Pax Autocratica Review Summary

Fun and smooth genre-blending gameplay is undercut by shallow content, a frustrating capture mechanic, and frequent crashes.

Game is fun and enjoyable: Players consistently describe the game as fun, entertaining, and well worth playing. The gameplay is praised for being engaging and promising.

Performance is smooth and optimized: Gameplay is reported as well optimized, running smoothly without lag or frame drops, even on max settings. Performance is a strong point across various builds.

Game is unique and different: The game stands out as different, unique, and fresh, with new ideas and a distinct style. It is described as an incredible and impressive experience.

Combat is fun and fast: Combat is highlighted as simple, fast, and enjoyable, with special praise for FPS combat. Gunplay is noted as responsive and satisfying.

Base building is engaging: Base building and colony management are described as enjoyable, relaxing, and well-implemented, with many buildings to construct. The mechanics are praised for their depth.

Content is shallow and derivative: The game is seen as a mishmash of other base builders and rogue-likes, lacking originality and depth, with only a few weapons and repetitive maps. It feels like a ripoff of Helldivers, Warhammer, and Palworld, with no clear identity.

Capture mechanic is frustrating: Capturing enemies is frustrating because teammates kill them, capture probability depends on health and ammo type, and aiming is obstructed. The system is not rewarding and often forces players to restart.

Developer trust is questionable: Some reviews highlight the developer's history of scummy behavior including NFT schemes, pay-to-win mechanics, deleting content creator keys, and using AI-generated content without disclosure. This undermines player confidence.

Quality of life features are lacking: Many quality-of-life features are missing, such as better base management options, automation in construction, and unclear explanations of systems. This makes the game less accessible and user-friendly.

Weapon and combat depth is poor: Weapons have almost no differences, rare ammo types are not stronger, and gunplay lacks variety. The combat feels stiff, with no recoil differences and limited weapon count.

Base building and management core: The game heavily features base building, city building, and management mechanics. Players construct and upgrade structures while managing workers and upkeep.

Genre blend of management and FPS: The game uniquely combines colony management, base building, and roguelike elements with first-person shooter combat. This hybrid approach is frequently mentioned as a defining feature.

Roguelike elements integrated: Roguelike and roguelite mechanics are prominent, including randomized choices, passives, and ability customization. Death results in losing most loot, adding risk and replayability.

Palworld-like capture system: Players can capture enemies similar to Palworld and convert them into base workers or fighters. Captured enemies can also be indoctrinated or executed, adding moral choices.

Mixed genres highlight: Reviewers frequently note the game's combination of different game styles, from management to shooter. This blend is seen as a key strength and novelty.

Performance is highly praised: Many players report excellent performance with smooth frame rates and no crashes or significant drops, even on low-end systems like the Steam Deck.

Frequent crashes reported: A subset of players experienced frequent crashes, including after dialogue and on loading screens, with one crash occurring just 9 minutes into play.

Upscaling quality is poor: DLSS and FSR quality were criticized as blurry, with DLSS being outdated and frame generation not available.

Electrocution sounds are off-putting: A reviewer noted long, distracting moaning and choking sounds during electrocution scenes.

Fan noise from performance: Performance issues triggered noticeable fan noise in specific scenarios, affecting the experience.

Worth its price: Multiple reviewers state that the game provides enough content for the price and is very much worth buying. They encourage supporting the developers, indicating good value for money.

Genre-specific recommendations: The game is recommended for fans of classic multiplayer shooters, strategy and action, and roguelike shooters with base management. It appeals to various genre preferences.

Wait for updates: Some reviewers recommend waiting for a few updates before buying the game, indicating that the current state may not be fully polished. They see potential for improvement.

Try before buy: Reviewers suggest trying the game first, possibly through Steam's refund policy, to see if it fits preferences. This practical advice is useful for potential buyers.

Playable solo: The game can be played solo already, which is appealing for players who prefer single-player experiences. This is a positive aspect noted by reviewers.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00.

Session length: 1.0h.

Earth From Another Sun is immediately engaging with fast-paced combat and progression, though some players find base management tedious and repetitive after the initial hook.

Friction: base building requires visiting each building individually; difficulty making ships after tutorial; repetitive environments; boring power meter minigame.

Unlock drivers: capturing enemy bosses; tech tree progression; gear and weapon advancements; randomized team building.

Genre Fusion Enthusiast: Experimenting with different builds and managing base between battles. Motivation: Enjoying the unique blend of rogue-like, shooter, base management, and creature collecting genres. Stance: buy.

Co-op Future Buyer: Prefers social play; currently solo but anticipating co-op. Motivation: Waiting for cooperative multiplayer to play with friends. Stance: sale.

Early Access Supporter: Progression-focused, enjoying steady advancement without grind. Motivation: Supporting early access development with a positive, grind-free experience. Stance: buy.

Overall, the game performs well across the reported Windows hardware cohorts, with most users reporting smooth or stable performance; occasional stutters are noted on mid-range VRAM systems and one crash report on the highest-end hardware.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. Most users report good performance with some mentions of occasional stutters and need for further optimization.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. All reports indicate smooth performance with no crashes or major issues.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. Reports are positive, with users noting smooth gameplay and only minor concerns about power draw and future optimization.

Steam Deck: The game is playable on Steam Deck but requires adjusting shadow settings to low for consistent performance, and some users experience occasional crashes. Overall performance and controller support are positive, but tinkering is needed to avoid issues.

Linux and Proton: Based on two Steam Deck (Linux/Proton) reviews, the game runs well with a minor graphical adjustment. No critical issues or heavy workarounds reported.

Compared to Palworld and others: Reviewers frequently compare the game to popular titles like Palworld, Helldivers, Satisfactory, Rimworld, and Mount & Blade, noting similarities in creature capturing, base building, and colony management. These comparisons help set expectations for gameplay mechanics.

Promising roadmap with future updates: The developer has a published roadmap that includes co-op mode, language support, relationship systems, and more content. Reviewers view the roadmap positively and are eager to see the game evolve during early access.

Formerly Earth From Another Sun: Several reviewers note that the game was previously titled 'Earth From Another Sun' (EFAS) and has gone through a rebranding. Some are aware of its seven-year development history and the removal of NFT/crypto elements.

Early access expected to be unfinished: Many reviewers acknowledge the game is in early access and therefore lacks polish, but they still enjoy the experience and see potential for improvement. They expect the developers to continue refining and adding content based on the roadmap.

High potential and polish: Reviewers see great potential in the game, describing it as a promising base with a bright future if the developers continue to update and refine it. Some report that the core experience already feels polished and complete despite early access status.