PULSAR: Lost Colony Game Cover
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"PULSAR: Lost Colony" is a sci-fi cooperative game where players take on roles such as captain, pilot, engineer, and weapons specialist to operate a space ship and complete missions. The game supports both single-player and multiplayer modes, with up to five players able to join forces in online play. Players will encounter various alien species, challenging space environments, and must manage resources and make strategic decisions to survive.

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,565 reviews
story101 positive mentions
stability51 negative mentions
  • PULSAR: Lost Colony offers a unique cooperative experience where players can take on distinct roles aboard a spaceship, enhancing teamwork and communication.
  • The game features a vast galaxy to explore, with a variety of missions, factions, and ship customization options, providing significant replayability.
  • The developers are actively updating the game, adding new content and improving mechanics, which shows their commitment to the community.
  • The AI bots can be unreliable, often leading to frustrating gameplay when playing solo or with fewer players.
  • The graphics and user interface feel dated and could use significant polish to improve the overall experience.
  • The game can become repetitive over time, with missions and encounters lacking variety, which may lead to diminished interest after several playthroughs.
  • story597 mentions

    The story in "Pulsar: Lost Colony" is described as a mix of engaging lore and cooperative gameplay, with players exploring a vast universe filled with missions and quests. While the narrative offers interesting elements and faction-based storylines, many players find the presentation lacking, often relying on lengthy text passages that can detract from immersion. Overall, the game provides a sandbox experience where players can create their own adventures, but it suffers from repetitive mission structures and a need for more diverse content to maintain long-term interest.

    • “The story is nothing crazy, but the worldbuilding is super interesting, and the missions are entertaining enough to immerse yourself in, especially if you're into science fiction.”
    • “With a rich background lore and storyline, dozens of missions, in-depth ship and crew gear management, and much, much more, Pulsar is great fun played with friends or solo with bots!”
    • “The story in this game is neat, with detailed and interesting lore, but it could be presented a lot better.”
    • “This made it pretty hard to get immersed in the story, which was disappointing, because it seemed like a lot of effort went into writing an intriguing narrative.”
    • “The missions are painfully non-dynamic and repetitive, and the combat could use some tweaks to make it more innovative than holding down a button and trying not to let your health drop too low.”
  • gameplay397 mentions

    The gameplay of "Pulsar: Lost Colony" is characterized by its cooperative mechanics and role-based gameplay, which can be highly engaging when played with friends. However, many players find the experience marred by a steep learning curve, repetitive tasks, and underwhelming ground combat mechanics, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the game offers a unique blend of space exploration and team dynamics, it suffers from technical issues and a lack of content depth, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “If you enjoyed Artemis Bridge Simulator or similar games, Pulsar brings that same team-based gameplay but amps it up.”
    • “The gameplay is definitely at its best when you're flying through space yelling at your friends as you try to destroy an enemy ship while dodging fire and trying to keep your own ship from falling apart.”
    • “Pulsar offers surprisingly deep gameplay that is easy to pick up, but takes time to truly become proficient.”
    • “Unfortunately, Pulsar is so rough in everything from basic game mechanics to structured content that it simply leads to frustration and eventually disappointment.”
    • “The gameplay when you're not on your ship is significantly worse.”
    • “Excessively repetitive gameplay, extremely easy to exploit in, boring combat experience.”
  • graphics290 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are simplistic and occasionally dated, they do not detract from the overall enjoyment and depth of gameplay. Some describe the visuals as reminiscent of older titles or even "Minecrafty," but emphasize that the fun and engaging mechanics more than compensate for any graphical shortcomings. Overall, players suggest that those who prioritize gameplay over high-end graphics will find a rewarding experience despite the visual limitations.

    • “The graphics are fun and give the game a bit of a light-hearted feel, which goes well with a game featuring the ability to play as what is essentially intergalactic biscuit deliverymen.”
    • “Don't let the simple graphics fool you, there's real depth in this gameplay.”
    • “Despite the simple graphics, it is a rather fun team-based space survival game.”
    • “In about 1 hour, I found weird graphical glitches and I even managed to fall out of bounds.”
    • “The graphics are not good, but they do not matter at all.”
    • “The graphics are low quality but there aren't really clarity issues.”
  • stability53 mentions

    The game is widely reported to be quite buggy, with numerous glitches affecting gameplay, including freezing screens, graphical issues, and AI pathfinding problems. While these bugs can detract from the experience, many players still find enjoyment in the game, especially in multiplayer settings, and appreciate the developers' ongoing efforts to improve stability. Overall, the game's early access status is acknowledged, and while it has potential, players should be prepared for a janky experience.

    • “The game is very affordable, while still being a high-quality product that is stable and not buggy, offering great replayability.”
    • “The game runs great, and there is always something to do, although there are still some bugs that can impact your experience.”
    • “The button labelled 'academy' appears to potentially be a tutorial, but when I click it, the screen just freezes.”
    • “Very buggy, couldn't even complete the first mission without endless glitches just trying to get onto the elevator.”
    • “Multiplayer connection was horrid and buggy to get started, spent much time stuck in infinite loading screens and master server connection error messages.”
  • humor42 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely dependent on playing with friends, as many players report that the funniest moments arise from chaotic interactions and shared experiences during gameplay. While solo play can be less entertaining, the game shines in multiplayer settings where players engage in hilarious antics, banter, and unexpected mishaps, often leading to memorable and laugh-out-loud moments. However, the experience can vary significantly based on the quality of the player community, with some finding it frustrating when paired with less cooperative individuals.

    • “The best part of this game is the funny minigame you play in-between warps.”
    • “We finally called it a day at 3 am in the morning, drunk, laughing our asses off, and just not believing how much fun we had being a dysfunctional Orville-like crew and doing quests around.”
    • “From the first moments to the last moments, we were laughing, arguing, cursing, sweating, and cheering.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse array of ships, factions, and customizable settings, allowing players to experience unique adventures with each playthrough. While many reviews highlight the fun of playing with friends and the variety of roles and campaigns, some users express concerns about potential repetitiveness after mastering all aspects of the game. Despite this, the general consensus is that the game offers substantial replay value, especially in multiplayer settings.

    • “The variety in ships and crew roles allows for good replayability and a new experience each time a new game is started.”
    • “The game also has an obscene amount of replayability, with 14 playable ships, 4 factions, lots of subplots, and 2 extra standalone campaigns.”
    • “There are many different starships, factions, classes, and playable races to choose from when starting a new adventure in a randomly generated galaxy, all with their own unique playstyles which adds a ton of replayability.”
    • “My final major criticism is the lack of replayability, which is really shocking for a game like this.”
    • “It is way too repetitive, and after a while, it just becomes boring. Once you master every officer position on the ship and play them all, it becomes more of a chore, especially since $30 is too high for a game that doesn't have much replay value.”
    • “The level of polish, balancing, and replay value on the game just doesn't seem to reflect the amount of time they've had to work on it.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on lower-end systems and offers a variety of gameplay experiences, users report significant performance issues, particularly in VR mode and on macOS. Many players have noted that while the core gameplay functions well, there are still bugs and optimization challenges, especially at higher settings. As the game is still in beta, further improvements are anticipated, but current performance can vary widely depending on hardware.

    • “They have optimized the game very well, with minimal bugs and jank (except for the unsatisfying combat) and are improving quite a few features for gamers with less powerful PCs.”
    • “A well optimized multiplayer spaceship crew simulation and elite-like!”
    • “On the plus side, this makes the game run smoothly on toasters as well.”
    • “VR mode of this game is extremely poorly optimized; I have trouble running this on the lowest settings on an RTX 2080 at 90Hz.”
    • “I couldn't get any playable performance on my Broadwell laptop with Intel GPU, even with every setting at the minimum and resolution at 1024x768.”
    • “The game is yet to be optimized, so performance issues at higher video settings were very noticeable.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Overall, players express mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While some find it excessively tedious and requiring a significant time commitment, others appreciate that the game doesn't impose traditional grind mechanics like loot boxes or paywalls. However, many agree that certain aspects, such as quest navigation and space travel, can become monotonous over time.

    • “Oh, did I mention this game isn't grindy and doesn't expect you to devote your life to it?”
    • “No loot boxes, no tedious grind to have a playable character/ship.”
    • “No paywalls, no grinding, no loot boxes, none of the 'typical' forced limitations that we've sadly come to expect from every game we buy.”
    • “Too tedious for my taste, where everything is designed to be annoying and impractical for 'added challenge' (user interface, ship controls, ship layout, ship functions).”
    • “This is a great game, if you're into this type of game it'll be an absolutely amazing experience for at least an hour at which point you'll find wanting to do anything in the game is either extremely boring (combat) or extremely tedious (hunting down NPCs).”
    • “These just become tedious after a time because you're literally sitting on a screen clicking buttons every 10 seconds or so.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game has received positive feedback for its excellent soundtrack, ambiance, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players expressing a desire to purchase it. While the combat music could benefit from more variety, the ambient tracks are praised for their relaxing qualities. Some users noted that the music can be distracting, and a few found it generic compared to other titles, but overall, it contributes significantly to the game's experience.

    • “Awesome soundtrack, art design and ambiance.”
    • “Soundtrack is spot-on!”
    • “Other than that though this is a solid game with excellent music and atmosphere.”
    • “I turned off the music right away; it was very generic and canned.”
    • “Music I got off by default as it distracts me.”
    • “The only problems are small such as sound and music.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its visual appeal and immersive sound design, creating a captivating experience in alien worlds. While some players note issues with repetitive soundtracks that disrupt tension, many appreciate the stunning ship designs and overall art style, which contribute to a sense of adventure in a politically and physically devastated galaxy. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, enhancing gameplay and engagement despite some areas needing improvement.

    • “But for the moment it provides enough variety and atmosphere for my friends and I to enter a world other than our own.”
    • “Although the graphics aren't anything special, the mechanics of the game and the atmosphere are more than enough to make you feel like you're really a vital crew member partaking in a dangerous but epic voyage through a politically and physically devastated galaxy.”
    • “The atmosphere and style is great, and the sound design is very nice.”
    • “Sound design is jarring to the point where a single jingle will blast on repeat, instantly slaughtering any suspense or atmosphere when exploring alien worlds.”
    • “I feel like the game could absolutely use some atmosphere; it always feels too quiet, and not in a good way.”
    • “It just pains me to know what myself and the community could provide this game: the much-needed punch-up to the atmosphere of the whole game.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed; while some players find it frustrating and overwhelming, leading to feelings of anger and disappointment, others appreciate the sense of community and immersion, particularly fans of the Star Trek franchise who feel a strong connection to the game's themes. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from frustration to nostalgia, depending on the player's background and expectations.

    • “Fantastic game that's made me realize that an online community can be wholesome and actually fun to play with.”
    • “This game made me feel as if I were really on Star Trek.”
    • “Made me feel like Picard.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization of the game is criticized as being a "half baked cash grab," yet it is praised for lacking microtransactions, which is seen as a positive aspect. Overall, while the marketing may not reflect the game's quality, the absence of additional monetization tactics is appreciated by players.

    • “This game is a half-baked cash grab.”
    • “No microtransactions!”
  • character development2 mentions

    While some users criticize the basic character design and technical glitches, they emphasize that these issues are overshadowed by the engaging multiplayer experience. However, there is a strong desire for more robust character development features and a complete re-skin of player characters to enhance the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly shape their characters' personalities and skills over time.”
    • “I love how the character arcs evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “The persistent character development feature adds a layer of immersion, as I can see my character grow and change based on my choices.”
    • “Really would like to see a complete re-skin of player characters and also a persistent character development feature.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

19hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
5-48hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 19 analyzed playthroughs

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