Summary:
If you're a Master of Orion fan (especially MOO2) then this is the game for you! ISG is not perfect but the dev's community engagement is excellent and they are constantly improving the game with new content!

Full Review: (Based on Version 1.1.4 with no DLC)
https://youtu.be/SpqP2s6ypys?list=PLZqnaGtTZxFaFpLK9q85NGBl8_iOIxtUv
https://youtu.be/EGdmW-swlZo?list=PLZqnaGtTZxFaFpLK9q85NGBl8_iOIxtUv
I originally found ISG while making my Imperium Galactica Series Tribute Website[blakessanctum.x10.mx] and have watched it for a couple of years now. I was so impressed with all their recent improvements that I just couldn't resist finally buying it! I only planned to test the game for 5 minutes with the intention of playing it properly in a few years once they'd finished all patches, addons and dlc etc. However after 5 minutes I was COMPLETELY hooked and could not stop playing the game for weeks and weeks lol. It feels a lot like MOO2 but it has a number of unique differences and improves either original or taken from other 4X space games. There are some parts of the game that could use more work but most of it is an absolute blast! I'll definitely be getting the DLCs as what's here is already awesome so I can't wait to see it get better.

Pros:
- MOO2 style galaxy and solar systems with multiple planets in system. Jump lanes are optional and not enforced (so you can free fly to any system in range like in MOO2)
- Choice between full or randomized tech trees
- Unique sector scanning system that reveals new solar systems and cool stuff as the game progresses.
- Interesting multiple choice culture perk 'secondary research tree like' system for cool bonuses to make tough choices between.
- Super resources that give empire bonuses and entirely new extra multiple choice bonus techs for research (more tough decisions to be made haha).
- Gorgeous new planet screens (not in original release) filled with life, effects and interesting things to look at (I looove Lava world).
- Awesome space and scifi like music
- Battles have interesting bonus heat management mechanic to boost certain systems.
- Asteroid mining, planet construction, and terraform projects which are always fun.
- A very Heroes of Might & Magic style planet and ship leader/hero development system.
- MOO2 like ship design system with all those little fun weapon upgrades like autofire, continuous, spinal mount, miniaturization etc.
- 6 unique and cool looking alien races with their own special abilities, plus 2 more in first DLC and possibly more to come!
- Nice player race customization with all those familiar modifiers from MOO but also with racial super ability customization too.
- Sliders to increase or decrease the speed of production and research in a new game to cater for different play styles (some complained game progression was too slow, others too fast lol).
- Interesting random events morality multiple choice system like we see in many 4X games now.
- Excellent community engagement from the devs! I can't remember the last time I saw devs interact and action feedback from fans (countless changes to this game have been made since 2018 because of them listening to fan feedback) as much as Mike and the gang do!

Cons:
- Setting up games with more than 6 players is unnecessarily difficult as you have to create custom variations of the existing races yourself as there's no button to generate them for you. Free up your calendar if you wanna setup a 20 player game lol.
- Spying unrealistic and impractical. Your vital ship and colony leaders ARE the spies you send into danger which few people are going to do lol.
- [EDIT - SOON TO BE FIXED] You are punished for developing huge planets due to a population penalty cap that doesn't care what the planet size is. If you hit the cap your people get angry making your huge worlds weaker than your large ones.
- Fleet management is not great. You lose track of things on a busy map and the fleet list menu is not very useful. Game needs a idle ship warning and put ship to sleep system to help players not lose track of their stuff.
- The grand council is nothing more than a diplomatic victory (that's too easy IMO), would be cool if the council was expanded to something like MOO3's who voted on cool empire changing bonuses and embargos.
- Diplomacy is nothing revolutionary and is missing the ability to demand planets from other races (you can gift them though). 2 way planet exchanging is important in games for my 'peacekeeper/puppet master' gameplay style.
- Game lacks a proper culture population territory capture and victory system. You can completely surround a fledgling enemy system with your colour but it won't switch to you.
- No shift click que multi ship orders system. What a weird thing to be missing from a modern game lol.
- Also can't que planetary infrastructure picks which is annoying when you've got a huge empire of planets.
- Being able to que planet buildings you don't have prerequisites for yet (but will) would be nice too for new planets.
- Game needs more planet types
- [EDIT - SOON TO BE FIXED] Game has no ship rally point system
- No Dreadnought class between Battleship and Titan. Never rob a man of his Dreadnoughts lol.

There's some seriously active development on this game so keep in mind that many of these cons may disappear in the years to come. I'll try to keep this up to date.

[b]Summary:[/b] If you're a Master of Orion fan (especially MOO2) then this is the game for you! ISG is not perfect but the dev's community engagement is excellent and they are constantly improving the game with new content! [b]Full Review:[/b] [i](Based on Version 1.1.4 with no DLC) [/i] https://youtu.be/SpqP2s6ypys?list=PLZqnaGtTZxFaFpLK9q85NGBl8_iOIxtUv https://youtu.be/EGdmW-swlZo?list=PLZqnaGtTZxFaFpLK9q85NGBl8_iOIxtUv I originally found ISG while making my [url=http://blakessanctum.x10.mx/Games/Imperium/]Imperium Galactica Series Tribute Website[/url] and have watched it for a couple of years now. I was so impressed with all their recent improvements that I just couldn't resist finally buying it! I only planned to test the game for 5 minutes with the intention of playing it properly in a few years once they'd finished all patches, addons and dlc etc. However after 5 minutes I was COMPLETELY hooked and could not stop playing the game for weeks and weeks lol. It feels a lot like MOO2 but it has a number of unique differences and improves either original or taken from other 4X space games. There are some parts of the game that could use more work but most of it is an absolute blast! I'll definitely be getting the DLCs as what's here is already awesome so I can't wait to see it get better. [i]Pros:[/i] - MOO2 style galaxy and solar systems with multiple planets in system. Jump lanes are optional and not enforced (so you can free fly to any system in range like in MOO2) - Choice between full or randomized tech trees - Unique sector scanning system that reveals new solar systems and cool stuff as the game progresses. - Interesting multiple choice culture perk 'secondary research tree like' system for cool bonuses to make tough choices between. - Super resources that give empire bonuses and entirely new extra multiple choice bonus techs for research (more tough decisions to be made haha). - Gorgeous new planet screens (not in original release) filled with life, effects and interesting things to look at (I looove Lava world). - Awesome space and scifi like music - Battles have interesting bonus heat management mechanic to boost certain systems. - Asteroid mining, planet construction, and terraform projects which are always fun. - A very Heroes of Might & Magic style planet and ship leader/hero development system. - MOO2 like ship design system with all those little fun weapon upgrades like autofire, continuous, spinal mount, miniaturization etc. - 6 unique and cool looking alien races with their own special abilities, plus 2 more in first DLC and possibly more to come! - Nice player race customization with all those familiar modifiers from MOO but also with racial super ability customization too. - Sliders to increase or decrease the speed of production and research in a new game to cater for different play styles (some complained game progression was too slow, others too fast lol). - Interesting random events morality multiple choice system like we see in many 4X games now. - Excellent community engagement from the devs! I can't remember the last time I saw devs interact and action feedback from fans (countless changes to this game have been made since 2018 because of them listening to fan feedback) as much as Mike and the gang do! [i]Cons:[/i] - Setting up games with more than 6 players is unnecessarily difficult as you have to create custom variations of the existing races yourself as there's no button to generate them for you. Free up your calendar if you wanna setup a 20 player game lol. - Spying unrealistic and impractical. Your vital ship and colony leaders ARE the spies you send into danger which few people are going to do lol. - [EDIT - SOON TO BE FIXED] You are punished for developing huge planets due to a population penalty cap that doesn't care what the planet size is. If you hit the cap your people get angry making your huge worlds weaker than your large ones. - Fleet management is not great. You lose track of things on a busy map and the fleet list menu is not very useful. Game needs a idle ship warning and put ship to sleep system to help players not lose track of their stuff. - The grand council is nothing more than a diplomatic victory (that's too easy IMO), would be cool if the council was expanded to something like MOO3's who voted on cool empire changing bonuses and embargos. - Diplomacy is nothing revolutionary and is missing the ability to demand planets from other races (you can gift them though). 2 way planet exchanging is important in games for my 'peacekeeper/puppet master' gameplay style. - Game lacks a proper culture population territory capture and victory system. You can completely surround a fledgling enemy system with your colour but it won't switch to you. - No shift click que multi ship orders system. What a weird thing to be missing from a modern game lol. - Also can't que planetary infrastructure picks which is annoying when you've got a huge empire of planets. - Being able to que planet buildings you don't have prerequisites for yet (but will) would be nice too for new planets. - Game needs more planet types - [EDIT - SOON TO BE FIXED] Game has no ship rally point system - No Dreadnought class between Battleship and Titan. Never rob a man of his Dreadnoughts lol. There's some seriously active development on this game so keep in mind that many of these cons may disappear in the years to come. I'll try to keep this up to date.