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
Get on Steam"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."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a high-quality tutorial that helps players understand its mechanics.
- Despite its age, the game offers a unique take on RTS gameplay with interesting resource management and strategic elements.
- Fans of retro space RTS games may find enjoyment in its nostalgic charm and complex AI.
- The graphics are outdated and do not support modern display resolutions, making it difficult to enjoy on current hardware.
- The controls and user interface are clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The game suffers from significant compatibility issues on modern systems, often rendering it unplayable.
- story25 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as simple yet occasionally interesting, with a mix of engaging lore and mediocre execution. While some players find the narrative captivating and appreciate the hidden elements that unlock additional content, many criticize the campaign missions for being repetitive and lacking depth. Overall, the story has potential but is often overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of engaging mission design.
“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, it's 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.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its age since release, but 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 design can still evoke a sense of awe, especially for fans of classic space strategy games. Overall, players recommend the game for its engaging gameplay, even if the graphics may require some adjustment for contemporary tastes.
“Now, I enjoyed the graphics and the music.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being shallow and plagued by issues such as poor unit pathing, slow pacing, and awkward controls, leading to a frustrating experience. However, some players find it fresh and engaging, with a unique story that keeps them invested. Overall, the gameplay experience is mixed, with significant flaws overshadowing its potential.
“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 later as the Alyssians.”
“B is a game that I have never been bored of, and I have yet to see an end to the unique gameplay.”
“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 a frustrating experience.”
“The story behind this is just as gripping as the gameplay; you play as the Malus, and then after - as the Alyssians.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as a mellow, new-age space soundtrack that effectively enhances the atmosphere, contributing to a sense of awe. While some users praise the amazing soundtrack and sound effects, others find the music to be mediocre and occasionally glitchy. Overall, it serves its purpose in creating an immersive experience, despite mixed opinions on its quality.
“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.”
“Amazing soundtrack and sound effects in general.”
“The music is mellow, new-agey space background stuff that works well and contributes to a subtle sense of 'space game awe', but the graphics are outdated for a game that came out years ago.”
“The music is mediocre and often glitches.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
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 technical execution appears outdated and in need of modernization.
“I was concerned with technical problems mentioned here in another comment, but on my Windows 10, i5 with a 1050, I had no performance issues.”
“The game lacks support for any modern gaming display resolutions or widescreen monitors, and hasn't been modernized or updated to run smoothly on modern gaming PCs.”
“(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.)”
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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 richly crafted environment, which 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.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
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 abandonware for profit.
“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 ruins the overall enjoyment.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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 be subtle and may resonate more with players familiar with the genre's history.
“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 impeccable, making even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is significantly compromised by numerous bugs, including critical issues that prevent players from building specific units despite 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.”
