Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity is a space RTS which contains all three games of this series that includes the original Sins of a Solar Empire game and it's subsequent two expansion packs, Entrenchment and Diplomacy. The title allows gamers to explore the universe and of course gather valuable resources, improve their technology, build units and engage in battles which is my favourite aspect of this series.

Unlike a game such as Civilization which is turn based, Sins of a Solar Empire is a real-time strategy that makes things more challenging and interesting for the player as sometimes there’s no time for thinking. The developers quote this as The 4X strategy which follows the edict of explore, expand, exploit and exterminate. It also helps that the gaming engine looks quite detailed and interface is quite accessible, not overly convoluted. There is however, a high learning curve to newcomers of this series.

Interestingly enough, the game does not contain a campaign mode per se, rather it gives the players a variety of scenarios to complete which is a shame because I would like to see a story about this universe, rather than just small snapshots.

As with all good RTS titles, the choice of which faction or species you play for is quite diverse, each with their pros and cons that include the TEC, Advent and Vasari. If you have never played this series before, I would recommend that you begin as the TEC which are a combination of both other factions but is easier to manage. The Vasari on the other hand are an alien race that are almost like the rabbits of space, however they lack the firepower of the Advent who have become disjointed from the TEC.

Finding that right balance is the key to the game but generally once you have completed one faction, you can move onto the next and as each factions are so different, it still makes it entertaining for the player in terms of replay value. The game does offer a variety of difficulty levels and although there were some AI issues in the original game, this has been improved with the expansions.

Subtle improvements through the expansions Entrenchment and Diplomacy such as improved micro-management and improved battles between the factions allow for additional choices to the player. Even though they may be considered as tweaks, they expand the original ideas of the title. Our favourite game in this series is definitely Diplomacy that adds new diplomacy functionality to the game which allows you to interact with factions before waging war. Hopefully this will avoid costly battles but this is usually determinant on what you or them can offer or who has the bigger guns. Sometimes you can bluff your way out, especially if you can wing a treaty. This is only just the surface of this feature but it's a welcome instalment to the series.

For gamers with no time on their hands, you might want to get your thrills elsewhere because this game will consume all your time as exploring this universe. Even battles take awhile to organise as you plan your defences and your ships engage the enemy. Thankfully for those that are still interested, the game does start slow as your ships can only travel to neighbouring planets but once you start to improve your technology, this will allow to increase your reach as you build shipyards, colonise and destroy your enemies.

Graphically, this series is a very good looking game on the PC that features high detailed graphics and environments and really looks great in full detail. The ships and space effects only enhance the overall game experience and you can even zoom in on your battles that are a pleasure to watch. To compliment the graphics and gameplay, the soundtrack of Sins of a Solar empire is quite powerful and ambient which has that Hollywood blockbuster feel to it. Add in a plethora of sound effects and some good voice acting and this nicely rounds out the game.

In conclusion, Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity is definitely value for money that gives three games with great replay value.  Apart from single-player, the game does feature a strong multiplayer aspect and nothing is more than fun than to battle against humans as they are considerably more unpredictable than the AI. Just be warned, have plenty of time on hand to play this addictive 4X strategy

Features:

• Includes the original award-winning game, plus the Entrenchment and Diplomacy expansions
• Seamless blend of epic strategy and tactical combat
• Dynamic galaxy on an unrivalled scale a different experience each time you play
• Three unique, customisable races
• Robust multiplayer via LAN and Internet (Ironclad Online)
• Spectacular 3D graphics and particle effects drawn to scale utilizing the proprietary Iron Engine
• Advanced AI that automates micro-management