Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
142 of 153 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A fair and balanced review - price is the issue here., November 19, 2008
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
Hello,
This is a long review, so read the quick points first, but unlike other reviews i've not done a 10 point summary, you should read all of this really, I just hope it gets published and amazon don't consider it too long.
If you are reading this - that hasn't happened.....
I will not rant about EA, but I do mention them.
Firstly it is important to note some things about this expansion/parts pack.
1) It adds NOTHING new other than items, paint and animations - nothing else.
2) It is quick and easy to install
3) The animations are great - BUT do not seem to work in-game, just in the creature creator test centre, which in all honesty is pointless.
4) Let me summarize EXACTLY what this pack gives you:
a) 12 new parts per Mouth, Senses (eyes only), Feet, Hands and Details.
b) Everything is split 50/50 between cute and creepy parts, the creepy parts are by far superior to the cute parts, which sometimes look like cheap knockoffs of some originals
c) So unlike amazon states, there are 60 new parts, not 72, however the Spore 1.3 patch provides you with 24 new limbs, 12 arms, 12 legs (which look like they were originally meant to be in this pack), they are very insectoid in design and are all creepy, no cute.
d) There are 12 'pre-defined' paint jobs, 12 undercoat, 12 overcoat and 12 detail. These are not a lot to shout about, but some are nice, and it takes a long time to get the combinations right, so I reserve some judgement on these paint schemes, but at first glance, only a couple out of each category look any good or different from the originals.
e) 2 new backgrounds to view in the test centre, they are very nice, but again this is just asthetics. There are some lovely new animations, 24 in all, 12 creepy, 12 cute - they are very very nice, BUT seem to serve absolutely no practical purpose. They do not surplant the original animations.
5. No furry parts, so no realistic creatures i'm afraid - big disappointment.
6. Obscene cost, simply outrageous.
7. You cannot share these creations with those that don't also have the pack - that is annoying but understandable.
Secondly, i'll give you my impressions and opinions of this pack, and summarize why I gave the marks I did.
(This is a short preface, skip it if your not interested, but it does contain some interesting and very relevant info)-->
So I bought this yesterday, and in all honesty it was highly anticipated by me. I know it is a rip, I know it is just a money maker for EA, and I should note I do not believe in these kinds of business practices. This is especially highlighted by the FREE release of the quite wonderful 24 limbs, 12 arms, 12 legs, that came with the 1.3 patch - proving that they can make and release this stuff for next to nothing. Also (despite being a European myself) i'm in America right now, and did not therefore qualify for the 'free giveaway' of this pack if you bought Spore new. Okay, I already owned the game, bought it the day it came out, but if I hadn't it seems odd that such a deal does not exist in the US. It should also be said that this again frustrating as it shows how little EA need the money for this pack, and that they are focusing more on pulling in new customers rather than pleasing their customers who actually made follow-up products a possibility by buying the original game in the first place. I think this is what the 24 free limbs is all about - trying to please pre-existing customers. But it honestly comes across as a little shoddy and rushed. In fact the fact that amounts of items etc got very confused on various sites and what was actually in the pack seemed a little mystery is testimony to this. And ignore the 'over 100 items' spiel on this page by Amazon (this is not their fault, EA must have provided misleading info), that is very misleading and keeps you guessing as to what is in the pack. So in all honesty I also bought this out of pure curiosity. I have the money to do so, and so putting aside my ethical issues with this game and EA's practices I decided to go for it.
If you love the game, and focus little on the creation side of things, it is needless to say this is not for you. There is no added gameplay, and one potential deal-breaker here for many would be the afore mentioned (and unmentioned by EA) fact that only people who own the pack can share content with others who share the pack. This means that those such as myself are able to basically obtain whatever we want, but if you didn't get this, you'll be missing out on some nice creations - and don't think you can download Creepy & Cute creatures and edit them with their parts! I had thought of this and it isn't happening people. I should also note at this point that the moment I logged onto my account, all my previous creations had disappeared. Helpful. This angered me like I couldn't describe, especially if you are using Vista, the pack doesn't seem to install some text or help files properly and the manual is useless. In other words, I know I haven't lost my creations, but I can't access them to edit them with the new parts - instead I have to create them all over again. Since i've got 250+ creatures, this is a pain needless to say. This is very annoying and I hope EA soon explain what this is about or release a patch to fix it - I'm sure there is just some button you're meant to press but it is rather confusing and I can't locate it.
Despite that, the interface is very manageable and they've integrated it fairly seemlessly. You can easily find the new parts and it doesn't look messy. The parts themselves are very nice. If you are a creator like me (I almost never play the game, only my wife does) and just churn out creatures and units etc then this is indeed a wonderful tool. I was finally able to make many creatures that were not easy to do before and looked 'forced'. I would consider myself a very advanced creator, especially with the creatures, and i'm well aware that with the right will and determination almost anything could be made but this just takes that concept and runs with it. The new parts mean that your creative capacity grows expanantially. It should be noted that the new parts may not seem too numerous, but for every part you obtain you gain a dozen new combinations.
The cute parts are fairly simplistic really and i'm not sure they add all that much. I could make cute creatures if so desired before with little difficulty and I felt they didn't give me that extra 'umfph' that I would have expected. Having said this, I focused very much on creatures that were not cute and so others may benefit from this more and see uses, the cute parts look like something out of 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' half the time, which is kind of nice I guess. The creepy parts steal the show however. especially the mouths and eyes, coupled with the new limbs you can make some truly sickening creatures, not just 'close to creepy' creatures. It also halves the time a creator needs to actually make something, it does make your life much easier. It also demonstrates EA has an ability to think a little outside of the box and not just pander to kids. Some of these parts are right out of the film 'Alien' and would have made me rather weirded out if I was a child. Let it be said, there will be some very freaked out children seeing some very nasty looking creatures online, which is always a good thing I guess. However if you are a parent, don't dispair, of course you can ban these creatures if you like. Some of the animations also show some dark humour, electrocuting your monster is certainly bloody satisfying and quite humourous in a slightly disturbing way. The zombie walk and vomiting animations again seem to hark to a more adult theme which is a nice relief from the childishness that was forced down our throats previously. Even some of the cute animations like the moonwalk may go over the heads of some kids other than getting a cheap laugh. So this shows EA moving in a slightly surprisingly more mature direction - though this could just appear so in comparison to what we got originally. It is not as cutesy as you may think.
You will feel like only half the items are any good. I'll tell you that now. However this is the same as the normal creature creator, people seem to have favourite parts they are able to apply to nearly everything effectively. Trying to mix old and new parts is also quite a fun challenge, not just to go overboard on the new parts. So after I got this my net feeling was, well neutral. I had low expectations in some ways but high in others. I thought there'd be more parts, and I thought the animations would work in-game as the EA advert rather deceptively implies. However having said all that, I found the new parts very nice, and very enjoyable to use, much more than I thought I would. They have certainly taken their time on them. The pack strangely exceeds your expectations in what you were not really expecting to be that great, and let you down hard in the places you were hoping for improvement.
However the deal-breaker here is, well, the seriously obscene price tag. The original game cost $45, and this 'parts' pack (NOT an expansion remember) is a staggeringly ridiculous $20. I have to say it, it isn't worth it. It is not a lot of money per se in the greater scheme of things but its the cost ratio and the principle. What is more worrying here, is ... how much will they overcharge the first ACTUAL expansion pack coming out next year at?? Will it be as much as the original game? And i've heard that it contains very little as well. This is very worrying indeed. Though not having played it much myself at all, I was well informed that the Sims 2 parts pack were half the price and had just as much. So this is very...
Read more ›
|
|
|
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good expansion with an odd price, January 31, 2009
Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars
(I'm Deborah's daughter who owns the game)
EA must enjoy releasing expansion packs (especially if you take a look at The Sims and The Sims 2) because the game wasn't released that long before an expansion pack came out.
I, luckily, received this as a Christmas present and enjoy it. Please read the summary of the game first! You'll see that it only adds new parts hence the mini title "Parts Pack."
It contains new mouths, feet, hands, mini accessories and paint. The only real reason why you should get the game is if you're a big time creator or you just like seeing different types of creatures in your game.
If you're looking for all new game play, different levels, new story lines then forget it. Don't buy it and then complain on Amazon saying how this game "lied" to you or something.
The price for it is a bit questionable. I'm not sure what my mom paid for it but from looking at the price online, it doesn't seem worth the cost. Buy it used or on Amazon.com. ^^
To people who are trying to figure out if you want to even bother with Spore, it depends what kind of person you are. I enjoy Spore because I'm a creative person who loves drawing and creating new monsters and creatures. In fact, during High school I wanted to become a Video game Character Designer and was aiming for the Art Institute before changing my mind to become a Vet Tech. Spore was a perfect solution. I as able to create the kind of creature I wanted and see them move around instead of having to draw it out.
Either way, the question "to buy this game or not" is really simple. If you want more parts or to download more creatures from Spore.com then buy it, if you don't care then don't. Don't buy it and then complain.
|
|
|
20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not much for your money - but will allow you to download more, November 19, 2008
I guess my opinion of Spore and particularly the new Creepy & Cute Parts Pack falls in the middle. For your $20, you get a few parts, a few animations and a few paint options you didn't have before. Not a whole lot, and nothing at all beyond the Creature Stage. I understand that the Creature Stage was the target for this parts pack, I just would've liked to have seen more content for the price. The nice thing is if you get this parts pack, you will be able to download all creations made with it. You won't if you don't.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
