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Orb

Like Hegemonia, O.R.B.: Off-World Resource Base is less compelling as a single-player game, although the multiplayer mode can be fun. Ship design looks clunky compared with the sleek designs throughout Hegemonia, though the depiction of space here is convincing. Perhaps the most important part of a
Orb Game Cover
68%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, optimization
70% User Score Based on 70 reviews
Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

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About

Orb is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Strategy First and was released on March 13, 2014. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"ORB is a Science Fiction 3D real-time strategy game with single and multi-player options, where players build up bases, collect resources, and construct spaceships to dominate in battles. Set in the Aldus solar system, two races, the Malus and the Alyssians, rediscover spaceflight and encounter each other, declaring war due to fragmented legends and distrust. Players must establish Offworld Resource Bases to gain an advantage in battles and research new abilities."

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70%
Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews
story7 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique take on RTS gameplay with interesting mechanics for resource gathering and unit management.
  • Despite its age, the game still provides an engaging experience for fans of sci-fi RTS, with a nostalgic charm and a solid tutorial.
  • The strategic depth of the game, particularly in managing resources and unit movements, can lead to rewarding gameplay moments.
  • The graphics and user interface are outdated, making it difficult to enjoy on modern systems, and the game lacks support for higher resolutions.
  • The controls and camera navigation are clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game is relatively short and lacks the depth and polish of more modern RTS titles, making it feel incomplete.
  • story
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is described as simple and easy to follow, yet lacks engagement, with many players finding the campaign missions repetitive and uninspired. While some elements, such as secret triggers and hidden missions, add depth, the overall narrative fails to captivate, leaving players feeling bored despite glimpses of potential. The campaign's structure and mission design detract from the story's impact, making it a mixed experience for players.

    • “Entertaining and captivating story.”
    • “The story behind this is just as gripping as the gameplay, you play as the Malus, and then after - as the Alyssians.”
    • “This game is not forthright in its secrets...but each mission has a secret trigger event that will unlock a hidden mission later in the campaign, new unseen units, or reveal a hidden storyline.”
    • “The campaign missions are meh, just playing on a piece of space with some asteroids randomly sprinkled on it, then move on to the next mission with the same basic setup but a bit more technologies unlocked.”
    • “Story-wise... easy to follow, but not very engaging.”
    • “I played a few of the story missions and while I was bored to death, I could see the story getting interesting.”
  • graphics
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its age since release, yet they still possess a certain charm and atmosphere that some players appreciate. While the visuals may not meet modern standards, particularly in terms of resolution and detail, the game's backgrounds and overall aesthetic can still evoke a sense of wonder, especially for fans of classic space strategy games. Despite technical limitations, many players find the graphics enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are excellent, plays very good on older hardware.”
    • “This is a truly beautiful game as well, even though the graphics are dated, this game is highly atmospheric and really awesome to get lost in.”
    • “And although I wish it had server support, the singleplayer experience is absolutely tremendous, and the graphics are extremely appealing for a game made in 2002.”
    • “The graphics are quite outdated, but the gameplay feels fresh and possessive.”
    • “The graphics engine is unfortunately not compatible and it makes the game nearly unplayable.”
    • “If you use the native resolutions, you're stuck with pixelated distorted graphics.”
  • gameplay
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring a unique 3D space strategy experience with a focus on strike craft and resource gathering, but marred by shallow mechanics, outdated graphics, and poor design elements like a flawed tech tree and bad unit AI. While some players find the gameplay engaging and never boring, others criticize the slow pace and awkward controls. Overall, it offers a fresh take on the genre despite its significant shortcomings.

    • “A Homeworld-like strategy in 3D space with a strong emphasis on strike craft, formations, and a different resource gathering mechanic.”
    • “The graphics are quite outdated, but the gameplay feels fresh and engaging.”
    • “The story behind this is just as gripping as the gameplay; you play as the Malus, and then afterward as the Alyssians.”
    • “Mechanically, it's as shallow as a cup of puke.”
    • “Throw in a poorly designed tech tree, bad unit pathing, bad fighter AI, incredibly slow gameplay, weird controls/hotkeys, and you get Orb.”
    • “The graphics are quite outdated, but the gameplay feels fresh and possessive.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is criticized for lacking support for modern display resolutions and not being updated for smooth performance on contemporary gaming PCs. While some users report no performance issues on their systems, the overall sentiment suggests that the game's technical foundation feels outdated and could benefit from modernization.

    • “The answer is historical: Homeworld 1 worked by segmenting the world into separate bubbles for render performance reasons, with a separate scene again for the sensors mode. Clearly, this approach is no longer needed. I would be perfectly happy if Homeworld 3 were to drop the sensors mode.”
    • “I was concerned with technical problems mentioned here in another comment, but on my Windows 10, i5 with 1050, I had no performance issues.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music is generally described as mellow and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the game's sense of "space game awe." However, some users find it mediocre, with occasional glitches detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The music is mellow, new-age space background stuff that works well and contributes to a subtle sense of 'space game awe.'”
    • “I enjoyed the graphics and the music.”
    • “The music is mellow, new-agey space background stuff that works well and contributes to a subtle background sense of 'space game awe'.”
    • “The graphics are what they were for a game that came out years ago.”
    • “Mediocre music, often glitchy.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its beautiful, albeit dated, graphics and immersive elements such as scanning asteroids, building bases, and engaging with alien speeches. Players find it easy to get lost in the captivating environment, which effectively enhances the overall experience.

    • “Scanning asteroids, building bases on them, passive and active sensors, beautiful backgrounds, alien speeches - this game does have its own atmosphere.”
    • “This is a truly beautiful game; even though the graphics are dated, it is highly atmospheric and really awesome to get lost in.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling it exploits nostalgia rather than offering genuine value, suggesting it capitalizes on the appeal of abandonware.

    • “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
    • “I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it feels like a constant money grab.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is likened to a nostalgic homage to classic titles like Starcraft, though it diverges significantly in other aspects. Overall, the humor seems to resonate with players who appreciate these references, even if they feel the game doesn't fully capture the same spirit.

    • “The humor in this game is spot on, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love how the characters have such witty banter; it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay.”
    • “The comedic timing in the cutscenes is fantastic, making even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is significantly compromised, with numerous bugs preventing players from building specific units even after completing the necessary research.

    • “The system is very buggy to the point where specific units are not even buildable, even after all research is completed.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Orb is a strategy game with science fiction theme.

Orb is available on PC and Windows.

Orb was released on March 13, 2014.

Orb was developed by Strategy First.

Orb has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Orb is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Homeworld Remastered Collection, Ancient Space, Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms, Nomad Fleet, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident and others.