Very different gaming experience from what I'm used to. Clearly not in the same ballpark as Star Citizen or even good old Starshatter as far as entertainment value goes, but none the less a pleasant distraction from going crazy waiting for Star Citizen to be released.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you, and be sure of this, I will be with you always even unto the end of the age. Mathew 28:20
Oh yea Bradd. this looks like it could be fun to play. At first glance is reminds me of Freelancer. Maybe a Freelancer 2. Modable too. No first person cockpits though. Can't have everything I guess.
Starpoint Gemini 2: Origins Game Notes:
Captain your own space ship and roam the galaxy in 3D in this tactical space simulator with tons of RPG depth ! Space has never looked so inviting - but images can betray...
It has been two years since the end of the second Gemini war, and the situation in the wartorn system is further from resolution than ever before. The collection of freedom fighters named Gemini League is now reduced to a small group, with no power or influence, after losing their leaders. The Empire meanwhile, has used the re-opened Starpoint to occupy the once renegade Gemini sector - and beyond.
A multitude of Imperial warship fleets and mammoth motherships have crushed every trace of opposition. The situation was looking bleak, when they suddenly halted their armada and re-shifted their focus on fortifying Starpoint with staggering numbers. Rumours soon spread that they were afraid of something coming after them through the T-gate, from what was supposed to be the core of the Empire. What are they running from that makes even the mighty Empire tremble?
Starpoint Gemini 2 will take you on a breath taking journey, with dark secrets and unimaginable twists that will finally unveil the incredible truth.
Bradd, consider giving us an after action report as you delve into Starpoint.
https://youtu.be/... short video < - - -
But I'll probably first go with Star Hammer The Vanguard Prophecy from Matrix Games. It is all tacitical combat oriented. Star Hammer Player Game Review:
Star Hammer first reminded me of chess in space, Star Wolves and Space Ranger with a bit of Homeworld, but now after i have played it for a while it's more like X-COM except with star ships. You need to put a lot of thought into your moves or you can screw yourself. You have to watch your play style and not be too agressive or you can screw yourself later on when the reinforcements and reload on ammo isn't coming.
It is a very polished game with excellent sound and music. Easy Tutorial takes you right into it giving you what you need to know with out over complicating things. Easy, Medium and Hard play selection settings.
The Story is pretty good. Ones play style, in combat, can change the way the story finishes I believe. There are multiple story paths depending upon what kind of captain you are. You find crew members that level up skill paths you choose. They also build bonds between each other that gives bonus to your fleet if your crew is getting along.
Another thing that I find interesting is that the story can change depending how you fight your battles! If you are aggressive and reckless in battles instead of defensive and tactical, it will change the way you are treated and rewarded. There is a Gauge that keeps track of this stat. Starts in the middle and slides left and right as you win battles to show how aggressive or defensive you have been fighting.
This game is not just about the combat it's about managing the fleet, crew relations, a X-COM combat feel using a naval space fleet system.
Click below to watch a lengthy demonstration of Star Hammer play. By lengthy... I mean Epic in length. Still... worth watching if one has the time.
Without a doubt, Star Hammer looks like it holds much promise. I will probably be getting a copy of that as well!!
I will be sure to give that AAR. I start summer vacation next week so I will have lots of time to explore Starpoint Gemini then.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you, and be sure of this, I will be with you always even unto the end of the age. Mathew 28:20
Just purchased my copy of Star Hammer. It is currently available for only 19.99 in download only form and 29.99 for a boxed copy along with a download. I now should have plenty to keep me occupied while waiting for the BIG ONE to arrive!!!! I'll be sure to post some thoughts on each when I get a chance to get into them in depth sometime after Wednesday.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you, and be sure of this, I will be with you always even unto the end of the age. Mathew 28:20
Escape feels good. It’s a great thing space games are back, because I want to get off-world. And happily, Starpoint Gemini 2, the new open-universe, ship-centric RPG from Little Green Men Games, rewards the dreaming risk-takers as much as the steely-eyed, steady-handed pilots. Space-based tension aside, SG2 is one of the most positive and relaxing game experiences I’ve had in a long time.
There are missions to complete, asteroids to mine, and trading to undertake, but the presentation of the game is so textured and accessible that I’ve spent much of my time with SG2 just exploring. I’m looking for that random encounter that brings me fortune—or folly. But that’s always been my favorite role: the detached, true-neutral scientist with beam weapons trained at your bridge. I’m here in the interest of peace and knowledge, until you mouth-off or make the wrong move.
In my multi-year, on-again, off-again relationship with EVE Online—a game many players will compare to SG2—I usually feel just not-quite-committed-enough for the scale of it all. In contrast, SG2 is single-player and feels proud of it. The basic controls in SG2 will be familiar to EVE players, with a 360-degree camera view and variable zoom setting, as well as a variety of hot keys for skills and ship management. Although there is a turret view option that essentially sits you on the top of your ship, there’s no cockpit perspective in the game. When not docked at a planet or station, action takes place in real-time, so finding a comfortable setup is key to enjoying its take on the space genre.
SG2 pushes me to grab a cool drink, crank up its wonderfully chill soundtrack and go for a ride (which I can always pause). With its third-person camera positioned at just the right angle, I feel present and in the moment, ready to ambush some overmatched pirates or cruise through a nebula in search of a new wormhole. It rewards my curiosity and ambition as much as it punishes my over-confidence with its limited save system and enemy difficulty scaling. SG2 is a genuine and grounded idea of what space could be. A dangerous vacuum, yes, but also an ecology of debris, machines, and energy fields that draws me in.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son Of God.
SG2 comes with a free-roam mode and lets you pick an avatar portrait along with a class specialization focusing on multi-ship command, close-quarters gunnery, or engineered hacking prowess. The entire star map is waiting for you. If you pick the campaign option, however, you play as the remnant of the Gemini League, fighting your way to freedom and vengeance. In the campaign, I had to deal with the occasional game freeze and one stubbornly imbalanced story mission. The story is a useful, although sometimes buggy introduction to the various systems at play in SG2. And with its uneven voice acting and set-piece encounters, the crafted story of the Gemini League doesn’t feel like the main attraction. But just like in the free-roam mode, you can wander in the campaign. And wandering is glorious and the primary draw of Starpoint Gemini 2.
By venturing out on my own, I get to write my own narrative. I encounter different enemies, anomalies, and factions, all of which require a different response. What do I do? Do I jettison this extremely valuable, but possibly ally-offending cargo of blade weapons in my hold, or try and sell it to fund my ambition for that ship upgrade or heavy weapon buff? Freelance side-missions also spawn randomly and offer up XP and credits, both valuable in order to upgrade to a new ship or improve the one I already have. I can take a chance on a higher-level assassination mission and be rewarded, or find out I’m hopelessly over matched and be blown apart. Choices matter.
But because it’s a single-player experience, second-chances are possible. Larger stations, where player starships can dock—or anchor—are placed strategically throughout the star map. These points are where I can save my game, put my ship in drydock for a refit, or customize my paint scheme. The loot system is key to meaningful ship upgrades, as I need to pay close attention to my items—are they illegal, valuable, or just junk? Occasionally I get scanned and my relationships to factions change if they see me as a smuggler or not.
What I enjoy about Starpoint Gemini 2 is its willingness to leave me alone in the universe it puts on display.
Before I outline the space sim’s combat experience, a few words regarding SG2’s technical performance on my machine. As a PC exclusive, SG2 includes a number of graphics options, such as vsync on/off, anti-aliasing level, LOD distance, post-processing effects, and various detail controls. It also supports the use of gamepads.
Combat takes place in all regions of space, in far-flung junk fields as well as planetary orbit. Each ship carries a threat tag that tells you what you’re likely up against, from trivial to impossible. Sometimes it’s a good decision to make a break for it, but when you do decide to engage, combat comes down to managing power for your three main systems: propulsion, shields, and weapons. Weapons systems are divided between light and heavy. Light weapons depend on battery strength and include plasma cannons, beams, and railguns. Each of these variants has a different take on rate of fire, range, and hull versus shield penetration. Heavy weapons such as torpedoes and missile turrets do substantially more damage but have limited ammunition and must be reloaded on planets and space stations.Shift more juice to the weapon banks, and your batteries powering the light-weapon turrets charge faster and allow for more consistent fire.
Finding a good balance between controlling the camera with the mouse and mastering the keyboard shortcuts is vital to success against difficult opponents. And because ship movement can be linked to the keyboard or the mouse, it requires some trial and error to find the best setup. While I made the most use of the auto fire function, manual fire is just as viable, depending on the how good you are at multitasking. In my engineer pirate-killer role, I focus on upgrading my nimble, corvette-class ship to dodge incoming fire. This preserves my shields so the computer can keep firing away.
There are also skills you can level up to boost weapons, create dangerous anomalies, or increase ship agility, depending on your character’s particular specialization. As you gain levels, you can apply upgrade points to your skill areas for an in-combat advantage accessed through a hotkey. Purchased items like shield boosters, repair bots, and speed buffs, among many others, add another layer of complexity to combat.
What I enjoy about Starpoint Gemini 2 lets the player enjoy the universe it puts on display, while also using careful and dynamic design to ensure there’s always a new goal to chase after. Most satisfying is that I get to decide what kind of adventurer I want to be: the crusty freighter captain, the fly-by-night smuggler, or the faction outcast. It’s all there to play.
SG2 gives me a dynamic backdrop, great visuals, and thoughtful music so I can build my off-world identity. It’s where I want to be.
Rating 8/10
Oh, a additional positive aspect of the game... STARPOINT GEMINI 2 is modable!
From my preliminary examination... modding SG2 can be more in depth than what we can do in Starshatter. Although Starshatter automates a lot of modding procedures. Bottom line... SG2 while modable will most likely be more difficult to mod than Starshatter for the average person. Still, it looks interesting. We will have to research it futher.
Star Hammer uses a ‘WEGO’ turn based-based system. During a paused phase you’ll plan your fleet’s next movement and combat actions. Hitting the go button starts a short duration where combat becomes real-time and your ships will move and fire every munition they have. The game then pauses again and asks you to assign new orders. Whilst you are inputting your commands so is the AI. Turns resolve simultaneously.
The mechanics of Star Hammer’s combat are elegant, streamlined. It’s very possibly the best system I’ve used for tactical space combat. Simultaneous turns means forward planning is vital. You need to anticipate enemy moves since they could happen the moment you hit the play button. It’s not just about making sure you fire off a missile at just the right moment; positioning is important, as colliding with an enemy flightpath (or even a friendly!) will stall your engines, or even destroy your ship outright. Every turn is a logistical challenge.
Completing these turns is as close as you’ll get to feeling like Battlestar Galactica’s Admiral Adama. Selecting ships shows off their movement potential and weapon range arcs, making it easy to see where you need to be to open fire on targets. A ghost model of your ship shows where your unit will be at the end of the turn, which helps make sure your fleet don’t bash into each other. Should the range of your movement or weapons not suit your needs, you can divert power through each ship’s systems. Push it completely into engines to get to your destination sooner, dedicate everything to weapons to pack more of a punch with every shot fired, or bulk out shields during a dangerous retreat.
The game gradually introduces you to six classes of ship, which you’ll use in various combinations of your choosing for each mission. You only ever fly with a small fleet, which means emphasis is always placed on tactical use of each ship’s strengths rather than just trying to overwhelm the enemy with hundreds of vaguely planned strikes. They also permanently stay dead when destroyed, so unless you’ve got plenty of cash for reinforcements, you’ll want to keep them flying. You begin with the likes of Raiders and Corvettes, ships that are highly maneuverable but only able to fire straight ahead with basic blasters. Later on, the likes of Frigates and Dreadnaughts allow massive firepower from all angles, and are hefty enough to be used as shields for weaker units. They’re mounted with more specific-use weapons, such as counter-measures that can be fired into empty space to create a defence against incoming missiles, and heavy laser beams that slowly apply the pressure.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son Of God.
Star Hammer’s combat is brilliant. It reminds me of times sat around a table playing the X-Wing Miniatures game, but with the added thrill of animations and a cool soundtrack. It would be perfect as a multiplayer game, but alas it’s single player only. This needn't be such a down side, but unfortunately the 60-odd mission campaign is exceptionally dull. It does its best to offer excitement with a branching story where you can choose which missions takes priority, but it falls down by using an almost identical objective template every mission. The stakes in the story may be higher, and the enemies are different and more challenging each time, but it’s the same mission over and over: destroy everything. Even when the game introduces new concepts like ‘hunt this specific enemy’ or ‘escort this ship to safety’, it always ends up being replaced by the need to wipe out the enemy.
Absolutely blasting the enemy to kingdom come is fun. They’re a organic race much like Starcraft’s zerg, and their units are ugly buggers with a range of interesting abilities. Fighting them is a genuine challenge. But twenty missions in you’ll be begging for objective variety.
To be fair: the developers do try to mix it up: rating your play style and then blocking off missions according to that rating. In practice this really doesn’t work. Because the missions are so focused on destroying every unit on the map, the game feels skewed to aggression. On my play through, no matter how hard I tried to hold back and play slowly and strategically, I only ever picked up aggression points, and thus the defensive story branches were always closed to me.
Star Hammer’s other nice idea that doesn’t quite pull off is crew social ratings. As the campaign progresses you’ll recruit new crew members. A line graph between each member shows how hostile or friendly they are with each other. If every crew member is friendly with each other, they give your fleet a buff. Keeping crew members friendly is simply a case of adjusting their perks between two options, finding the right combination to keep the lines between each person green instead of red. This just doesn’t make sense at any level, feeling like a half-finished feature with no logic applied. The ability to swap perks at any time removes any sense of importance to what decisions you make regarding your crew’s abilities. Star Hammer’s combat systems are truly exceptional.
It’s story is limited by design decisions and some less than stellar level dialogue; one that seems wholly content to limit the potential of its ship-to-ship encounters by failing to introduce anything more exciting than more enemies to obliterate. Some clever mission design could have gone an exceptionally long way here. If you can deal with a series of skirmishes sewn together with a B-movie sci-fi narrative... being an Admiral at the helm of Star Hammer can be a real treat.
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John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son Of God.
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