Guardians of Orion

50%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,992 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • optimization
Guardians of Orion Game Cover
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"Guardians of Orion" is a Sci-Fi Action RPG Looter Shooter that takes place in The New Solar System of Rigel, where Ion Crystals provide renewable energy. Players can explore the open world and battle against robots and dinosaurs in cooperative gameplay, utilizing an array of weapons, gear, and abilities. The game features unique skill trees, multiple perspectives, and an emphasis on survival and harvesting resources.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

50%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,992 reviews
gameplay79 positive mentions
optimization38 negative mentions
  • Great graphics and fun gameplay, especially when playing with friends.
  • Offers a unique mix of gameplay styles with top-down, third-person, and first-person perspectives.
  • Affordable price point, making it accessible for casual gamers.
  • Game is poorly optimized, leading to lag and crashes even on decent hardware.
  • Limited content and repetitive gameplay, with only a few game modes available.
  • Developer has a questionable reputation due to past controversies and lack of support.
  • gameplay255 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Orion Project" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitive nature, often describing it as bland and lacking depth. While some appreciate the cooperative elements and RPG mechanics, others criticize the janky mechanics, bugs, and misleading marketing regarding open-world features. Overall, the game offers a basic shooting experience that can be enjoyable in short bursts, especially given its low price, but it struggles to maintain long-term engagement due to its grindy and unrefined gameplay.

    • “It's a very fun simple shooter; I actually love the gameplay loop.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and fast-paced, the engine the game runs on works smoothly, and the different ways to play and upgrades you can choose keep the game fresh.”
    • “The class-based gameplay system, skill trees, and ability to swap between a top-down or third-person perspective adds a good amount of variety to the actual gameplay and accommodates personal play-style.”
    • “The gameplay overall is pretty broken and grindy.”
    • “The gameplay is not good at best, the architectures make no sense, lots of error messages...”
    • “The gameplay is confusing as hell, there's no instructions at all, and it's nothing like the original.”
  • graphics242 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising them as beautiful and vibrant, particularly for a low-cost title, while others criticize them for being subpar compared to its predecessor, "Orion: Prelude." Many players note issues with optimization and performance, leading to lag and crashes, despite the use of Unreal Engine 4. Overall, while the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, they are marred by technical problems and a lack of polish.

    • “This game has gorgeous graphics, animations, and transitions.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic, much better than Prelude, because of Unreal Engine 4.”
    • “Amazing graphics for just this $1 game, not to stress about the DLC since it's quite expensive.”
    • “This game is boring and pointless and no one could possibly stay interested in it more than a few minutes because there is nothing to it and the gameplay is awkward and repetitious and despite the fancy new Unreal 4 engine, the graphics are lame.”
    • “Extremely disappointed in this game, it looked like a really good FPS, but it turns out it's just a poorly made shooter. The animations are terrible and all the graphics are clunky, making the game unplayable.”
    • “I had to change the graphics setting to the lowest possible and even then the lag made the game outright unplayable.”
  • optimization111 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance, inconsistent framerates, and high resource utilization despite having capable hardware. While some users noted minor improvements in updates, the general consensus is that the game remains unoptimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many, especially on lower-end systems. Overall, players are calling for significant optimization efforts to enhance gameplay performance.

    • “The optimization is fantastic.”
    • “Pro - optimized now so my old PC runs on highest settings.”
    • “Gorgeous game, pretty well optimized.”
    • “The optimization is really bad. I landed in the forest with no enemies in sight and I was getting just above 60 fps on 1440p with an RTX 2080 and R7 3700X. My GPU was fully utilized at 97-99%, however, the game was only using 2.4GB of VRAM. Really weird stuff.”
    • “I could stand the bad graphics for the era and pretend the game was from 2008 or something, but the horrible optimization put me off. I don't know how people could handle this game when it released.”
    • “The optimization isn't the best, sadly, so you might need a stronger PC than what you can see as the minimal requirements. For example, I can run Doom and Battlefield 1 just fine, but I had to adjust my settings in this game to get optimal fps.”
  • story108 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being either non-existent or poorly executed, with many players noting a lack of engaging narrative and meaningful quests. While some mention a backstory, it often feels disjointed and unconnected, leading to a sense of aimlessness in gameplay. Overall, players express a strong desire for a more developed and cohesive story to enhance their gaming experience.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “While the game looks pretty and I like the idea of spaceships, I'd much sooner drop $60 on a game with a solid quest system, interesting NPCs, and lore that didn't need an intro stuffed to the brim with lengthy exposition about 'the corporate wars.'”
    • “What I want to see is the developers focusing more on lore, story, and unique features.”
    • “No story, no weapon variety, no cool action, bland environment, no vehicles, dumb AI, and worst of all, no fun to find anywhere in this steaming pile of garbage.”
    • “The story is over-complicated and feels like nothing is connected at all; it just happened.”
    • “What this game badly needs is more story.”
  • stability62 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues affecting gameplay, including problems with the tutorial, server connectivity, and visual elements. While some players express hope for future improvements due to the developers' past efforts, many recommend avoiding the game in its current state, citing it as a frustrating experience that feels unfinished and poorly optimized. Overall, the consensus is that the game is still in a rough, early access phase, making it difficult to enjoy despite its potential.

    • “It runs great on my GTX 970, so no framerate issues.”
    • “Looks great, runs great.”
    • “Looks great and runs great too, so that's a good bonus.”
    • “Overall the game is kinda buggy, kinda fun, only a dollar, idk play with some friends or something.”
    • “The game is forgotten; the news summary never contemplates the problems mentioned above and many users' other problems, bugs, and glitches.”
    • “Extremely disappointed in this game; it looked like a really good FPS, but it turns out it's just a poorly made shooter. The price may be cheap, but it is not worth anyone's time. The animations are terrible, and all the graphics are clunky. It also freezes frequently for me, making the game unplayable.”
  • music51 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience, likening it to Linkin Park and nostalgic titles like Phantasy Star Online. However, others criticize it for being too loud, generic, or not fitting the game's theme, suggesting that while the soundtrack is enjoyable, it could benefit from more variety and better integration with gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as a highlight, contributing positively to the atmosphere despite some noted flaws.

    • “Although the game has its frustrating points, the music is really well-done and has a Linkin Park feel to it.”
    • “The music makes the game more relaxing at times, and it really fits the mood of the event at hand.”
    • “The music is absolutely kick ass, at the current price point at this time ($2) this is robbery and I recommend this game to anyone at that price point.”
    • “This game is dead as hell, and on top of that even worse than the previous game; might get some entertainment for maybe 5 seconds in the main lobby which blasts you with absolute dogshit music.”
    • “I asked in chat what I'm supposed to do and a player smugly replied 'omg did you not read about this game rofl.' Of course I did, and according to the store page, it's an 'open world game where you can explore a galaxy.' Forgive me, oh dear fanboy, for not understanding that meant 4 player co-op in small generic rooms where you spend most of the time chasing the red markers on the map desperate for some gameplay whilst listening to a generic looping soundtrack.”
    • “This game is great for $1, my only problem is the choice of music; the music to me just doesn't feel very 'badass' for a game where you kill dinosaurs.”
  • grinding44 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game is excessively grindy, often leading to repetitive gameplay that can become tedious, especially when playing solo. Players express frustration over the lack of variety in game modes and the necessity to grind for better equipment and levels, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the leveling and customization aspects, many feel that the grinding mechanics overshadow the fun, making it a chore rather than an engaging experience.

    • “The gameplay overall is pretty broken and grindy.”
    • “The game was fun for a while but then when you realize it's just repetitive grinding after the first few hours, it's really boring.”
    • “From the numerous changes in the name of the game and the constantly fluctuating pricing and the elitist packages that they keep coming out with to suck more money from the players, to the always poor performance and excessive grinding, it all makes for one of the shadiest of the shady game publishers on Steam.”
  • monetization34 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a cash grab due to the overwhelming presence of microtransactions and in-game purchases. Users express frustration over the game's unfinished state and the perception that essential content is locked behind paywalls, undermining the initial value of the game. While some players note that microtransactions are not strictly necessary for gameplay, the overall sentiment is that the monetization tactics detract from the experience and feel exploitative.

    • “It has microtransactions so you can unlock things faster, but it's not necessary.”
    • “Better graphics, easy to earn cosmetic microtransactions for free, friendly community.”
    • “This game appears to be purely for microtransactions not to win that I can tell at this point but probably just fashion and that cool.”
    • “Shady monetization tactics.”
    • “What started off as a fun 99 cent 4 person arcade game that was fun to play with friends for the lolz has turned into a severely broken and half-baked Frankenstein of a game riddled with inflated price tags, microtransactions, and broken promises.”
    • “Currently it feels like everyone jumped ship and turned this game into a cash grab.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is often highlighted as a strong point, particularly in multiplayer settings where players can share amusing moments, such as mishaps during gameplay and funny dialogues. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain elements feeling more annoying than funny, others appreciate the comedic animations and voice lines that add to the overall experience. Overall, the game delivers a mix of humor that can be entertaining, especially when played with friends.

    • “I find it even more funny it got split into 2 different games: 'Orion: Prelude' and 'Guardians of Orion (Phase 2)'.”
    • “Though, as it turns out, I've been hilariously wrong all along.”
    • “Killed several robots with a flamethrower while laughing like an insane madman.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among reviewers. While some highlight the potential for high replay value due to co-op gameplay, skill upgrades, and ongoing development, others criticize the limited content and lack of support, suggesting that there are better options available for replayability. The consensus indicates that while there are enjoyable elements, the game currently lacks sufficient content to sustain long-term replayability.

    • “The co-op gameplay is very replayable for a while.”
    • “The updates so far are often and the classes offer a bit of replayability.”
    • “Outstanding game, great replayability!”
    • “Sure, if you want something mindless and know that it's abandonware; but there are complete games on Steam that have far more replayability and far more active support that you can get for $2-5; so why not get one of those games and support those developers instead of these creeps?”
    • “That being said, small team or not, replayability isn't 'likely' at all; the amount of content given is little to none at best.”
    • “Stay well away for now; maybe in 6 more months it will be more playable.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express disappointment with the current emotional engagement of the game, describing it as repetitive and lacking depth. They desire a more immersive experience that includes thrilling combat, heartfelt visuals, and well-developed mechanics to create lasting memories.

    • “I want an unforgettable experience, thrilling combat, heartfelt visuals, and interesting, well-thought-out game mechanics.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is significantly undermined by a frustrating hub map that complicates navigation, detracting from player immersion and engagement with the storyline.

    • “Any atmosphere it tries to create is ruined when you spend 10 minutes trying to navigate the mess that is the hub map to get to some person you can't possibly care about.”
    • “The game fails to establish a compelling atmosphere, as the repetitive environments and lack of engaging sound design make exploration feel tedious.”
    • “Despite its attempts at immersion, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, leaving players disconnected from the world.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be inconsistent, with issues such as laggy servers and unclear enemy designs detracting from the experience. However, despite these shortcomings, players still find the game enjoyable and recommend giving it a try.

    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character development made my decisions feel irrelevant and unimpactful.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
2-19hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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