Stellaris BioGenesis review: There are bugs in my bugs

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The BioGenesis DLC for Stellaris brought a small personal fantasy of mine to life: I’ve long harbored a desire to dominate a galaxy using the Yuuzhan Vong, an ominous alien race from the pre-Disney Star Wars lore. Many fans disliked the Vong due to their immunity to the Force, advanced biotechnology, and edge – but having grown up with their depiction in the books, I developed a fondness for them as adversaries. Regrettably, they’ve never been incorporated into any video game, and most space strategy titles lack the customization options required to construct something similar. However, that has now changed.

BioGenesis enhances Stellaris by introducing living, biological entities such as ships, stations, and cities. This feature is appealing to me as it helps me construct the Yuuzhan Vong in the game. With the extra species traits and new Ascension Paths – Cloning, Purity, and Mutation – I can now create a reasonable representation of the Yuuzhan Vong in Stellaris. I can even design a colossal leviathan as an end-game crisis, emulating some of the extraordinary creatures they use in combat. Additionally, one of the most exciting aspects of this expansion is starting the game as a sapient planet like the lost home world and its progeny, Zonama Sekot, of the Yuuzhan Vong.

This DLC doesn’t just offer one type of sci-fi fantasy, it introduces another when you mix the new biotechnology with a hivemind, reminiscent of creatures like the Zerg or Tyranids in other games. However, these entities don’t have cities to build or an economy, and so forth. Creating a functional hivemind has been a challenge, and this leads me to the significant flaw in Stellaris BioGenesis: it was released alongside an update that was far from complete. The number of bugs I encounter is overwhelming, making me question if the game’s outcomes are due to my poor leadership as Supreme Overlord or simply because of the software issues.

The developers have been fixing these issues using various temporary solutions, yet the need for regular updates filled with numerous tasks each day, just to make the game playable after the recent DLC launch, certainly isn’t unnoticed.

The content within is outstanding, offering more choices for gameplay and role-playing, much like the Grand Archive or Machine Age DLCs. However, I can’t fully appreciate these features without dealing with the buggy version it comes with. Although there should theoretically be a separation between BioGenesis, the DLC, and Stellaris 4.0, the update, in actuality, players can’t distinguish between them at release. Consequently, the expansion pack tends to receive criticism due to this combined experience.

In this assessment, we’ll be focusing on the products provided by BioGenesis. We’re setting aside the buzz and the significant alterations brought about by the Phoenix update for now, acknowledging that it too has its positives, just to clarify.

I’ve previously discussed the Wilderness Origin, a feature that allows you to begin as a planet with self-awareness and alters fundamental game mechanics, such as resources required, methods of exploiting worlds, and colonization techniques. The latter aspect is particularly engaging because you disperse a fragment of your consciousness on star spores to conquer additional planets, effectively incorporating them into your own entity. In other words, you are physically expanding yourself across the cosmos.

The second version of Origin, Evolutionary Predators, features a unique aspect I believe Zerg and Tyranid enthusiasts would love! In this game, you venture out to consume and assimilate the genetic material of other creatures, using it to enhance your own species into even more formidable predators. The exciting new abilities provided by BioGenesis are primarily designed to support this style of play – think of it as a way for your creatures to feed on their prey’s genes! (Wink wink, get it? Feeding on genes… hehe!)

Truly, the unique aspect of BioGenesis makes it a game worth exploring, as it offers numerous play styles, ensuring you never repeat the same strategy throughout the entire year. For instance, you could dominate the galaxy in a manner reminiscent of a Zerg-like species, but also maintain a benevolent image by safeguarding other species for a monthly DNA tribute. Alternatively, you might opt for espionage, stealing genetic material akin to a Genestealer, albeit with a somewhat malicious undertone.

Additionally, there’s Starlit Citadel Origin, where you begin with a fresh Deep Space Citadel megastructure and a peculiar portal for an intriguing start. If you’re seeking variety in your upcoming gameplay, BioGenesis offers multiple choices.

For the progressing species, an innovative feature is the implementation of adaptable leader figures that alter in appearance as they gain experience and advance levels. Additionally, BioGenesis is enhancing the game with new melodies, visual elements, and 65 unique events.

Not only do the newly introduced Ascension Paths enhance the flavor with more depth, but they also provide an unusual level of adaptability. These paths primarily offer a few predetermined benefits, while allowing players a significant degree of freedom to tailor their perk selections according to their playstyle. This aligns perfectly with the concept of mutation and evolution.

I’m disappointed that all the game’s grand structures don’t have organic alternatives, so when you build the Grand Archive with biotechnology as a species, you receive the standard metallic version rather than a fearsome, cosmic-sized biological entity. This takes away from my Yuuzhan Vong roleplay experience, as they strongly despise metal constructions.

Considering Stellaris BioGenesis independently, it’s widely recognized as one of the best expansions ever for the game, but it’s important to note that it can be quite pricey when you take into account that some of its features require additional DLCs for full enjoyment. Over time, as the dust settles from its initial launch controversy and players cool down a bit, more people are likely to appreciate it.

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2025-05-08 18:21