Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,995 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game Game Cover
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"Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game" is a turn-based RPG set in a generation ship fleeing a dying Earth. The game features a complex narrative with multiple factions, skill-based character development, and strategic combat. Players must navigate the ship's political landscape and make decisions that will affect the fate of the colony. Note: The above summary is based on general information available about the game and may not fully capture its nuances or individual features.

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Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,995 reviews
story352 positive mentions
grinding31 negative mentions
  • Engaging story and world-building that immerses players in a unique sci-fi setting.
  • Multiple ways to approach quests, allowing for diverse playstyles and meaningful choices.
  • Challenging combat that rewards strategic planning and character specialization.
  • Combat can feel unfair and punishing, especially for players who do not min-max their character builds.
  • Limited character and companion development, making it hard to form connections with NPCs.
  • Some quests and areas feel rushed or underdeveloped, particularly in the later stages of the game.
  • story1,121 mentions

    The story of "Colony Ship" is a complex and engaging narrative set aboard a generation ship, exploring themes of survival, identity, and moral ambiguity. Players navigate a richly developed world filled with intriguing factions and choices that significantly impact the storyline, although some reviews note that the pacing can feel rushed and certain quests lack clarity. While the writing and atmosphere are praised, the game also faces criticism for its combat difficulty and navigation issues, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “If you relish a great in-game narrative, if you prefer a great story more than shooting things up - then this game is definitely for you.”
    • “The story is very well developed; as a role-playing game, this is very much welcomed.”
    • “The story is very interesting, and the setting is totally atmospheric and fresh.”
    • “The story had potential, but falls flat with the boring factions and missions.”
    • “The story is cartoonishly ignorant and hateful in its outlook on reality; there are some decent ideas in this game, but horrific execution and offensive thematic choices make it a real stinky steamer.”
    • “The story quickly devolves into you being an errand boy for the three faction leaders.”
  • gameplay329 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of challenging combat, intricate mechanics, and a rich narrative that keeps players engaged, though it can be punishing for newcomers. While many players appreciate the depth and variety in character builds and approaches to problem-solving, some find the mechanics, particularly stealth and combat, to be confusing or poorly explained. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic CRPGs, but it requires a steep learning curve and a willingness to adapt to its unforgiving systems.

    • “A gem and a delight, a science fiction RPG with superb writing, fascinating world, great combat mechanics but also a number of alternate ways to accomplish goals including stealth and persuasion.”
    • “Great game for traditional RPG fans; thoroughly enjoyed the story and mechanics and the fleshed out, hard-ish sci-fi world.”
    • “The gameplay is demanding, and violence is dangerous, but there's usually a good way through a situation.”
    • “The gameplay is defined by obscure mechanics, rigid gameplay, and sometimes punishing difficulty.”
    • “The mechanics are pretty frustrating to work with, and I couldn't detect any sound cues for the first hour, so it can easily be played without sound.”
    • “Despite investing over 23 hours into completing both the main and side quests and finishing the game on hero difficulty, the gameplay felt repetitive and predictable.”
  • graphics168 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved visuals and atmospheric design compared to its predecessor, "The Age of Decadence." Players appreciate the immersive environments and aesthetic appeal, particularly the retro-futuristic and cyberpunk elements, although some note that the graphics are not on par with modern AAA titles. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good and enhance the game's atmosphere, there are criticisms regarding the user interface and some dated graphical elements.

    • “The graphics are beautiful.”
    • “The setting is very immersive (textually and graphically), making you feel like you are really on a dark post-apocalyptic generational colony ship.”
    • “The graphics are a huge jump up, and the writing is brilliant.”
    • “Poor graphics, poor UI, very text heavy with poor font; game interaction feels cumbersome, looting and equipping feels cumbersome.”
    • “In the graphics and aesthetics department, the game looks ok-ish, but is full of confusing 2.5D verticality which, for me, ruins immersion.”
    • “The graphics look, to put it kindly, dated.”
  • atmosphere126 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its rich world-building, moody visuals, and effective soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of exploration, storytelling, and character development, often noting a strong sense of place that evokes feelings of dystopia and post-apocalyptic themes. However, some critiques mention a lack of interaction with the environment and NPCs, which can detract from the otherwise compelling atmosphere.

    • “The atmosphere is great, it has a lot of post-apocalyptic vibes with much of the cyberpunk.”
    • “The atmosphere, story, and characters are compelling.”
    • “The game has a rich atmosphere and the writing is interesting.”
    • “The atmosphere and story are sublime, but the world feels empty because you can't talk to anyone except for designated people.”
    • “The game largely carries a drab atmosphere, as your trip to space has taken far longer than it should have, the ship is falling apart after an intense civil war, and everyone is too focused on killing each other to improve their situation.”
    • “The soundtrack, meant to enhance the game's atmosphere, was unremarkable and did little to complement the game's settings.”
  • music115 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the immersive experience with a mix of epic industrial and celestial themes. However, many reviewers noted a lack of variety, with repetitive tracks that can detract from the overall enjoyment, particularly during extended gameplay. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is generally considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's mood and setting.

    • “The music has an epic industrial and celestial ambiance that is also mixed together with broken melodies.”
    • “The soundtrack is superb, giving off an atmosphere that really strikes a chord as you play through the game.”
    • “The music is sublime; spaghetti western crossed with classic electro-blade runner themes and the writing is top class, very immersive.”
    • “The soundtrack, meant to enhance the game's atmosphere, was unremarkable and did little to complement the game's settings.”
    • “My only complaint is there is one musical track you will hear for 90% of the game and it has a terrible loop that you won't un-hear once you clock it.”
    • “The soundtrack is weak, in my opinion, with many of the background songs looping too soon or too obtrusively making each loop very noticeable.”
  • replayability103 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, offering numerous character builds, branching storylines, and diverse quest resolutions that encourage multiple playthroughs. Players appreciate the depth of choices that significantly impact gameplay, although some note that certain aspects could benefit from more varied outcomes. Overall, it stands out as a compelling RPG with substantial replay value, making it appealing for those who enjoy exploring different strategies and narratives.

    • “A fantastic hard sci-fi CRPG with great roleplay opportunities and a lot of replay value.”
    • “With many branching choices, skill-dependent quest lines, and excellent build variety, replay value is tremendous.”
    • “The choices you make truly matter and can drastically alter the progression of the game, making it highly replayable.”
    • “The game is fairly replayable too, with three major factions and a few branching paths.”
    • “Takes about 30 hours to explore everything and finish a single playthrough on high difficulty; however, what it does not offer is replay value, as each encounter is almost exactly the same.”
    • “Despite only the first act (of a total of four) being currently available in early access, the game already justifies its price tag aplenty: easily six hours on a first playthrough with a character focused on combat, with tremendous replayability potential.”
  • grinding33 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unfulfilling, with a lack of renewable experience or skill points leading to frustrating difficulty spikes. The combat is described as clunky and slow, often requiring specific knowledge to navigate effectively, while the absence of respawning enemies or random events eliminates opportunities for meaningful grinding. Overall, the game is criticized for its linearity and lack of engaging mechanics, making the grinding experience feel more like a chore than a rewarding part of gameplay.

    • “For the positive, the game is well executed, which you can see even in this early stage. The design of the game contains some elements that I really agree with and wish were more common, such as combat being actually impactful and not simply thrown in as filler. There are meaningful decisions within the context and from the characters' perspective.”
    • “The game just doesn't offer enough of a reward to be worth playing multiple playthroughs, and even a single playthrough is tedious and uneventful enough.”
    • “Grinding isn't even an option; enemies don't respawn, there aren't random events to stumble on, and you very quickly run into a problem where every mission is beyond your ability to complete and you have absolutely no way of making it possible.”
    • “Even when you do learn to win fights, it's tedious, clunky, and almost never worthwhile.”
  • optimization31 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with players reporting smooth performance, fast load times, and minimal bugs. However, many reviews highlight that effective character and party optimization is crucial for success, especially in combat, leading to frustration for those who struggle with the game's difficulty and lack of respec options. While some players appreciate the tactical depth and challenge, others feel that the optimization requirements can be excessively demanding, particularly in harder modes.

    • “A deep understanding of the various stats affecting your character's performance within combat will be necessary to succeed in battle.”
    • “Smart usage of precious, finite consumables, careful build planning, and strenuous optimization of loadouts are fundamental to just have some chances of winning; and you’ll get your ass kicked half the time anyway.”
    • “Colony Ship is a game that, on one hand, can reward min/maxing and build tweaking while also allowing a roleplayer to try different non-optimized builds without suffering too much.”
    • “I put a lot of emphasis on difficulty here because I myself ended up having to restart my playthrough twice due to my unoptimized parties making combat nigh-impossible for me to take on towards the midgame (there is no respec feature available within the game, either, further requiring you to build your party carefully).”
    • “The developer is clearly incapable of doing basic arithmetic, or they'd be able to calculate that it isn't possible to survive these combat encounters no matter how optimized the player is.”
    • “As others have said, and with which I agree, it is really peculiar how optimized the player must be for the game progression to have even moderate success states.”
  • character development26 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and meaningful choices, while others criticize the lack of companion interactions and superficiality in character arcs. The customization options are generally well-received, though some find them poorly explained and unintuitive. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience for those who invest time in character design, but it may not satisfy players seeking deep emotional connections or extensive character growth.

    • “It rewards thoughtful players, who put effort into character design and manage their expectations about what any one character can accomplish.”
    • “Colony ship is a very atmospheric isometric RPG, playable solo or with a party, with meaningful character development and story choices and with hand-crafted combat encounters, which require you to master the game's combat system.”
    • “Character development is filled with really carefully considered options, leaving me to think... ahhh I should have upped my constitution for more implants.”
    • “My biggest sore spot is with the way character development progresses through the game.”
    • “Minimal companion interactions, no character development.”
    • “Entire questlines have next to no character development, or memorable characters at all, due to how rushed and simplistic they are.”
  • stability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally well-received, with many players reporting it as relatively bug-free and stable. While a few minor glitches and animation issues were noted, they did not significantly impact gameplay, and most players experienced no game-breaking bugs or crashes. A small number of users encountered specific issues, such as NPC behavior and UI bugs, but these were often considered minor and easily manageable.

    • “I like the graphics and sound; I found the game pretty much bug-free and managed the game controls happily once I got used to them.”
    • “Setting, characters, story, gameplay options, optimization, all packed in a tight, almost bug-free package.”
    • “I ran into absolutely no bugs, no glitches, no crashes, nothing.”
    • “A few glitches caused people to disappear, creating quests that could not be completed.”
    • “It is sometimes buggy when it goes too close to the top level and can't be moved further, so you have to do a lot of scrolling. Then it's too far when you're on the lower level of the multi-level location.”
    • “The bugs (which one expects to see in an early access game) that I encountered were minor in nature, as they amounted to few and far between visual glitches, one or two stuck combat scenarios that were fixed upon a save reload, and a few pathing inconsistencies/difficulties for the main character and party members when traversing the world.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a serious tone, reminiscent of the original Fallout, and lacks the dark humor found in later installments. While some players appreciate the absence of metahumor and irony, noting that the writing features clever streetwise dialogue, others feel it could benefit from more comedic elements. Overall, the humor is described as minimal, with a focus on dark humor and occasional amusing interactions, but it may not satisfy those looking for a lighter or more humorous experience.

    • “Overall, I give it a 7.5/10 (although I should give it a 6/10 since that would be humorously fitting). I enjoyed the game, but it's a shame that the game could be so much better.”
    • “I enjoy the indie nature of how the developers choose to design things, and the highlight is the writing, especially the hilarious streetwise dialogue options.”
    • “It's funny really, for such a tough game - my final play-through was a breeze.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players appreciating its heartfelt storytelling while others criticize the lack of character depth and immersion. Despite the game's artistic intentions, the repetitive gameplay mechanics detract from the emotional engagement, leaving some players feeling disconnected and unmotivated to explore further.

    • “Ps: if any of you devs happen to be reading this - here's my heartfelt thank you for the good times I had when playing your game.”
    • “And that you'd forgive the game anything even if it proved to be not very good later on, because you can clearly see it's a heartfelt piece of art.”
    • “That emotional response may have been immersive if I didn't have to savescum every single conversation, combat, and door opening.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

19hMedian play time
82hAverage play time
10-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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