Spore Review: Cell & Creature Brenden (09/23/2008 - 1:13 am) The morning of September 7th couldn't come fast enough, and when it did we were one of the FIRST people in the state of Minnesota to receive a copy of this great game. It was about 12:20am when the Wal-Mart associate brought out the game. We got 2 copies: 1 standard, and 1 Galactic Edition. The standard game is $49.99, and the Galactic Edition is $79.99. We, then, all gathered at my place and loaded up the game. The install took a bit longer than we had hoped, but we didn't really care. Once installed, we opened up the game, and just stared. After an intro, we were brought to a galaxy screen, looking much like the Creature Creator, except for the fact that individual stars were glowing. These stars were our home planets, and we could chose any one of them. We picked a random planet, and named it Earth, for fun. We then chose to be a Carnivore, and named our species, "Saliones". We, then, encountered an intro movie but this time, it's one we've seen before: The meteor hurtling through space towards our planet. Once the intro was over, the rock split open and out came our red cell. The game has begun. Cell Stage: Think Pac-Man on a larger, more vast, scale. Our little cell moved very fluidly as it followed our mouse cursor. To move, you can use the arrow keys (not-recomended), or just hold down the left-mouse button and move. Since we were a carnivore we had to eat meat, and to do this we had to devour several other cells. As you eat more cells, you get DNA points which are required to advance, but also needed to evolve your creature further. Once you reacha certain point, you can then mate. You click on the Call Mate button and you follow the sound to your mate, and after a small cut-scene you are brought ot the Cell Editor. This is much like the creature creator but 2-D, and very simple. you may only add parts that you have picked up while eating other creatures. There is a rare part to come accross-it's the Probiscus. It enables you to eat both meat and vegitation. We rid our creature of the jaw, and gave it a probiscus. There are a total of 6 parts to get that inrease speed and attack. So you just eat, mate, and repeat for about 15-20 minutes before you may add legs and become a land creature. Creature Stage: Our single Saliones then calls many others to the shore, and we see the beginings of a civlization. You control just one of the pack, and based on your attitude in cell stage, you are given an ability. If you ended Cell stage as a Carnivore you get "Raging Roar" which, when used, scares any enemy away in range. If you ended as a Herbivore you get "Siren Song" which is an intense way to make creatures like you. If you hapened to end as an Omnivore (as we did) you get "Summon Flock" which is the best of both worls. It calls a flock of animals that either attack with you, or sing with you. We decided to eat other creatures and be a predator. Evolving works much the same as the cell stage, you build up DNA points (by eating or be-friending) and return to your home nest to mate. When mating we see the familiar creature creator, but the only items you can add, are ones you find on the ground (click on piles of bones), or by be-friending creatures. Once you extinct, or be-friend a certain amount of creatures, you, then, are given the opportunity to become a tribe- and we did. Check Back Later for Part 2!