital box of Stellaris, this is pretty much as close as it's gonna get. People are treating this game like it's going to suddenly revolutionize the entire gaming genre. Well ok then... I'll just sit over here with my slightly average expectations.

 

[ZypherZerf]

I would have to say a mixture between GalCiv II, Endless Space, and Sins of a Solar Empire. I feel like adding in the diplomatic elements of EUIV will be a great bonus as well.

All in all, I will still judge the game as the game itself. Can't wait to play it and allow it to create an identity of its own, may it be good or bad in whatever aspects.

 

[Krajzen]

First Coming of Jesus Christ