If this was a 2 dollar mobile app, I would recommend it. It's somewhere between chess and checkers with spaceships. It feels more like a puzzler than a tactical game, victory requiring just the right sequence of moves. There isn't much room for error, and no save options. There's no customization, no ship designing, and no editing loadouts; any of which would have added a little spice to an otherwise bland 2D experience. It's not a bad game, just not worth the price.
Human Extinction Simulator
- Release Date:
- Jan 21, 2015
- Developer:
- Machine 22
- Publisher:
- Machine 22
- Platforms:
- Windows
Game Tags
About This Game
- Tactical chess-like approach of space battles
- Over 30 different spaceships with unique moves and weapons patterns
- 34 missions ranging from large-scale battles to covert operations
- Deterministic gameplay: No luck involved, only your skills
In 2312, first contact with the Navassian extraterrestrial species was established near the Deltria system. For 5 years we have been observing this warlike race while maintaining a wary diplomatic relationship. Growing tensions over ownership of the minerals of the Deltria system lead to the formation of the Unified Earth Defense Forces.
Facing overwhelming odds in a direct military conflict, the UEDF introduced the Halting Extraterrestrials Strategy, or HES, training program for all officers. The simulator presents likely combat encounters based upon observed Navassian tactical data from previous engagements. Recruits call this program the Human Extinction Simulator due to the extensive and often catastrophic scenarios depicted. While most find this amusing, some fear that it might be the actual name of the program.
Welcome to the meat grinder, Lieutenant.
Screenshots
User Reviews
I had high hopes for this game after reading some of the other reviews, but after playing it for a few hours, I found it to be an exercise in frustration. My main issues center around the ship movements and the weapons firing arcs. It is impossible for any of the ships Ive used to move backwards or rotate 180 degrees. This results in having to loop around in order to fire at your enemies, much like you would in a sea battle piloting an old sailing ship. This in and of itself wouldn't be so bad but when combined with narrow firing arcs and blind spots in your weapons' field of fire, it becomes irritating very quickly. It's not at all unusal to have an enemy ship in the hex directly adjacent to you 30 degrees left or right of center and not be able to fire at it. Also, many of the weapons are only effective at certain ranges or against either shields or the hull (not both). That combined with the limited movement and firing arcs results in your capital ships being almost useless. ...
I wanted to like this game. And honestly with an undo button or some other way of seeing where a ship would end up after moving I would have liked it. Instead, this game is an exercise in frustration. Your ships get to move twice, and may shoot before the second move. Logically, your first move should be to where you can take your shot, and the second to a safe spot. The game helps a little by showing if you will take shield, hull, or destruction if you end your turn in a particular hex. But, way to many times after making the first move to take a shot, all remaining possible moves end in destruction. All that can be done is restarting the whole scenario, replaying all moves which go exactly the same, then trying a slightly different move. I have no hope of this being resolved as the developers appear to have abandoned the game.
The game had two glowing positive reviews and no negative reviews when I wrote this. I didn't want to write a one line review, but I thought people should know that the game is really awful! Yeah, it's incomplete and I'll never finish it. It was at something like 3 helpful and 15 unhelpful in the first week. So many homers, hah. _________________________________________________________ I find my ship doing 270's when it could just turn 90 degrees and move. I also couldn't figure out how to stay in one spot and turn the ship around, though I suspect I was a bit dim in that aspect, assuming it's that left and right arrow at the bottom left of the screen. Regardless, the first tutorial mission should have at least mentioned what these buttons do. I gave up after failing about ten times on the second 'tutorial' mission. I'll try again later (and delete and update this review). essentially; you may want to wait for more reviews to come in before spending that $20. ed: a bit more...
This is a very good game, well worth the $20. I am about half way through the campaign. It is decently hard, but only in that you are required to take a moment and think about the consequences of your moves. Most of the missions I have been able to finish with all bonus objectives on the first try, it is not punishing. It is an interesting take on space combat. Each ship has its own movement and firing patterns, so it does take a moment to learn. Some ships are mobile enough that you can reliably dart in and out of combat with no problem (aided by the overlay which shows you which locations are safe to end your move.) Some ships are powerful but slow, and you need to plan their route and make sure nothing impedes their course. It does remind me of chess, but more complicated and with some computer assistance to plan your moves. The campain has offered a variety of goals so far to keep things interesting, and I am now carefully weighing which ships to choose for the next campai...
Not Bad. Quite complicated tactic turned based game. No saves during game process, that is pitty
A pretty interesting game on the concept that lacks a bit of sould and frankly a bit of fun. Well realized though but I would not recommand at this price
I'm quite enjoying this game. It isn't as hard as people make out to be, if you hit space bar and make sure all your ships end their turn in a hex where they won't take any damage you will do fine. Hitting the enemy can be a bit of a challenge but I find the AI will fly into one of your weapon arcs more often than not even though they probably could have avoided them. There is a trick you can do where you fly a ship in front of another ship (doesn't work with fighters) and they won't be able to move and become a sitting duck, which is definitely useful if you want to do a map in a short number of turns. The presentation is also very good, I think it's a great game.
A lot of the negative reviews on this game are from people who have played it for 2-3 hours and I can understand why but I think they need to give it a bit more time because it is a real fun strategy game if you can get over the initial hump, which is the 3rd level. It took me a few attempts to beat it and a couple of hours but when I did it was a Eureka moment in terms of how to play. Each ship shoots in a different way and moves in a different way so none are alike in terms of how you should attack with them and certain weapons do damage to shields or hull so you do have to think about placement but once you get your head around the game mechanics it is not that difficult. It does require you to think strategically and plan your actions but it is a strategy game so I'm not sure what people expected. A lot of the reviews have focused on no undo button but again it's a strategy game not a trial and error game! To me, it's kind of like the Sid Meier's Ace Patrol series but if that g...
There's not enough *there* there to compensate for the ridiculous difficulty level. Scenarios are too slow and too dull and too poorly supported to be worth replaying to try again.
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System Requirements
Minimum
- OS *: Windows XP and up
- Processor: 1.5 GHz processor
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 130 MB available space
FAQ
How much does Human Extinction Simulator cost?
Human Extinction Simulator costs $19.99.
What are the system requirements for Human Extinction Simulator?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows XP and up Processor: 1.5 GHz processor Memory: 2 GB RAM Storage: 130 MB available space
What platforms is Human Extinction Simulator available on?
Human Extinction Simulator is available on Windows PC.
Is Human Extinction Simulator worth buying?
Human Extinction Simulator has 17% positive reviews from 24 players.
When was Human Extinction Simulator released?
Human Extinction Simulator was released on Jan 21, 2015.
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