Spore Galactic Adventures is an add-on for the game Spore, which is a game that includes many different types of gameplay. The game was created by Maxis Emeryville and released by Electronic Arts. The US version of the game was released on June 23, 2009, and the European version was released on June 26, 2009.
Gameplay
The main addition to the game is the Adventure Creator. This tool lets players design missions, which are then added to the Space stage in a way similar to how other content was made in the original game. Players place items in the adventure by dragging them from a menu and dropping them into the world. Creatures, vehicles, and buildings created with other game tools can be chosen and placed in the world. Players can also change how creatures behave, from aggressive to friendly, and add speech bubbles. Fixed objects from earlier parts of the game, as well as items like bombs and teleporters, can be used in the adventure.
Players can choose special effects and place them in the level. Sounds can also be added in the same way, though new sound files cannot be added. A complexity meter helps prevent too many objects from being placed in the game. It also allows players to land on a planet directly instead of viewing it through a hologram.
The Planet Creator works with the Adventure Creator. Players pick a prebuilt planet and then make changes to it in a way similar to the Adventure Creator. Features like temperature and air density can be adjusted using sliders. The planet's surface is changed using tools called terrain stamps, which are dragged and dropped from the interface. Like the Adventure Creator, a complexity meter helps manage the number of elements used to build the planet.
The expansion also includes the Captain Outfitter. This tool lets players change their Space stage creatures by giving them different tools, weapons, and gear. Players can then send their captains to special planets with missions. Missions vary widely and may need different tools. The game includes RPG elements, as captains earn points from missions and can level up.
Players can take their space captains on adventures with specific goals. There are many types of adventures, such as saving a planet from the Grox or helping a famous pop star reach a show on time. Completing adventures gives captains experience points, like in a role-playing game, and lets players choose new equipment. As captains gain more experience, they earn titles based on their empire's beliefs, such as "Thug," "Profiteer," or "Gatherer." These titles reflect the captain's type.
Development
A new space-themed expansion pack was announced in mid-October 2008 at the same time as the Creepy and Cute parts pack. On June 9, 2009, the Spore website was redesigned to get ready for the Galactic Adventure.
Reception
The game Spore: Galactic Adventures received mostly good reviews according to Metacritic.com. It was commended for its adventure creator, which was described as complex but simple to use.