Star Command

This isn’t a proper review at all. I’ve been really enjoying this game for the last few hours. I’ve built up my starter ship, upgraded nearly every component and maxed out the crew. I’m working my way through the scenarios to follow the plot, to arm up with upgrade tokens and to try and level … Continue reading “Star Command”

This isn’t a proper review at all. I’ve been really enjoying this game for the last few hours. I’ve built up my starter ship, upgraded nearly every component and maxed out the crew. I’m working my way through the scenarios to follow the plot, to arm up with upgrade tokens and to try and level up my skilled crew. So far I’ve fought brains in jars, insectoids, traitors and cold-war era Soviet zombies. I’ve lost a few crew to alien incursion, fires in my bulkheads and the icy void of space.

The game is real-time tactics (a subset of real-time strategy) mixed with roving adventure and humorous narrative. You get to name your own ship and your captain. You can also name each crew member as you recruit them (but, ye gods, who has time for that). And while the system seems easy to control, try this when you’re trying to direct a team of Security and Command down a hall, flanked by Science/Medical staff, repelling brain-in-jar robot invaders while also trying to evade missiles and direct engineers to repair vital systems.

My problems with Star Command:

You really need the sound on. The sound for incoming missiles and lasers is quite quiet and there doesn’t seem to be a visual telltale for it. As you only have a few seconds before a shield breach becomes a gaping, sucking hole in your hull, being able to hear when someone is shooting at you is vital.

The movement and shooting AI isn’t the best. But then if you manage it right, it doesn’t need to be the best. It just gets difficult when you’re involved in a firefight in a crowded room (filled with your precious upgrades).

It’s all about fighting so far. I know this is version 1.0 and there’s more content coming (including Contraband). I’m not fussed on trading but I would like to see more plot development.

For a couple of quid, it’s a no brainer. A universal app on iPhone and iPad and coming to Android soon.

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