Pandora's "eXterminate" versus other three X's

[Sawelios]

So I realized already that "eXterminate" part of this game is quite satisfying. But what about other three X's? Has this game an "exploration feeling", the intriguing discovering of an alien world? Are research concepts and technologies interesting enough or it's just the eternal "tachyon shields"? Is the industrial part of gameplay realistic, does the player feel the real power in his towering powerplants and steam-breathing factories? In other worlds, does this game give the "immersion feeling", how live, tangible and believable is the world of the game?

[ErissN6]

Yes and no. The Xs here battle the immersion:
. To have the more Xploration feeling, the technology is made poor in this part. You're like conquistadores with laser weapons and then sputnik-like satellites.
. The base game was very promising about the 'aliens', but they have been let down (no development) for a deusexmachina in the expansion, who will be let down (are, from the start, I think) too like the native beasts.
. Industrial feel nothing, but is not bad. It does the job.
. The immersion felt better in the base game. The expansion' alien invaders from the skies feel déjà-vu, however ok it adds to the game.
. It's like the main dev' changed en-route before the release of the expansion, or like devs didn't really understand their own game.
. It's still a good game, an alternate to Civ IV (instead of making Civ4 obsolete like base Pendora was promising at release).

[Sawelios]

To be honest, I never liked Civ4. For me, it's too... I don't know... CHAOTIC maybe Test of Time with its 4-planed sci-fi maps is still my favourite part of the Civ series.

And AFAIK there is no terraforming in Pandora? If so, it's a real minus point.

[ErissN6]

And AFAIK there is no terraforming in Pandora? If so, it's a real minus point.

It was added by patches and expansions, but for me it was not so missing.

[Xilmi]

With all technologies researched you can do all the terraforming you want and can turn any tile on the map to any other kind of tile.

The kind of immersion the game gives to me is actually quite depressing:

There is this really beautiful planet with gorgeous untouched nature, exotic plants and fascinating animals.

Then comes men.

The "best case"-scenario is that they turn everything into highly industrialized factories while wiping out the wildlife and chopping down the vegetation.

But it can be even worse, way worse:

I've seen games end with almost everything covered in radioactive poison from countless nukes and Black-holes, making the once beatiful planet look like an inhabitable, lifeless hulk.

Makes it look like we humans really are the worst kind of parasite!

[Zak0r]

I've seen games end with almost everything covered in radioactive poison from countless nukes and Black-holes, making the once beatiful planet look like an inhabitable, lifeless hulk.

Probably the most longer MP games I had part in ended like this. But it is not my fault at all! Really!

[Xilmi]

You've gotten better recently. Most players resign over your dominance before they have to eat the Black-Holes. ^^