I've probably spent more time playing 4X games than I have sleeping—I'm a bit of a fan. But I confess my enthusiasm for the genre has hit a plateau because it's become just a wee bit too conformist. Surprises are few and far between, with modern 4Xs struggling to escape the rules and settings established by their progenitors., then, is just what the cyberneticist ordered: A weird, unconventional 4X that puts you in the role of a newly-awakened sentient AI.
You begin as a single robot but will quickly convert a few more, and from there steal technology that allows you to construct an HQ. With access to futuristic tech, you're able to rapidly build your network's infrastructure, from energy to manufacturing, often within existing buildings.
The turn-based fights are a little hard to parse thanks to bloated stats and an abundance of minute details, but I started vibing with the system more when I got access to ammo that could penetrate power armour. This discovery was actually thanks to my first failure. All part of the plan, I swear.Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.Instead of a standard tech tree, research is driven by inspiration.
This is where the deterrence system comes into play. As you start to make bigger, bolder moves, you're going to get noticed. But you can keep the fleshy humans out of your business by making it too dangerous for them to snoop. The robots assigned to deter humans from being a nuisance are slightly different from the ones you directly control.