When it comes to exploring, expanding, exploiting and exterminating in outer space, there seems to be no one gaming formula that fits the bill for everyone. Some prefer the planetary development found in Game Y, while others just cannot get enough of the fleet combat in Game Z. It is for this reason that you find the community of would-be galactic emperors contentedly playing a number of 4X games that span a period of many years. After all, why give up a good thing?
One game that has succeeded in muscling its way into the pantheon of 4X “good things” is Kerberos’ Sword of the Stars. While initially beset by a number of rough edges, Kerberos never ceased refining their core design and, enhanced by the Born of Blood (2007) and Murder of Crows (2008) expansions, have succeeded in creating another landmark space conquest title with its own rabid fan base. With the recent news that Paradox Interactive had picked up the franchise from the now defunct Lighthouse Interactive, I decided to revisit this series by taking the recently released Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection for a spin around the stars.
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