Firefly Online Cortex

About

The Cortex is your ultimate destination for Firefly Online news and information. This companion app is a great way to stay current with the game’s progress, take advantage of special offers and gain access to exclusive content!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

43%

Audience ScoreBased on 577 reviews

music10 positive mentions

monetization10 negative mentions

The game offers a glimpse into the Firefly universe, which is enjoyable for die-hard fans.
The mini-game and card collection aspect can be fun and engaging, providing a sense of nostalgia.
The developers initially showed promise with their commitment to the Firefly canon and engaging the original cast.

The game has been abandoned, with no updates or communication from the developers for years.
Many players feel scammed after investing money into the game with no return or development progress.
The app is essentially a glorified advertisement with limited functionality, leading to disappointment among fans.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The story aspect of the game is designed to immerse players in the Firefly universe, offering exploration and missions that tie back to the show's lore. Players can engage in various missions that provide detailed backstories and rewards, including collectible cards and items, while the narrative is presented in a conversational style that encourages reading and engagement. Overall, the story aims to create a natural progression from the TV show and film, with hopes for a rich single-player experience complemented by social features.
- “The concept and story will make it worth playing.”
- “Some of the locations come with detailed descriptions for those who really like backstory.”
- “Presented in conversational style, you actually have to read the mission text in order to ensure you're locating the correct destination.”
- “I'm hoping for a decent enough story for it to feel like a natural progression from the TV show and film.”
- “The only actual gameplay available in the game used to be purchasable for $5, and it included some exploration missions on the map of the verse, rewarding players with cards and badges/items for the future whole game.”
- “Yes, it requires you to wait for missions to unlock, and yes, you can speed up your progress of card-collecting by buying more cards with real money.”
monetization
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
38%
48%
The monetization strategy for the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with many users expressing disappointment over the deactivation of in-app purchases and the game's prolonged development delays. While initially free, the game is seen as an advertisement for a project that may never be completed, leading to frustration over its perceived exploitation of players. Overall, the monetization approach has left players feeling misled and wary of future microtransactions.
- “It's a free application, but it has microtransactions in order to gain money for development.”
- “I was more than happy to make some in-app purchases knowing that my contribution will get the full game completed and released that much faster.”
- “The FFO Cortex does allow you to make some in-app purchases, like 'card packs'.”
- “This is a cash grab by the developer to string along the grift of vaporware for Firefly Online.”
- “About the only way you're going to complete series 3 now is by spending tons and tons of cash on the store booster page, an obvious cash grab worthy of EA or Activision.”
- “Advertising it in the Steam store as 'free' is dishonest and should not be rewarded with a positive review.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
24%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to evoke nostalgia, with many users highlighting its pleasant background presence that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the twangy guitar tracks and the connection to the game's theme, often using the app primarily for the music itself. Overall, the soundtrack is described as gorgeous and functional, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- “The twangy guitar music forces me to remember the good times and that the world's temporary status as a dumpster fire cannot take the sky from any of us.”
- “The music is absolutely gorgeous.”
- “I really enjoy the background music, and the flavor of the 'verse, and the cards as well.”
- “For now, this free app plays music, and does nothing else.”
- “Oh, and the music?”
- “It's just a tool for fans, created so that they can keep track of news updates in a Firefly-themed GUI with a Firefly-esque soundtrack.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is criticized for being extremely simplistic and repetitive, with users noting that there is minimal actual gameplay available, often taking less than a minute to complete. While the map is visually appealing and the mini-game mechanics can provide brief entertainment, the overall experience lacks depth and engagement, leading to disappointment among players. Additionally, the removal of game pack sales has left players feeling that the only way to access meaningful gameplay is through previously purchasable content.
- “The map itself is beautiful and the mini-game-like mechanic can be fun to waste time for a few minutes waiting in line for things.”
- “Login hitches a bit but it's not detracting in any way from the gameplay.”
- “The only actual gameplay available in the game used to be able to purchase for $5, and you had some exploration missions to do on the map of the verse, earning rewards in the form of cards and badges/items for the future whole game.”
- “Nevermind that owning one of those packs is the only way to get any gameplay in the first place.”
- “Almost no gameplay - it's extremely simple and repetitive.”
- “Depth of gameplay was misleading; it is incredibly simplistic and dull.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in the game are noted for their high demands on hardware, with some users reporting overheating issues with their graphics cards. Despite this, there is optimism about the potential for future seasons to further enhance the visual experience, reflecting the advancements in computer graphics. Overall, the visuals are appreciated, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere alongside its music and other elements.
- “Considering how far computer graphics have come, they certainly could come up with seasons 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the game.”
- “The music, the visuals, the trading cards.”
- “Considering how far computer graphics have come, they certainly could come up with better visuals for season 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the game.”
- “It stresses out my graphics card to the point of overheating, even when I haven't logged in yet.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that recent changes to loot crate mechanics have made it tedious to collect cards, as they now drop from all series rather than just the current one. This shift has led to an increase in unnecessary items and a more time-consuming process to complete collections, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the need to grind for reputation and bonuses before the game's official start adds to the sense of tedium.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Right now, the game is all about grinding to get a nice reputation before it actually starts.”
- “All the while giving them a bit of a head start and some bonuses at the game's release if they are willing to put in some time grinding trade routes.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent crashes during launch and in-game freezes that require forced restarts. Users also report persistent bugs and limitations in device compatibility, indicating a generally unreliable experience.
- “The game crashes multiple times before it eventually launches, and sometimes it freezes in-game, forcing a restart.”
- “As far as the performance goes, there are some bugs that have been persistent. I can only play on my PC, not from other devices as it claims.”
- “This app is just buggy; I registered an account some time ago and still face issues.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game to be quirky and imaginative, suggesting that adding humorous negative effects to ships could enhance the comedic experience. The playful tone of the comments indicates that players appreciate lighthearted elements and are eager for more funny interactions within the game.
- “Though it might feel a bit weird to start with a small fleet, it would be hilarious if each ship had some negative effect too, like a debt or maybe it was really cheap as it was 'found' somewhere, or it created a rival.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The consensus among users is that the game lacks replayability, with many stating that once completed, there is little incentive to play again.
- “Replayability simply does not exist.”
- “There is no incentive to replay the game after finishing it once.”
- “The lack of varied content makes replaying feel pointless.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere of the game is described as highly engaging and immersive, creating a compelling experience that players find difficult to resist, even if it borders on being overly addictive.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with every detail.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and stunning visuals create an unforgettable atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with a rich atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking any real depth or immersion.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is flat and fails to draw you into its world.”
- “The overall ambiance is disappointing, making it hard to feel connected to the game's environment.”