Stardock Changed the Rules
I have supported Stardock for years now. I purchased Galactic Civilizations (2 copies), Altarian Prophecy, Galactic Civilizations 2 and Sins of the Solar Empire.

However that all ends now, since Stardock has changed course in midstream. They will no longer put out stand alone patches for the game, but now they are forcing the user to download and install Impulse to get any future content.

This method of DRM is not as bad as Spore's or MassEffect, but it still ends in control over the user. In fact Brad (owner of Stardock) basically said he does not care what others think, he is going to do what he wants.

It is now either Brad's way or the highway. My recommendation is take the highway, and stop being forced like cattle into the pens they tell you to go in to.

Take the highway, it is cheaper, less painful and you do not have a person or company dictating to you that you will download their software because they want it on your computer.

DRM is a DRM no matter how much they tell you it is not. They are now setting the rights by which you will be able to download any future content for their games.

Bombing planets? Where do I sign up?
By doing a real-time strategy game mixed with elements from turn-based games (or 4x as they call it; Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate), Sins was doing something daring. They succeeded, to an extent.

First, it should be noted that although this game will work on most computers, it is capable of bringing the most powerful machines to their knees. Sins allows players to build a map with no limits. That said, if you play on a map your computer can handle, they graphics are simply stunning. From a horde of fighters racing by to planetary bombardment weapons (which are sinfully fun to watch), I was very impressed with the detail. Yet, only the best machine can deliver these results.

There is no plot to this game, simply a back-story that describes why the three species are in combat with each other. Here is one problem with Sins: they tried to build three distinct races (one based on commerce, another on technology, and another on psychic abilities) but in the end made them too balanced. Besides ship special abilities and technologies researched in the late game, all teams are essentially the same.

Another problem is the fact that you may be required to organize multiple battles at the same time, which can sometime result in your strategy losing its cohesion. Also, diplomacy in the game is somewhat... lacking. Simple demands by other races for favors, and if you complete them, you can sometimes agree to a cease-fire, alliance, or trade-rights. Still, these only tarnish a small part of the game.

The strategy part of the game is pretty standards; collect resources, colonize planets and improve them; but it's the fact that this is all running in real time. At any moment, an enemy fleet could show up on your door-step, whether or not you're ready. Buildable defenses can only do so much; you will need a fleet for defense. Everyone will have to develop their own strategies for this, which is some of the fun; I found there is lots of room for experimentation and development of technique.

Multiplayer is, quite simply, great. Combine the treachery of Civilization and the raw essence of RTS online game, and you'll get Sins. New players will have a tough time, though, getting indoctrinated into the community (Simply put, at first you're going to be slaughtered) and, like all games, there are people who exploit certain characteristic to their advantage (curse you, illuminator spammers!). Still, a very good online experience.

Sins tried something new, and considering that, they did quite well. Although a bit rusty, the game still has a very addictive charisma. And, like Civilization, you'll get that "one more turn feel", except there are no turns, creating quit a dilemma.

Superb! But some bad points.
When I played my first battle, I easily grasped it due to the tutorial. But, I found 0 campaign missions. This really upsets me because I thought you can actually grow with the game as you go on. Also one misleading part is the box said you can customize your own captial ship by inserting various skills. I found out that no matter how you add your skills, you will end up with the same ones at lvl 10. It didn't really matter how I build it.

What this game has.
If your hoping for a story line give up now.
There is no story! That's the pig point, some of these reviews say a Si-fi noval. If you loved homeworld or hegamonia, or Nexus You will hate this game. When you start a new game it asks you to choose a configuration for the galixy (how many suns and there colors, planets are random) Then you hit start and it generates the map and you start with a planet and you start to build you move into other suns and mattering on the diffcualty you get attacked your forces get push back or you move forword bomb there plants or visa versa and then your done. DONE thats it pick the next one and then your off doing the same thing. You can make a random map but it's just like the other options. There's nothing to keep you playing.

Mediocre at best
I bought this game based on all the ecstatic reviews, comparisons to master of orion, etc, etc. The game is boring. It has a neat premise. It's the kind of game I want to play and want to like. One of the things I do like is that your ship crews gain experience.

It's basically a lot like MOO2, only the combat is boring. That's really what kills the game for me. The whole "buy off the pirates at the last second so they'll go kill the other opponents" is just retarded. The tech trees are pretty boring.

Basically, the game has all of the right elements. It's like baking bread. They have the yeast and the flour and the sugar and etc. It has everything bread should have. But the bread just isn't good. I want to like it, I want it to be delicious, but it's very bland.

The thing that kills it is the combat. It's boring. There's no action. It's completely formulaic. There's no real chance for a come from behind victory, or for you to design a ship to exploit an opponent's weakness. You just group up a bunch of ships and sit there and yawn while your ships and their ships slowly whittle away at each other. It quickly becomes a foregone conclusion who is going to win. There's no drama, or action, or thrill. It's boring and very repetitive.

Not at all like Master of Orion. The factions are also boring and uninspiring. Basically I'd go load MOO2 and skip this title. I applaud their effort and their desire to make this sort of game, but it just doesn't have the magic that makes a game great. Quickly forgotten.