Spore

Spore begins on the microscopic level. You create a wee cell-like creature, decide whether it eats meat or plants, then set it free in primordial ooze. This first section is basically a tutorial. It takes you through controls (basic point and click), survival (keeping fed and avoiding predators), and teaches you the basics of customising your species. The tutorial manages to be light hearted and fun while still instilling a real sense of urgency to get your arse in gear and grow some legs.

Once free of the cell stage, you enter the creature stage. This is where the majority of Spore's meat comes from, as you crawl on to land and try to make a name for yourself. This is also where a lot of the game's customization and species development comes into play. You decide how your animal will look, what it eats, and whether it's a social creature or a xenophobic murder machine.

Next comes the tribal stage. This is where your species starts to shine. You found a village then branch out to meet others. How you deal with these other creatures is left up to you. You can overwhelm them with your grace and finesse, or just plain overwhelm them. After you dominate the other tribes (or befriend them, you pansy), you move to the civilization stage. You design and build your cities, manage them, and continue to expand.

The final stage of the game is the space stage. The idea is to create new colonies, make new friends and expand. Again you cannot appreciate the true scale here unless you experience it — the world map is an entire universe populated by other players. The effect is utterly breathtaking.

Spore is an excellent title. It seamlessly blends many game concepts into one beautiful masterpiece. Anyone can play Spore. This is a game you'll play over and over, each time finding new and interesting avenues to explore. This one's worth it.