Stellaris The Machine Age Review | The Best Expansion Since Utopia

The Machine Age is here, are you ready to ascend to cybernetic heights?
ASpec's videos are based around the popular Grand Strategy Game; Stellaris as well as other fun science fiction properties. Delve into a galaxy that is both dark and full of secrets. This channel has tons of guide, overviews, musing and other content for you to enjoy in the semi-classic game review format. So stick around, grab a drink. Some of this content was heavily inspired by the likes of TheSpiffingBrit, RimmyDownUnder and GrayPlays. Other content is similar to that what you would find on let's play channels like The Yogscast.
Video Title; Stellaris The Machine Age Review | The Best Expansion Since Utopia
00:00 Intro
00:50 Origins
02:00 Civics
04:00 Kilostructures
05:45 Tradition Trees
06:55 Portraits & Ship Sets
07:49 Music
08:30 New Crisis Path
08:55 New Endgame
09:30 Conclusion
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Stellaris Copyright © 2024 Paradox Interactive AB. www.ParadoxPlaza.com
#Stellaris #ASpec #MachineAge

[@shiningamaterasu2579]

"You must construct additional paperclips." Also the new music is a banger.

[@A_Spec]

It slaps so so hard

[@ShadowVR2]

@@A_Spec It has some serious Cyberpunk vibes, and I'm all for that.

[@RottenCabbage]

No shit, I will turn the music back on when I play now.

[@ShadowOfTheBand]

for the first few bars after the bass drop I thought it was literally the cyberpunk trailer music (the E3 one) but it's legally distinct, the best kind of distinct

[@themGAMEman]

They cooked so hard with the music

[@magnusthered4946]

"From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the blessed machine. Your kind cling to your flesh as if it will not decay and fail you. One day the crude biomass you call a temple will wither and you will beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved. For the Machine is Immortal." -Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus opening speech

[@kahldris1228]

The flesh is weak brother

[@nacharcoal]

"Even in death I serve the Omnissiah"

[@Elyseon]

Try as they might, those techno-fetishists will still depend on their addled gray matter.

[@jrdarby]

@@Elyseonand if they weren’t so fearful of novelty, they might have solved that issue too. 🤦‍♂️

[@emhome924]

HERESY! It's already solved. We just need to find it.

[@Kevin-xw1eo]

That music is absolutely "Hifi beats to break into Arasaka HQ to"

[@danielegiuliani2700]

Yeah, it's literally out of Cyberpunk 2077, and I'm all for it

[@bigainzfan6934]

I need to add it to my playlist so bad.

[@Kulsprutejojjo]

Not gonna lie, I subconsciously began to nod my head to that song once Aspec dropped it. I mean, I expected it to be good and around on par with Synthetic Dawn's music, but this easily surpassed it.

[@RealCodreX]

Just ... generic Cyberpunk themed music ala one million times already hearded.

[@War450]

@@RealCodreX Not everything has to be brand new never-before-seen content to still be good, my guy.

[@olefredrikskjegstad5972]

"Diplomatic Protocols engaged - Greetings, I am C-3PO Human-Cyborg Relations"

[@scaper12123]

Personally, I'm waiting for the Psionics update that gives us daemons, monsters, and space wizards.

[@denisddd9362]

Im waiting for biology update for organic ships

[@Herbertti3]

Hopefully next major DLC. Machines or psionics are my two pics on stellaris.

[@TrueWolves]

Shockingly, Psionics has **several** Interactions with the new DLC, including a rather huge one with the new Crisis.

[@chrismeandyou]

There is already a star wars mod, haha

[@yoshi314]

imagine stellaris evolving into a 40K game. i mean, they already sort of went there.

[@l0rf]

Kudos to Paradox for not being scummy with their DLC ... this time. You, however, have absolutely sold me on this.

[@silopante]

Don't forget Astral Planes tho

[@melfice999]

@@silopante This time.

[@l0rf]

@@silopante I never bought that one. Probably won't until it just gets a pity sale of 75% or more. But it seems that, like Sega/CA with Total Warhammer and Shadows of Change, Paradox got a wake up call that you can't just put out 20€ DLC with ~5€ content in them.

[@JAy-dx1xb]

​@@melfice999me and my friend just got the game and we've ben thinking about getting the colossus dlc I think you know why is it good to get or a scam?

[@MCSorry]

@@l0rf Seen as they plan DLCs for the third and last quarter of 2024, I'm quite pessimistic about their economic model.

[@nycto5335]

I know their big portrait updates always take quite a bit of work but I hope they keep doing them. Having portraits that better showcase the ascension path an empire will take is really cool.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

I would love if they went back and gave all the old portraits this organic-cyborg-syth set. I want my shadowy-mantis-morph to get robotized. Declaration: Meat To The Maw!

[@beagletank129]

The music sounds like something straight out the Cyberpunk 2077 combat ost. :D

[@radeksilar543]

It sounds to me like combining Cyberpunk and Mass Effect together ... I like it, but it is strange in a same time.

[@Maradiaga23]

I spent almost 2k hours in Stellaris back in the day, but I haven't touched it in years at this point. This expansion really is making me consider getting back into the game

[@MCDesign199]

Do it, the game has been amazing the past couple years. And this DLC.... WOW 10/10

[@erikaverink8418]

I have around 5k+ hours in it, didn't play it the last year. But this one can get me back for some hours, always liked the game. My problem is (i know myself) i want the 3 missing dlc's also(paragons, astral and?) from past year. But i also look (nowadays) if i play 50 hours for a €25,- dlc it only is 0,50 pro hour. Compare that to buying a beer in a pub. (But that is for me, if it goes of food i wouldn't do it)

[@thosko98]

Accidentally timewarped to 2am because I was having so much fun playing. I am supposed to get up at 6:30am lol

[@David-bf2cg]

Good luck

[@Ruosteinenknight]

Red bull. Lots of Red bull.

[@davidrocksvideogames]

wow, feels like they really heard how people were responding to the class "Paradox dlc model" and put there best and brightest designers into a think tank in order to generate this truly alien idea! And boy is my virtual body here for it!

[@peterknutsen3070]

Some of the recent DLCs were made by outside studios, or that local branch studio that PDX closed down, enabling their HQ designers (in Stockholm, I presume) to spend more time and effort on preparing a DLC like Machine Age.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

The Paradox model of DLC is a great system for long term support of good games. The downside is that people then defend a lackluster/barebones opening release with "well, the DLC will fix it", which shouldn't be the case when the base/core game is still a full price product, and the first DLC is months away(and might not but enough "meat" in all the right places in one go anyway)

[@xbane5109]

that you can play as an fall empire sound so much fun, coming back greetings from germany

[@A_Spec]

Moin

[@galomir833]

I heard thing about the empire we ascend coming back in future game Don’t know if it is the case, but that would mean i can bring my paper clip machine in new game

[@David-bf2cg]

@@galomir833 I dont think so, but i dont know.

[@galomir833]

@@David-bf2cgi dont think too I still hope I don’t remember where I even heard that

[@TrueWolves]

Completing the new Player Crisis path leaves your empire as a new FE when you "win". You do not play as this FE, you won. This FE does not appear in later games*. You can play as another empire after winning, including one of your vassals, or never complete the crisis and enjoy being a pesudo-FE for as long as you want. *5% of FEs have always been able to spawn as a pre existing empire on your empire list if their ethics match. This can be vanilla or player made empires set to spawn but not force spawn into the game. This is how super rare Human FEs can spawn.

[@Quilly_DM]

This is great to hear. Lately Stellaris has been growing stale for me, but this has reinvigorated my interest! Can't wait to play as the Mechanicus working up to become a Fallen Empire.

[@machixius]

This makes up for paragons, astral planes, and first contact

[@nicknbg1981]

I love how I can literally hear how excited and happy you are in your voice!

[@or3609]

That music. Cyberpunk x stellaris

[@schroecat1]

"Yeah that slaps" Truest words ever said.

[@classicfrog80]

I'm a simple man, I hear synthwave I upvote.

[@donpizzaplays8529]

That music makes me think of Cyberpunk 2077!! Awesome stuff.

[@aderitosilvachannel]

Stellaris is one of the very few games that always keeps improving and evolving, with additions that actually change gameplay. Really cool game!

[@sqocks8254]

This expansion and the update alongside it seem amazing, I'm glad to see you are excited for it as well. ^^

[@maryjames8433]

I think we need more endgame systems. Something that uses the crisis system but not necessarily a crisis. For example, forming the first galactic republic/empire, solidifying your power over the galaxy. That or being a megacorp, engineering a galactic economic crisis for your rivals to the point where you buyout their empires.

[@TrueWolves]

Galactic Empire exists with Nemesis but its a bit plain without mods.

[@waffleswafflson3076]

I recently installed Galactic Civilizations 4 and it really makes me appreciate Stellaris. Like everyone other space 4x is 100 years behind Stellaris

[@greedowins2917]

I already started a new playthrough earlier today with the new expansion (arc furnace baby!), and OMg that new music!!! Haven't heard it yet ingame, but now looking forward to it.

[@tash1201]

We wanted to rule the Galaxy. But that music demanded we dance.

[@gabszonha]

I'm so happy for your words Aspec! It is a blast to work with such an amazing team as the current one for Stellaris and seeing people such as yourself acknowledging the hard work everyone has put into it. Thank you for this!

[@johnclifford4185]

Lol the new music is so dope.

[@OldManMordaith]

My first game is Cybernetic Creed. It is amazing. Great video, buddy.

[@steveg3981]

New music is very Rammsteinish which is a plus

[@johnnystonks3970]

Blorg be like : You want to be my friend ? Me, a synthetic empire : NEIN

[@mogshot]

Holy shit. ASpect you real me back in again!

[@Beerpowered]

Hopefully Season 9 in 2025 Overhauls Hiveminds in a similar fashion.

[@EstrellaViajeViajero]

Best video on this so far!

[@virgilesepulchre8963]

When you played the music I litterally had shivers, it's so awesome. I see myself playing until 6am with this beat blasting in my ears for 10 consecutive hours.

[@francoisvercruysse4934]

very interresting, can't wait to try it!

[@Nick-jf7ku]

nice review thanks

[@marklangridge2734]

The new music sounds like Doom(2016) collided with Cyberpunk at relativistic speeds, whilst Stellaris was sitting in between them.

[@ArturSzczur]

My thoughts exactly. It’s fabulous 😎

[@jihyotwice3159]

Can you do a new let's play with the machines as your species? It seems really fun. We had a crisis against the machines but we never was able to play as one.

[@B-...]

Idea for a video: There are so many civics, empire types, alliances, origins, etc. It would be cool to get a list of some ideas on some different "themes" a person could try to get a good sampling of all the diferent cool things in the game.

[@barker262]

I last played when there were actual populations that you physically moved around planet tiles for bonuses. Playing casually, the updates started radically changing the game concepts until I had no idea how to play it. That’s what drove me away; bought one game, it got supplanted by another.

[@102728]

I'm back to the original rome total war myself for that very reason. There are so many features in stellaris that it obfuscates the game. I've tried again and again, but I'm failing to immerse myself and build any connection to my empire or the galaxy it lives in. On paper it should scratch my sci-fi and strategy itches, but in practice it just doesn't. Two of the most important failures of stellaris imo are that the AI empires do not behave like an entity like your own empire, but are rather static and rigid. Like dolls. The other is that basic information of 'how does my empire measure up?' is something you need to dig for, and not for any good reason. I see some numbers at the top of my screen. Are those numbers good? Are they bad? Where is the measuring stick in the game? I've bought most dlc up until the last year or so, where no matter the hype or how good a dlc is supposed to be, the core of the game just doesn't entice me anymore. And yes I liked the tile system a lot for how visual it was, and the naturally projecting borders even more. Though I can accept them doing away with those, it's the issues above that mean the game just isn't for me. And that's like 1k hours in lol

[@barker262]

@@102728 they got rid of borders? But that was one of the best things about it. I typed a huge reply mate but youtube blocked it. Suffice to say they don’t make them like Master of Orion. If you’ve never played that classic, go and find it somewhere and marvel at how much information can be displayed with a few bar graphs. And how engaging and significant ship design can be. 4x sci-fi done right.

[@dgaan_dragonking]

i hope next expansion has something to make organic hiveminds feel better. they just feel like they are lacking something

[@dawgpad]

Been really getting into Stellaris alot more lately. This DLC is the reason I now have my first Stellaris Victory. Love to be getting back into the game on such a peak DLC release.

[@aurorajones8481]

8:04 . Seriously tho not bad but you don't want that all the damn time i hope they phase that in and out. I know this is to much to ask but id love for a new battle/fleet mechanic. I hate the swarms of ships and going off fleet count for a win. 🙄 Id prefer an option for real battle like Total War gives and if you opt in you get a MOO type interface where you can actually place ships, do formations, use cloak and teleporation... stuff you simply cannot do here.

[@user-gj3iu7qu8b]

Aspec, great video as always . Machinerie Age is an absolute game changer for Stellaris. It feels like a new game with endless possibilities. Paradox, I only have one wish, please please please make an DLC with Insect races ( and end crisis).

[@CptUSMC]

When that music hit: LETS GO!!!!!!

[@davidgillon2762]

Everyone laughed at the paperclips and the feared paperclip audit in the Laundry Files, and then half a dozen books in Charlie Stross hit us with an actual paperclip audit, and everyone's jaw bounced on the floor. Just because you're obsessional doesn't mean there isn't a reason justifying it coming steaming down the tracks at some point in the future....

[@prototype102010]

It's been a while since I've felt the call to play Stellaris again. But boy oh boy am I ready!

[@sais9221]

What!? I am just starting the base game. Just got it on sales lol but damn that sound track is awesome!

[@NothingXemnas]

"Best since Utopia" is a VERY bold affirmation, my dude! Utopia is near impossible to beat, but perhaps... "near impossible" means exactly that!

[@Doug464]

It's so cool that they attached all these new gameplay mechanics onto this banger soundtrack dlc

[@shawnjohansen2022]

great expansion, gives me something to do when I sit down to listen to the new soundtrack.

[@joehammond9946]

I’m hooked instantly. I don’t know what it is but I’ve never had a play through where I didn’t eventually convert the pops to synthetics. I’m talking bio-engineering/terraforming play throughs and I’d see the synthetic ascension and I’m like “don’t mind if I do!”

[@alcatraz160]

-301 views in 1 minute. ASpec really popping off.

[@A_Spec]

The classic number is here

[@glennl3778]

Buy for the music alone

[@Edge-wx7hv]

Can't decide whether to go Paperclip Maximizer or Synthetic Fertility first, but I'm definitely going to build the horizon needle. possibly make the synthetic queen spawn so my crisis can go head-to-head with hers lol

[@AngryAnt0]

Holy heck, that music. It went hard! Giving me Payday 2 loud vibes.

[@tobiasGR3Y]

Can't wait to play this when I come home from deployment :)

[@LattasitHaritaworn]

Wonder how sacrificing pop will be for a Virtual empire? Also, "Virtual Birch World"

[@TrueWolves]

Cull the code. Cull the code. (Afaik, you get the bonuses but not the loss of pops as long as you have sacrafice jobs filled with virtual pops.)

[@sagittariusa9012]

2:22 So also the WH40k Old Ones are in the game now, not only the Mechanicus :)

[@twojacksandanace3847]

01 Embassy Propose

[@Kasaaz]

I went back to look at this and other videos because just today, weeks later, I found yet another new thing I didn't even know they had added. Curious what people think about the Genesis Guides Civic.

[@Vooby15]

"No machine can compare to the greatness of the human body." ~ Magos Biologis

[@antares8826]

The new Music kinda reminds me of Cyberpunk 2077 and I absolutely love it!

[@arkimus1911]

Will you make a begginer guide with this faction? I need to watch the older ones first too, love this game but I do not understand much! :P

[@Pixx2266]

I've been crying for new shipsets for a very long time now and we get not 1, not 2, not 3 BUT FOUR. This DLC is a new golden standard imo.

[@pedrobrazon6610]

The new tracks are absolute bangers, waiting for them to release them for the OST

[@ec1195]

if you think you'd have fun would you be willing to do another Ocean paradise playthrough? ^^

[@theholydragonflywings6815]

Ngl i hope future dlc are up to this ones standards cos l think it's amazing :)

[@SeleeneEVE]

I MISSED YOU!!!!

[@linamishima]

Hot dang! Last time I picked up Stellaris, I ended up disappointed as there was no way to create the Bobiverse, but now, now.... WOW. We can make the Bobiverse (from We Are Legion We Are Bob), the Cult Mechanicus, SG-1 replicators / gray goo swarms, and so much more. This expansion actively makes me want to pick Stellaris back up and peer deep into the weakness of the flesh! :D

[@samoandavid9798]

Mommy I just missed the bus the beat drops

[@Jonderski]

absolutely fantastic DLC!! I have a question: do old portraits also change in the process of cyberization?

[@A_Spec]

Not that I know of

[@David-bf2cg]

No only the new ones specifically made for that. Would be cool, but thats like 100 potraits to go back and retroactively basically remake, thats a lot of work.

[@wrydfell3932]

First thing i did when i grabbed cosmogenesis was sit in the Prisoners With Jobs Market and just, threw them all into the lathe until the xenophile fe got real mad at me

[@sedevri864]

I love everthing about this expansion but that music goes SO hard

[@doubt3430]

I just say the cetena lore vide9 and i must say A hug from cetene must be the best thing in the entire universe

[@Ziangal]

Call me sold on this. I get to play the mechanicus from 40K and the new music just slaps.

[@NormalPerson229]

Being able to turn into a fallen empire sounds like a lot of fun. I always wished that Paradox would devote an entire major DLC to the fallen empires. There is just so much potential there for great stories and engaging mechanics.

[@robertfarr9186]

Had me right up to the music… first thing that I turn off in any game

[@atheisticgreyblob3284]

BRUH THAT SOUNDTRACK GOES SOOOO "1010110001101010100111"

[@UnknownTuber450]

I'm curious how might the gigastructure mod team would use kilostructures

[@chancesloan901]

I can't wait for this to come to console, super exciting

[@machionrender6409]

The Machine Age is one of my favorite DLC ever

[@gijskramer1702]

Nice music qnd cool ship

[@Neformalis]

Wow, a Paradox game where expansion has actually bunch of content. Didn't know it is a thing that still happens.

[@lamename2010]

Going to be honest, all the previews i had seen got me to cough up for season 08, because the machine age just looks so good. Having played it some already, it doesn't just look good, but plays great too. Truly slams it out of the park and makes me wonder why the rest of PDX titles seem to be in a slum for the last year or so.

[@SUPREMACY_ARTEMiS]

What about giga structures next ? 🤔😅 Maybe ? Who knows ? I just want more abstract things in this game like a species beccome so powerfull that they can create their entire perfect systems just like a video a once saw from Melodysheep if know this channel. I'm so excited for this update but I'm on ps4... I really hope Stellaris console devs will put a lot of work to finally match with pc players ! 🙂

[@chattychatotchannel]

It would be cool if there was a repo! the genetic opera criminal heritage building where artificial body parts are loaned and repossessed

[@rtaraquin]

7:50 God damn someone's been playing cyberpunk

[@Lincy7734]

I hate the fact that for us to get such a good DLC, we need to have a bad/backlash from the previews one DLC. Its just paradox things same shit happened with eu4 and Leviathan DLC

[@adamkiraly7866]

I don’t quite understand the new arc furnaces, I built one fully in one of my systems and it is giving me 7 minerals and 5 alloys PER PLANET/MOON… I hope more structures like these will be added, and hopefully a play style where you improve your star systems and not necessarily your planets gets added in the future

[@FINKnATOR]

I liked what I was hearing and then you dropped that music in... well I guess this is a buy, that music is crazy!

[@korimiller379]

Ohh... machine mercenaries. Once they get machine mercenary mega-corps I'll have a permanent empire selection choice.

[@gabrielx4639]

I would still like them to give hive minds some love I'm still waiting for bio ships

[@GreenSkinGentleman]

I hope organics (and the hiveminds) will recieve the same treatment soon. I always wanted a biological version of the driven assimilators/Rogue Servitors.

[@wedgeantilles8575]

I bought the season pass - first time I ever did that in any game. 40 Euro for this DLC + 2 more DLCs, this DLC is easiyl worth 20 and the others will be worth 10/each hopefully. I didn't buy Astral Planes, but I reward high quality DLCs.

[@ScottishDavePala]

Hell yess for more ROBOTS.

[@funkkymonkey6924]

Its nice to see an additive DLC instead of something that kinda just patches a part of the game.

[@asham868]

Im very happy with the expansion. If they put out another astral planes i would have given up on the game

[@Bleiser3]

Do gestalt machines get anything?

[@nuclearmask8991]

Nanites are my favourite not gonna lie. In essence it also gives you free better Machine Worlds.

[@tempest8882]

This music makes me want to party like it's 2023