Space Run
- June 13, 2014
- Passtech Games
- 19h median play time
Space Run is a fairly fun twist on tower defense, but it lacks much of the genres interesting experimentation.
Space Run is a real-time spaceship construction strategy game, where you must protect your cargo ship from asteroids, pirates, and competing transporters. As you complete missions and earn credits, unlock new modules and upgrades such as laser turrets and missile launchers to help you survive in the dangerous depths of space. Your goal is to safely transport valuable shipments while fending off threats and avoiding damage to your cargo.
Reviews
- Unique twist on the tower defense genre, where players build defenses on a moving spaceship.
- Engaging gameplay that requires quick thinking and strategic placement of modules.
- Good voice acting and humorous dialogue that adds charm to the game.
- Lack of a pause function makes it difficult to manage multiple tasks during intense gameplay.
- Repetitive missions with fixed enemy patterns can lead to memorization rather than strategy.
- Limited replayability once all missions are completed, as there are no additional game modes or content.
- story587 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered minimal and somewhat forgettable, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While the humorous dialogue and character interactions add some charm, many players feel that the repetitive nature of missions and the need to grind for upgrades detracts from any narrative depth. Overall, the story is seen as a light, amusing element that complements the tower defense mechanics but lacks significant engagement or complexity.
“The story is good, and each customer type has a good variety of quests.”
“An amazingly fun game, with very well thought out systems and superb voice acting which delivers great tongue-in-cheek storytelling.”
“The story, humor, and voice acting are all terrible, but that doesn't change the incredible gameplay.”
“The story is lacking and freedom and simplicity is slightly less good.”
“The 'story', such as it is, is fine as well - it's not like they really needed a story, but the bits of dialog are mildly humorous at times.”
“The story is pretty bland.”
- gameplay200 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Space Run is characterized by its unique blend of tower defense and real-time strategy mechanics, requiring players to strategically place and manage modules on their spaceship while navigating various challenges. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and addictive nature of the gameplay, some criticize the lack of a pause feature and the need for constant micromanagement, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the genre with solid production values, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its demanding pace and repetitive mission structure.
“All the modules need to be placed in specific ways to work, which turns the entire gameplay into a sort of inventory puzzle in which you have to figure out the best way to slot all your modules to get through a level.”
“Space run has plenty of depth, a pretty great upgrade tree for your barge to incorporate into itself as you go, and ultimately the most important thing of all: fun gameplay.”
“The gameplay is dynamic and, unlike with similar 'defense-oriented games', I never found myself waiting for the next wave or for something to do.”
“However, expectations vs reality (what the game truly is in terms of features and gameplay) left me severely disappointed.”
“Sadly, the flaw for me is the pace (sometimes too slow, sometimes too hectic) and the gameplay: it requires too much micromanagement, and won't let you pause for that.”
“The gameplay no flowing, degenerates in repetition.”
- graphics110 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising their quality, smoothness, and aesthetic appeal. While some noted minor issues such as cluttered visuals or the need for powerful hardware, the overall consensus highlights the game's polished graphics and effective design that enhance the gameplay experience. Additionally, the art style and sound design complement the visuals, contributing to a well-rounded presentation.
“The ship itself, the battle effects, and the graphics are amazing.”
“Best tower defense game I've played in a very long time, graphics are really well polished and the whole experience felt very smooth.”
“Graphically beautiful for a game of this genre.”
“The graphics are fine, but present a lot of troubles: require powerful hardware to run, not work on the last version of Windows, even changing compatibility, causing exits to desktop and problems to fit widescreen or windowed screen.”
“Very dated graphics, uninspired dialogue, poor storytelling, no zooming in or out, no pause button, no fast forward.”
“I'm experiencing constant game crashes, graphics glitches, and gameplay errors, which is a shame because this has the makings of being a really good, and incredibly addictive game.”
- replayability67 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the ability to revisit levels to achieve perfect scores or experiment with different strategies and equipment. While some find the replay value high due to varied mission completion methods and upgrades, others note limitations due to static level designs and a lack of randomization, leading to a quicker sense of fatigue. Overall, it offers decent replayability, particularly for completionists, but could benefit from additional content or features to enhance long-term engagement.
“Excellent replay value; I play multiple levels over and over to try and find new ways to win!”
“There is plenty of replay value and more than one way to complete a mission; you can always return to a mission after getting more equipment if you don't get a top score on your first run.”
“Lots of fun and replayability as you strive to perfect your run through each mission.”
“Has a good base concept, but lacks severely in terms of replayability and tires quickly.”
“The stages are the same each time, so there's virtually no replay value other than higher difficulties.”
“There are 30 missions, and once you've gotten 5 stars on them, there's very little replay value.”
- humor53 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its engaging and quirky dialogue, with many players appreciating the comedic voice acting and lighthearted tone that enhances the gameplay experience. While some find the humor repetitive or occasionally cringeworthy, the overall consensus is that it adds charm and enjoyment, making the game a fun and entertaining experience. However, a few critiques mention that the humor can sometimes veer into cliché or sexist territory, which detracts from its appeal.
“Hilarious dialogue.”
“The dialogue doesn't take itself too seriously, and consequently the humor is pretty high quality as is the voice acting and character design.”
“But what puts it above and beyond is the humor in the game, which as time passes really will bring a smile to your lips.”
- grinding33 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration, especially in the mid to late game. While some enjoy the challenge of upgrading and earning better power-ups, many feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, making gameplay feel monotonous. Despite its fun elements, the necessity to repeatedly farm levels for upgrades and stars can make the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging game.
“Overall, it gets incredibly grindy, tedious, and repetitive.”
“It gets grindy fast, especially for a pay-to-own game.”
“The biggest complaint I have with this game is the more you advance, the more tedious everything becomes.”
- music24 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as decent and fitting for the genre, though it tends to be repetitive and not particularly memorable. While some players appreciate the sound effects and overall audio experience, others suggest disabling the in-game music in favor of personal playlists. Overall, the soundtrack is considered adequate but not standout, complementing the gameplay without being overly distracting.
“Great visual style, fantastic soundtrack, challenging levels.”
“Visuals and color palette are good, the music is enjoyable without being too mellow or overbearing, and the limited voice acting conveys the story appropriately.”
“Top notch music, voice acting and graphics.”
“The music is a bit simple, but enough for the job.”
“As I write this, I am thinking really hard to find something wrong with this title, but really the only thing I can come up with is that *maybe* somebody might find the soundtrack a bit too repetitive.”
“The music is also very typical to the genre; by no means bad, but neither are any of the pieces I've heard so far something I'd like to listen to outside the game.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and high graphical quality, allowing for a polished gameplay experience. Players appreciate the extensive opportunities for strategic optimization in ship design and combat, although some express a desire for faster engine performance during large battles. However, the repetitive nature of missions and the grinding required for upgrades can detract from the overall experience.
“And time is important here; your clients expect you to be fast. Each extra engine on your ship will boost your travel speed, and only this way can you achieve five stars for your performance.”
“A lot of space for optimization and small tricks for large gains.”
“Fantastic blend of spaceship construction and combat optimization.”
“The upgrades are somewhat independent of your performance in a level.”
“I wish the game engine was a little faster and better optimized for the massive ship-versus-ship-versus-ship-versus-etc battles.”
“The main downside is a mix of repetitive missions and a certain level of grinding - to advance you need to upgrade, to upgrade you need cash and to max out the performance on a mission, and the missions don't change when you repeat them, which you'll have to do quite a bit.”
- stability12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 58 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed among users; while many report a polished experience with no bugs or crashes, others face significant issues such as game freezes, crashes, and graphics glitches. Overall, the game performs well on high-end systems, but some players experience frustrating stability problems that detract from the gameplay.
“It's polished and relatively bug-free.”
“I have found the game to be a very stable and very well-polished, bug-free title.”
“The game runs great and really wraps you into the world as a transporter.”
“Game freezes on loading screen... tried everything... simply does not work.”
“I'm experiencing constant game crashes, graphics glitches, and gameplay errors, which is a shame because this has the makings of being a really good and incredibly addictive game.”
“Installed this game and it's the first game that I've ever played on Steam that glitches to the point where I couldn't even start the game.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the solid mechanics with a vibrant backdrop of humor and storytelling. Players appreciate how the dynamic environment, filled with ships and asteroids, contributes to a fun and enjoyable experience, making it a standout in the tower defense genre.
“The atmosphere is there.”
“An excellent take on tower defense games, surrounding it with a delightful coating of fun story and atmosphere, humor, and simply awesome gameplay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is enhanced by high-quality dialogue that balances humor and seriousness, complemented by strong voice acting and appealing character design.
“The dialogue doesn't take itself too seriously, and consequently the humor is pretty high quality, as is the voice acting and character design.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization system appears to be influenced by mobile gaming practices, with a currency system that suggests it was originally designed for microtransactions, which were ultimately removed in this version.
“It feels like an attempt at mobile gaming, and the way the currency system works makes it seem like it was designed for microtransactions that were scrapped in this version.”
“The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I feel like the game is constantly pushing me to buy in-game currency, which ruins the overall experience.”