Stars in Shadow: Legacies Free Download [2023]

 Stars in Shadow: Legacies Introduction:

Stars in Shadow is situated in a galaxy that bore witness to a massive conflict involving numerous civilizations and alien species, known as the 'Great War.' This monumental conflict abruptly brought an end to the galaxy's era of prosperity, which had thrived before the war's outbreak. Fast forward three thousand years, and the galaxy is presently in the process of reconstruction.

In this game, you have the opportunity to assume the role of one of seven distinct factions, encompassing humans and six unique alien races: the Phidi, Orthin, Yoral, Ashdar, and the Gremak. The primary objective of the game is to "explore the vast galaxy, rediscover and establish colonies on distant planets, and construct a far-reaching interstellar empire." Additionally, players engage in turn-based fleet combat, a pivotal gameplay mechanic.

Gameplay:

The development of Stars in Shadow was undertaken by Ashdar Games, a small studio comprising the programmer Sven Olsen and the artist Jim Francis, renowned for his contribution to the game's visually captivating comic book art style. Jim Francis is also recognized as the creator and illustrator of the full-color web-based science fiction comic "Outsider." In an interview with GameStar, Olsen acknowledged that his main source of inspiration for the game was Master of Orion 2.

The game made its debut in Early Access in September 2016, with IndieGames.com highlighting its distinctive style as one of its most striking features. PC Gamer reviewed the game during its Early Access phase, commending the diversity of playable races and the engaging space combat gameplay. However, reviewer T.J. Hafer cautioned that it was too early to predict whether the game would ascend to prominence within the realm of space 4X strategy games.

Stars in Shadow officially exited Early Access in January 2017, with Erik Kain of Forbes drawing comparisons between its art style and that of Master of Orion. Logan Booker of Kotaku Australia also likened the game's aesthetics to Master of Orion and Star Control.

In August 2017, a DLC expansion titled 'Legacies' was announced. This expansion introduced a new faction called the Tinkers, expanding the roster of playable alien races from six to seven. Originally slated for a September 2017 release, the DLC's launch was postponed to October 2017 to ensure it met the expectations of both players and developers.

Final Words:

Stars in Shadow received positive feedback from the gaming press, currently holding a Metacritic score of 75. Tom Chick of Quarter to Three rated the game with four out of five stars, lauding its ability to focus on the essential elements of 4X games. WCCFTech praised the game for its artistic style and the excellence of its turn-based ship combat, though it noted the absence of a deep narrative. Hooked Gamers also commended the turn-based combat and its complexity. Overpowered Noobs highlighted that the game is an excellent entry point for newcomers to the 4X genre.