Starsector

Last updated
Starsector
Starsector Cover Art.jpeg
Developer(s) Fractal Softworks
Publisher(s) Fractal Softworks
Composer(s) Stian Stark
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS
ReleaseApril 26, 2013 (Early access)
(last update: February 17, 2024 (0.97a-RC11)) [1]
Genre(s) Action role-playing game
Mode(s) Single-player

Starsector (formerly Starfarer) is a top-down single-player indie role-playing game developed and published by Fractal Softworks for PC, with the Alpha released in 2011. Set in the year 3126, the player commands a fleet of spaceships and engages in trade, exploration, and combat in a procedurally generated world.

Contents

Reviewers praised the game on release and have continued to do so on every update, calling it a sort of " Mount & Blade: Warband in space". [2] Fractal Softworks have continued to regularly update the game with new ships, weapons, missions and gameplay features.

Gameplay

Starsector is an open world single-player space combat role playing and exploration game, [3] with a procedurally generated map. [4] The player is able to interact with and join one of 7 factions, remain as an independent, or become a mercenary. At the start of the game, the player is given the option to choose their portrait and spawns in the world with a small fleet of ships. After an extremely short series of tutorial missions, the player is given complete freedom to do whatever they desire. [5] Movement of the player's fleet in the game is controlled by the mouse, or can be set on autopilot. The player can either travel freely through space or select a destination to travel to on the map. There are various faction-owned colonies where the player can purchase materials, such as supplies for maintenance and fuel for interstellar travel. The player can also hire new crew members, purchase ships, and conduct trade at colonies. As of the 0.9 patch, the player is able to establish their own colonies and manage their own faction. [2]

Missions are offered as the player flies through space or goes to colonies, and will disappear soon after, as transmissions travel in real time. Completing these missions rewards you with credits, the universal currency in the sector for conducting business. The game sports a real-time simulated economy on every colony, with an open market (subject to a tariff of 30 percent) as well as a black market, where one can purchase and sell illegal goods without a tariff. Which goods are illegal vary between factions; for instance, "The Hegemony" bans the purchase and sale of recreational drugs, human organs, AI cores, and heavy weaponry. [6]

All ships in the game are customizable through the "refit" feature, and the player can equip different weapons, perks, and special abilities to every ship. [7] These perks/abilities ("hullmods") have a wide range of different effects, such as improving the ship's travel speed, improving the armor/swivel speed of the ship's weapon mounts, or making the survey of planets cheaper.

Combat

Combat occurs when one fleet intercepts another in space. The game interface then changes and the player is able to take control of a ship directly. The player is also able to control all other ships with commands such as "avoid", "escort", "move to position", "attack" or "full retreat". [6] Different weapons do more damage against different types of targets (shields, hulls, etc.). The game uses tank controls (using A and D to turn), with the option to change to standard WASD (turning towards your mouse). A ship generates "flux," a fictitious waste product similar to waste heat, when it fires weapons or absorbs damage with its shields. Flux has to be rejected into space (either passively or actively) lest the ship experience an "overload," rendering the ship totally nonfunctional for a brief time. [6]

Victory provides the player an opportunity to scavenge the remains of the enemy ships or restore them to add to their fleet. Failure means they may attempt a full retreat. If they fail at the retreat and their fleet is destroyed, the player will not die, but will escape and be given a minuscule fleet in order to start over again. Combat rewards players with experience, which they can use on their character to gain more skills. [6]

Plot

The game itself has minimal plot, and the player is involved in very few story moments. The player is instead intended to create their own story. Lead developer Alexander Mosolov has stated that the player is intended to uncover lore as they travel throughout the world. [7]

The game takes place in the year 3126, after humanity developed faster-than-light travel using transport gates. For many years, this method of travel created a golden age for humanity. However, exactly 206 cycles prior to the game's start, all transport gates abruptly ceased to function and humanity was plunged into a Dark Age where piracy went rampant and splintering factions began to form and exert their influence. This event is referred to as "the collapse". [8] In the sector, there are various different factions that have taken hold and reached a strategic stalemate, with no faction being able to win. [8] These factions are:

Development

Starsector was made entirely by Fractal Softworks, led by indie developer Alexander Mosolov. [2] Mosolov cited Star Control II as a "major" influence on the game's development, as well as Wing Commander: Privateer , Sid Meier's Pirates! , and Solar Winds . [11]

The Alpha Version of Starsector was released on April 29, 2011, with six missions and a tutorial, as well as some basic modding tools. Starsector is written in Java using LWJGL, and has been receiving steady updates for over a decade. [2] As of January 3, 2021 the game contains 14 missions, 3 combat tutorials, the steadily-updating campaign mode with several major gameplay systems (an economy that easily scales-up, planetary colonization, exploration and salvage, factional reputations, bounty hunting, player and non-player colony raiding). These systems are well-integrated with the core combat gameplay and some are expected to be expanded or improved upon, such as expanding the player's options in raiding colonies. [12]

The game is currently available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Notably, the game is not currently available on digital distribution platforms such as Steam. A release on those platforms is planned in the future, when the game is more "ready". [13]

Reception

Since the Alpha version of the game, the game has received critical acclaim, most notably from Rock, Paper, Shotgun, who said in 2012 that the game was "already top-notch stuff". [14] Eurogamer also previewed the game in 2013, saying that "even now there's a lot to relish", while expressing optimism about the game's expansion. [15] That same year, Kotaku recommended it as a successor to Star Control II and The Ur-Quan Masters . [16] Cubed3 previewed the unfinished game in 2017, explaining that Starsector "has a way to go as far as hammering out balance ... which is a massive annoyance to an otherwise promising space sandbox game." [17] Rock Paper Shotgun noted that the game was still unfinished in 2018, but recommended the game as "more than worth the money already". [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Star Control</i> 1990 video game

Star Control: Famous Battles of the Ur-Quan Conflict, Volume IV is an action-strategy video game developed by Toys for Bob and published by Accolade. It was originally released for MS-DOS and Amiga in 1990, followed by ports for the Sega Genesis and additional platforms in 1991. The story is set during an interstellar war between two space alien factions, with humanity joining the Alliance of Free Stars to defeat the invading Ur-Quan Hierarchy. Players can choose to play as either faction, each with seven different alien starships which are used during the game's combat and strategy sections.

<i>X3: Reunion</i> 2005 single-player space trading and combat video game

X3: Reunion is a single-player space trading and combat video game developed by Egosoft and published by Deep Silver. It is the third installment in the X series and the sequel to X2: The Threat (2003), which in turn followed X: Beyond the Frontier (1999). X3: Reunion was released originally for Windows in 2005. The game was later ported to Mac OS X and Linux.

<i>Space Rangers</i> (video game) 2002 space trading and combat simulator video game

Space Rangers is a multi-genre computer game by the Russian company Elemental Games, released by 1C Company in 2002. It is critically acclaimed and popular in its home country, Finland and parts of Eastern Europe, although not so popular elsewhere due to lack of marketing. In 2004, 1C Company published a sequel, Space Rangers 2: Dominators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star Fleet Battle Force</span>

Star Fleet Battle Force is a card-based starship combat game system, produced and developed by Amarillo Design Bureau Inc. It allows fast-paced multiplayer combat between vessels of various factions in the Star Fleet Universe, such as the Federation, the Klingon and Romulan Empires, the Gorn Confederation, Kzinti Hegemony, Tholian Holdfast and Orion Pirates. The game is based on the races that appear in the original Star Trek television series.

[Star Fleet Battle Force] is a very intrigu[ing] mix of rules that simplify miniature space based games while maintaining a level of detail that preserves the flavor and excitement of the Star Fleet universe.

<i>Master of Orion III</i> 2003 video game

Master of Orion III is a 4X turn-based strategy game and the third in the Master of Orion series. Master of Orion III was developed by Quicksilver Software and published by Infogrames Interactive on February 25, 2003.

<i>Star Trek: Legacy</i> Video game based on the Star Trek series

Star Trek: Legacy is a 2006 real-time tactics space combat video game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 developed by Mad Doc Software and published by Bethesda Softworks in association with CBS Paramount Television and CBS Consumer Products. Originally slated for release in the fall of 2006 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, the Windows version was not released in North America until December 5, 2006, and the Xbox 360 version until December 15. In Europe, both the PC version and the Xbox 360 version were released on December 22, 2006.

<i>Sins of a Solar Empire</i> 2008 video game

Sins of a Solar Empire is a 2008 science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Ironclad Games and published by Stardock Entertainment for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that incorporates some elements from 4X games; its makers describe it as "RT4X". Players are given control of a spacefaring empire in the distant future, and are tasked with conquering star systems using military, economic and diplomatic means.

<i>Wing Commander: Privateer</i> 1993 video game

Wing Commander: Privateer is an adventure space trading and combat simulator computer video game which was released by Origin Systems in September 1993. Privateer and its storyline is part of the Wing Commander series. The player takes the role of Grayson Burrows, a "privateer" who travels through the Gemini Sector, one of many sectors in the Wing Commander universe. Unlike Wing Commander, the player is no longer a navy pilot, but a freelancer who can choose to be a pirate, a merchant, a mercenary or any of the above in some combination. The player may follow the built-in plot, but is free to adventure on his own, even after the plot has been completed.

<i>Colony Wars</i> 1997 video game

Colony Wars is a 1997 space combat simulation video game developed and released by Psygnosis for the PlayStation. Players complete space combat missions using preselected starfighters equipped with various weapons. The game features multiple paths of missions and outcomes, depending on the player's performance. It was followed by Colony Wars: Vengeance in 1998, and Colony Wars: Red Sun in 2000.

<i>X3: Terran Conflict</i> 2008 space trading and combat simulator

X3: Terran Conflict is a space trading and combat simulator by German developer Egosoft, part of their X series of games. Described as a stand-alone game, based on X3: Reunion, it boasts new plot lines, features and assets. It was first released in October 2008 for the European market and Steam.

<i>Space Empires: Starfury</i> 2003 video game

Space Empires: Starfury is a 4X turn-based strategy computer game developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Shrapnel Games on September 22, 2003. The game is set in a Space Empires universe containing planetary systems linked by warp points, or wormholes. The game allows the player to control a single spaceship to explore the universe.

<i>Infinite Space</i> 2009 video game

Infinite Space is a 2009 role-playing video game co-developed by Nude Maker and PlatinumGames for the Nintendo DS. It was published by Sega in 2009 in Japan, and 2010 in Western territories. The science fiction storyline, set across the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds, follows the life and growth of Yuri as he first confronts the aggressive expansion of the Lugovalian Empire, then a greater alien threat. Gameplay involves Yuri's fleet travelling across the galaxies, fighting in both scripted battles and random encounters, with the battle system featuring real-time commands and both ships and crew being customizable.

<i>Pardus</i> (video game) 2004 video game

Pardus is a graphical browser-based MMORPG written in PHP and C/C++ and set in a futuristic universe where players interact and compete in space. It is a persistent-universe, open-ended game with a player-driven economy. Players travel through hundreds of "sectors" or solar systems while trading, building or battling with non-player characters (NPCs) and other players. There are dozens of spacecraft models in Pardus, which can be customized with different weapons, armor and other equipment. Pardus characters do not have a defined 'class'.

Space Pirates and Zombies (S.P.A.Z.) is a real-time strategy video game released on August 15, 2011, on the Steam distribution platform. with a top-down perspective based around space combat. The game was developed by a two-man team under the studio MinMax Games using the Torque engine. The game was later ported for Mac OS X and Linux systems.

<i>Battlefleet Gothic: Armada</i> 2016 video game

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a real-time tactics video game developed by Tindalos Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive. It is set in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, and is specifically an adaptation of the miniature wargame Battlefleet Gothic by Games Workshop.

<i>Endless Sky</i> 2015 video game

Endless Sky is a space trading and combat simulation video game, created by Michael Zahniser and first released in June 2015. In Endless Sky, the player starts out as a spaceship captain and can trade, transport passengers or fight pirates to earn money. There are also a few story lines that the player can choose to participate in. The game is similar to games in the Escape Velocity series.

<i>Star Conflict</i> 2012 video game

Star Conflict is a free-to-play dynamic massively multiplayer online space action game. The core of the game is PvP spaceships battles, PvE (Co-Op) missions and an open world.

<i>Heaven Will Be Mine</i> 2018 visual novel video game

Heaven Will Be Mine is a sci-fi romance visual novel developed by American studios Pillow Fight Games and Worst Girl Games for Windows, Mac, Linux, and iOS. The story is set in an alternate history post-Cold War universe wherein humanity has split into three warring factions, known as the Memorial Foundation, Cradle's Graces, and the Celestial Mechanics. Over the course of the game the player, through combat interactions with the other two faction pilots, can gradually push one of these three factions toward dominance over space and humanity's future.

<i>Rebel Galaxy Outlaw</i> 2019 video game

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a space trading and combat simulation game developed and published by Double Damage Games. It is the prequel to Rebel Galaxy.

Starborne: Sovereign Space is a massively multiplayer, online real-time strategy game developed by Icelandic software company Solid Clouds. In 2013 Solid Clouds began pre production of Starborne with full production starting in 2016 and the first external Alpha that same year. It is currently in Beta. The game is set in a futuristic science fiction setting and the writing fits the genre of a space opera.

References

  1. ↑ Alexander Mosolov (17 February 2024). "Starsector 0.97a (Released) Patch Notes". fractalsoftworks.com. Fractal Softworks. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tarason, Dominic (16 November 2018). "Space sandbox Starsector resurfaces with a massive update". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Starsector". GamePressure. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  4. ↑ McKee, Kenny (12 July 2017). "Starsector Preview". heypoorplayer.com. Hey Poor Player. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "Starsector". Fractalsoftworks.com. Fractal Softworks. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bates, Aidan (18 February 2020). "Starsector Early Access Preview". invasioncommunity.co.uk. Invasion Community. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  7. 1 2 Meyer, Erik (15 January 2020). "Interview: Starsector's Alexander Mosolov". indiegraze.com. Indie Graze. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  8. 1 2 Ivalyo (21 February 2011). "The State of Affairs". fractalsoftworks.com. Fractal Softworks. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Starsector » The Pilgrim's Path" . Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  10. ↑ dgbaumgart (16 August 2017). "A True and Accurate History of the Persean Sector". fractalsoftworks.com. Fractal Softworks. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "An exclusive interview with StarSector lead developer Alexander Mosolov". Indie Retro News. October 12, 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  12. ↑ "Starsector » Raiding for Fun and Profit".
  13. ↑ "Topic: Frequenty Made Suggestions". Fractal Softworks Forum. Fractal Softworks. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  14. ↑ Smith, Adam (20 February 2012). "Fair of face, Filled with Space: Starfarer". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  15. ↑ Cameron, Phill (2013-03-06). "Meet Starsector, the 2D space-sim that looks like FTL and promises no boundaries". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  16. ↑ Says, Ben (2013-01-12). "Relive The Glory Of Star Control II In Delicious High Definition With Ur-Quan Masters HD". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  17. ↑ "Starsector (PC) Preview - Page 1 - Cubed3". www.cubed3.com. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.