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Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection

PC Released 21 July 2009
Publisher
Paradox Interactive
Genres
Strategy: Real Time
Simulation
Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection
Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection contains: Sword of the Stars Born of Blood expansion A Murder of Crows expansion Sword of the Stars: It is the year 2405, and human scientists have discovered a new technology, the Node Drive. This is an innovation that will finally allow ... (more)

Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection contains:

  • Sword of the Stars
  • Born of Blood expansion
  • A Murder of Crows expansion

Sword of the Stars:

It is the year 2405, and human scientists have discovered a new technology, the Node Drive. This is an innovation that will finally allow travel from star to star at speeds faster than light. As mankind is poised on the brink of a new era, tragedy strikes, as the first inter-colony ship is destroyed and Earth is ravaged by an alien force. What was supposed to be the dawning of a new era instead was stymied by a grim, new reality… We are not alone…and we are no longer safe.

  • 4 distinct races - Human, Hiver, Tarkas and Liir - each with their own technology advantages and disadvantages.
  • A powerful state of the art engine delivers breathtaking graphics and robust gameplay.
  • Each race has a unique mode of transport between star systems, creating very different styles of play, depending on what race you choose to control.
  • Slider bar controls and simplified interface to avoid the confusion of other games without sacrificing depth of gameplay.
  • Over 150 distinct technologies to research on a dynamic tech tree that changes from game to game. While the core technology of the tree is consistent, certain offshoots are random from game to game. There is no perfect path up the tech tree to memorize and exploit, because the path keeps changing!
  • New technology reflected in detailed ship models, weapons and combat effects. Over 40 weapons from six different weapon classes, in various size classes, from point defence, turrets, to massive spinal mounts!
  • Players can design and build ships from three size classes - Destroyer, Cruiser, and Dreadnought - by mixing and matching ship sections (command, mission, and engines), then outfitting them with armour and weapons to suit their preference.
  • Up to 8 players can play against the AI and one another over LAN or online.
  • Choose from a variety of scenario campaigns to play alone or with friends, each adding more colour and depth to the Sword of the Stars universe.

Born of Blood:

The year is 2445. Over 30 years have passed since the first stellar empires began to expand. Four races once set out to explore and conquer the galaxy, meeting in fiery clashes that spanned the universe. The first wars have passed and a promising age of diplomacy dawns.

Now a new alien race emerges shattering the uneasy peace. With new drive systems, ships, technology, and tactics, the Zuul burst onto the scene with a devastating agenda - not only will they conquer, they will control the entire universe… unless you put a stop to their destruction.

With savage ships and psychic powers, they enslave or annihilate all those who oppose them. As their galley disks descend to harvest slaves from neighboring races, all other empires may be forced to put aside their grudges - if they do not unite against the Zuul, each race will be systematically exterminated. Form alliances and learn to work with your foes as you lead your fleets to victory in a universe at war in Sword of Stars: Born of Blood.

  • Play as the merciless Zuul Slavers with over 90 brand-new ship sections and their unique drive system - the Tunnel Drive
  • Over 25 additional technologies, including new diplomacy and intelligence gathering techs
  • 15 more weapons you can add to your ship designs
  • New ship sections for the original four races, including: War, Projector, Boarding, and a new type of defense satellite - the Torpedo Defense Platform
  • 4 additional galactic encounters, a new grand menace, plus 3 unique scenarios and 6 original maps
  • New game features, including Slavery, Trade Routes, and Diplomatic Communications

A Murder of Crows:

While the four civilized races battle back the voracious Zuul and seek advantage over each other, a ghost from the past returns to the galaxy in the form of the manipulative Morrigi. Already known for their dark crow-shaped attack drones and deadly traps, this race once thought long extinct, returns looking for vengeance.

Using never-before-seen weapons, ships and tactics, the Morrigi fall upon the other five races of the Sword of the Stars universe, who must now adapt to the ancient masters of space or be destroyed.

Time is of the essence as world after world falls to the black winged ships that surge out of the dark like A Murder of Crows.

  • A New Sixth race - The Morrigi, who appeared as a series of mysterious random events in Born of Blood (the first Sword of the Stars expansion pack), continues to evolve the ever-expanding Sword of the Stars universe
  • New Ship Sections - Over a dozen new ship sections for all races to match against your opponents
  • Unique ‘Grav Flock’ Drive System for Morrigi Ships - The more Morrigi ships in a fleet, the faster they can travel, continuing the racial diversity unique to the Sword of the Stars gameplay experience
  • 15 new weapons
  • 27 new technologies and the new Xeno-Cultural and Drones tech trees
  • Sword of the Stars gameplay continues to deepen with Civilian populations, independent worlds, Espionage options, and demands for planetary surrender
  • Drone carrying ships in all three size classes
  • Construction ships, a variety of orbital stations, spy ships, Police Cutters, and more
  • A whole new set of GUI enhancements and additions
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Game description provided by Mighty Ape