The Complexity Meter
The Complexity Meter is a bar in creators that indicates the complexity from added parts on the creation. Adding parts (such as mouths on a creature) will increase the complexity of the creation until it reaches the maximum amount, at which point nothing else can be added to the creation. Parts will be colored red when they cannot be added due to exceeding the complexity limit, similar to if they are too expensive to add.
It is specially made to counter the potential performance issues. Creations are not loaded as a single model, instead loading multiple variables that form the creation, therefore limiting the amount of creation variables (type of limb, part size and deformation, location etc.) the computer has to load optimizes performance when using the creatures, otherwise creations would take too long to load on slower computers.
Most of the complexity meter limitations can be circumvented by activating a cheat code, freedom. Though, creations that exceed the normal complexity meter will not be pollinated, cannot appear in game and are marked with a red complexity symbol on their Sporepedia card.
The maximum amount of complexity on a creature is 138 points and 148 points for any outfitted creatures. These numbers are not including the starting 2 minimum complexity that the 2 spinal columns gives.
Creation types[]
Creatures[]
For a creature body with 2 spine segments (the smallest size allowable; each with a complexity of 1), allowing for 138 complexity points worth of additional features on the creature.
Here are the costs in terms of complexity points that each of the items in the Spore Creature Creator uses:
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Tips & Tricks[]
- Each arm/leg segment has a complexity of 1.5. The default graspers/feet have a complexity of 0, excluding the Robot parts which have a default complexity of 1 (the Bot Parts arms and legs come with the statted hands and feet already attached and effectively lack a "default" hand or foot entirely).
- You can use the Asymmetry tool (Hold the 'A' key while moving a part) to move the singular details of a certain part, this can allow you to create features on the back (such as spines or plates) for half of the complexity and DNA cost. Holding A while clicking a centered symmetrical part will convert it to assymetrical without moving it, so you don't lose the exact centering.
- You can use Limb segments as a suitable, lower complexity replacement for a longer tail feature on your creature, and can be used to create splits in the tail for more intricate designs or multiple tails.
- If you are playing through the Story mode, is useful to attempt to optimise your creation's complexity as much as possible, as this will give you more complexity to add more clothing in later stages.
- Some parts provide the same or better abilities but with lower or equal complexity ratings, take this into consideration if a specific theme is not a priority.
- If you have completed the Creature Stage, it is a viable option to downgrade the parts of your creature, or take them off completely, this can notably reduce your creature's complexity, and the abilities of your creature are not as important in other stages. These abilities can also be completely replaced by better abilities in Galactic Adventures.
- Most Detail Parts have a complexity rating of 1, you can use this to count how much complexity your creation has left before it is full.
Clothing and Captain Outfits[]
In outfit editors accessible from the Tribal Stage onwards, players can add clothing parts to a pre-existing creature, clothing part complexities are added on top of the complexity of the creature being outfitted.
All clothing outfitter parts have a complexity score of 1.
Captain parts have the following complexity scores: (WIP, fixing names shortly)
| 1 Bladed Knuckles | 3 Plasma Pulser | 3 Lightning Striker | 3 Missile Flinger |
| 3 Toxic Crystal | 3 Swarm Magnet | 3 Icy Band | 3 Hypnomelder |
| 1 Compact Generator | 1 Compact Battery | 1 Power Generator | 1 Power Battery |
| 3 Invigorator | 3 Stam-Booster | 3 Super Invigorator | 3 Mega Stam-Magnifier |
| 1 Ducal Cape | 1 Princely Pad | 3 Regal Ring | 1 Imperial Robe |
| 3 Harpolizer | 3 Hop Gogs | 3 Synergizer | 3 Fettipopper |
| 3 Sprint Pack | 3 Glider Pack | 3 Stealth Helmet | 3 Jump Jet |
| 1 Protecto-Shell | 3 Danger Reductor | 3 Power Shield | 3 Regen-Deflector |
Buildings[]
Buildings (in the Civilization and Space stage) require a minimum of 3 parts in order to be saved or uploaded.
Vehicles and Spacecraft[]
Similar to Buildings, vehicles and spacecraft also require at least 3 parts added on the creation in order to be uploaded.