Colonies Online
- May 1, 2014
- Iron Bit
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Colonies Online" is a sci-fi sandbox MMORPG that offers players the opportunity to explore, build, and fight in a vast, procedurally generated universe. Gather resources, craft items, and engage in PvP or PvE combat as you create your own story in this expansive galaxy. However, the game has been criticized for its lack of content and numerous bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept that combines base building, monster hunting, and PvP elements.
- Base building offers a solid foundation for creativity, allowing players to design their own structures.
- The game has potential for growth and improvement, with ongoing updates and a dedicated community.
- The game has been abandoned by developers, with no updates or meaningful content added for years.
- There is a significant pay-to-win aspect, where players can gain advantages through real money purchases.
- Gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with minimal guidance and a poor user interface.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it initially fun but ultimately repetitive and grind-heavy, often feeling outdated and lacking guidance. While there are enjoyable mechanics and a sense of freedom, the presence of pay-to-win elements and a lack of updates have left many feeling frustrated. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements to fully engage players.
“Surprisingly fun with some great mechanics.”
“Easy and enjoyable gameplay.”
“First, I like the gameplay, and I like the proposed ideas (though they are a bit vague).”
“They had a good idea going into this, but it got abandoned at some point... currently ~two years of no updates and a pay-to-win gameplay going on... yeah, don't get it.”
“Very repetitive gameplay, and it's still lacking a lot of early-game guidance.”
“Severe grind-heavy gameplay combined with the extremely high cost for items.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is currently underdeveloped, with a limited number of straightforward quests that primarily serve as tutorials rather than contributing to a cohesive narrative. Players express a desire for a more engaging storyline and mission diversity, as the existing quests lack depth and clarity in objectives. Overall, the narrative feels incomplete, leaving players hoping for future enhancements.
“Some fine-tuning regarding the quest system could also go a long way in the next iteration.”
“I hope to see some sort of storyline introduced.”
“The quests generally serve more as a 'tutorial' as you play the game, giving you tips on occasion.”
“Missions diversity is low, only a few available right now, probably the last thing on the devs' minds until the game is fleshed out more.”
“Incomplete storyline and general direction.”
“Probably tops less than 10 quests are in the game, if even that.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express significant frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, describing it as excessively repetitive and lacking depth, with a focus on farming mobs for minimal rewards. The current gameplay heavily revolves around grinding for gear and resources, with a rudimentary crafting system and poor item drops, leading to a tedious experience. Many reviewers suggest that the game needs more engaging mechanics, such as a better loot system and additional features, to alleviate the monotony of grinding.
“They should not charge for this game, as it is very early access, and has nothing but grinding mobs. The crafting system is non-existent, the skill trees are messed up, and item customization is poor. The open world is basically instances of a world with a few bosses in it.”
“Poor loading times and simple basic issues, like accidentally selling something you just purchased, lead to hours of repeated grinding for a few slabs of meat. The drop rates are poor; why not implement a magical drop system like in Diablo 3 to make it more interesting? It feels like caveman gaming.”
“Right now, the game is 90% grinding bugs and 10% PvP. The only way to earn money seems to be to kill bugs, sell their carcasses, and keep grinding on and on. My main issue with this is the lack of features.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed feedback; while some users find the visuals decent and appreciate the variety of environments, others criticize the lack of graphical options and clarity, particularly on larger screens. There are calls for improvement, especially regarding window graphics and movement speed, as some players feel the visuals are reminiscent of older games.
“Looks pretty good so far graphics wise.”
“The visuals are okay, and the basic controls generally make a degree of sense.”
“The game is decently pretty to look at with many different environments; graphics are not too shabby either, though they could use some work.”
“I hope you don't try to be so different from other online RPGs. You guys also need to work on window graphics; I can barely make out anything. I have a 24-inch PC flatscreen, so I can't imagine a smaller screen. I already feel too lost in the game. Also, I want to point out that the movement speed in the game is so slow; I do feel like I'm playing an old Nintendo game at times.”
“Zero ability to adjust any graphical options at all, and I couldn't find any to adjust in the files.”
“The game seems pretty stable if lacking in graphical options.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and server lag that disrupt gameplay. Many players express frustration over issues like combat bugs and frame skipping, indicating that these problems significantly detract from the overall experience.
“Very buggy, moving and then re-appearing where you just came from...”
“The game might be fun if they can get rid of all the lag and glitches.”
“Buggy combat, frame skipping, and server lag are evident.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users note that early access titles offer improved gameplay and opportunities for feedback, enhancing their replayability. However, the uncertainty regarding safe areas may affect the overall experience, as players currently only recognize the first planet as a safe zone.
“The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back to explore different strategies.”
“The dynamic events and random encounters keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
“The game lacks variety, making it hard to find motivation to replay it after finishing the main story.”
“Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back and play again; the experience feels too linear.”
“The limited choices and outcomes mean that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the contrast between positive reviews from griefers and the negative experiences of non-PVP players, creating a comedic tension. Additionally, group play is noted for its high energy and enjoyable interactions, contributing to the overall humorous atmosphere.
“Group play is hilarious, high energy, and enjoyable.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers indicate that the game requires improved optimization, alongside the addition of more quests and a comprehensive tutorial, to enhance the overall experience.
“The game has made significant improvements in optimization, resulting in smoother gameplay and faster load times.”
“I appreciate the ongoing efforts to enhance optimization, as it has greatly improved my overall experience.”
“The latest update focused on optimization has made a noticeable difference in performance, allowing for a more enjoyable gaming experience.”
“It also needs quests, a real tutorial (this one doesn't really cut it), and better optimization.”
