SpaceBourne 2
- February 17, 2023
- Burak Dabak
- 16h median play time
SpaceBourne 2 is an upcoming open-world space combat simulation game that allows players to explore, trade, and fight across procedurally generated galaxies. Players can build and customize their spaceships, recruit crew members, and engage in various missions and activities. The game promises improved graphics, more complex mechanics, and a richer narrative compared to its predecessor.
Reviews
- Impressive for a game developed by a single person, showcasing a lot of ambition and potential.
- Offers a mix of space and ground combat, with engaging gameplay mechanics and a variety of activities to pursue.
- The game has a lot of depth, allowing players to build factions, conquer systems, and engage in various missions.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, making it frustrating to play at times.
- AI voice acting is poor and often mismatched with subtitles, detracting from the overall experience.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, leading to confusion and difficulty in navigating menus and controls.
- story1,514 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and filled with potential, while others criticize it for being poorly executed and riddled with bugs. Many players appreciate the variety of missions and the freedom to explore, but express frustration over mission tracking issues and a lack of clarity in objectives. Overall, while the narrative has its moments, it suffers from technical problems and a need for more depth and polish.
“The game begins in a bustling desert city, filled with NPCs offering missions that set the stage for your adventure.”
“The AI-narrated dialogues, while sometimes lacking in emotional delivery, help immerse players in the storyline more than text boxes ever could.”
“This storyline provides a compelling backdrop for the game's diverse activities.”
“The main quest is missing an event where it starts, and there is cinematic written in place of well cinematics I guess.”
“The story is broken, after 3 missions I cannot continue.”
“The story kind of feels pointless.”
- gameplay644 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Spacebourne 2 is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and significant jankiness, as it is still in early access. Players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay options, including space and ground combat, faction management, and exploration, but many express frustration with poorly explained mechanics, bugs, and a lack of polish. Overall, while the core gameplay is seen as solid and enjoyable, it requires further refinement to reach its full potential.
“The gameplay is very good.”
“The game has great potential, and it's already more fun to play than Starfield, but very much an early alpha gameplay-wise.”
“This game has given me the thing that I thought was impossible to get again... that original Elite feeling of wonder & discovery... the characters, the places... the stations, the ships etc. I'm truly amazed at how many game mechanics have been crafted together by a single dev.”
“The basic mechanics need a lot of love.”
“Most systems are a veneer of complexity over an extremely simple gameplay mechanic.”
“The ai voices and plot are terrible currently, the mechanics very disjointed, you can lose hours of play because it fails to auto save properly, it's a game with a lot of potential but is in too early access for me to do more than advise you put it on your watchlist for now.”
- graphics400 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while some visuals are impressive, particularly in space exploration, others are subpar and reminiscent of older titles. Critics point out issues such as grainy textures, poor lighting, and a lack of polish compared to modern games like Starfield and Star Citizen. Overall, while there is potential for improvement, the current state of the graphics is seen as a significant area needing enhancement as the game continues to develop.
“Spacebourne 2, powered by Unreal Engine 4, offers impressive visuals that enhance the sense of wonder and scale.”
“The graphics are particularly striking when exploring planetary surfaces and navigating the vastness of space.”
“The graphics and sound design create a visually stunning and immersive universe, capturing the awe and beauty of space exploration.”
“Visuals are bad, station interiors are downright ugly, prerendered static backgrounds with animations in 90s WC: Privateer even now look better.”
“Planet designs: 3/10 (all of the planets are very similar and have horrible graphics when on the surface. For a game made on Unreal Engine, I expected it to look at least decent.)”
“Game is broken and boring, graphics remind me of games from 10 years ago.”
- stability396 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, making it feel unfinished and often frustrating to play. Many users report game-breaking issues, frequent crashes, and a lack of intuitive controls, which detracts significantly from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the game's potential and ongoing updates, the consensus is that it is too unstable for a full recommendation at this time.
“Game runs great at 4k with high settings on a 3080, and I have had no major bugs.”
“Runs great on a lower end PC and looks beautiful.”
“I have SB1 and it didn't grab me like SB2 does. This game has a ton of features and systems, and while it may not have everything bug-free and polished, I'd say it has a mix of Elite and No Man's Sky.”
“As it stands as of this review, this game is quite buggy and figuring out how to do even simple tasks is a chore.”
“You can feel the ambition in the game but it's literally too buggy to play.”
“Game breaking glitches!”
- atmosphere94 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to titles like "Mass Effect" and offering a compelling universe for exploration. However, players have reported significant issues with atmospheric entry mechanics, including loss of ship control and frustrating bugs that detract from the experience. While the graphics and overall atmosphere are considered beautiful, there is a consensus that improvements are needed, particularly in the fluidity of space-to-atmosphere transitions and the functionality of NPCs.
“I enjoy the atmosphere and how things work in the game; for a solo developer, this game is truly remarkable.”
“Engaging atmosphere: the game does a great job of drawing you in, offering a 'Mass Effect'-like feel, creating a compelling universe that invites exploration and engagement.”
“The graphics and atmosphere are beautiful, aside from minor texture issues; you can capture some amazing wallpapers.”
“At this point I realized it's not getting any better and after default UE5 motion blur that can't be disabled, bad movement, bad dialogue, map clipping, lack of atmosphere, and complete jank, I requested a refund.”
“My favorite is the frequent bug of going into atmosphere causing you to effectively lose control of your ship, locking you in a strange, pointless limbo of time waste.”
“With such a complicated space travel, once you decide to land on the planet and fly into the atmosphere, controls are taken away from you while the ship just rockets right into the ground and suddenly stops near the surface.”
- grinding74 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, often requiring players to engage in repetitive missions for extended periods to progress, particularly when trying to afford significant purchases like ships. While some players find enjoyment in the grind and appreciate the RPG elements, many express frustration with the lack of variety in missions and the overall design choices that contribute to a feeling of monotony. Overall, the game has potential but suffers from poor implementation of grinding mechanics that may deter casual players.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“And here lies what stopped me playing the game... early on I encountered a station selling a huge ship called 'Mother Earth'... I could buy it for about 10 million credits... but fast forward to 100+ hours in and I find out that you have to buy that ship to progress the story... except now that ship is about 75 million credits... which means I have to spend several hours grinding ground missions just to afford it.”
“- Grinding the money to buy a mothership, a 9-digit purchase with missions paying on the scale of 6 or 7 digits, just to advance the story... that grind is not fun!”
“You can spend hours grinding for the ship you want, only to go back and find the ship has increased in price.”
- optimization68 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and bugs, while others report smooth gameplay and good performance on high-end systems. Many reviewers note that despite its current shortcomings, particularly in terms of polish and UI bugs, the game shows promise and could improve with future updates. Overall, while some players find it well-optimized for a single-developer project, others express disappointment with its technical performance.
“It's clear that with some optimization and polish, it could become an intuitive and seamless part of the gameplay experience.”
“Performance-wise the game works really well.”
“Might have some optimizations in the future but it does a great job with loading actions like flying in/out a planet and moving around to different space station zones.”
“Unfortunately, despite high FPS (120+), I was getting major stuttering from the moment the game started.”
“As it stands, there are a ton of UI bugs and a desperate need for optimization and polish.”
“Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Starbourne is its abysmal optimization and technical performance.”
- music58 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with players noting its decent quality but significant inconsistencies, such as abrupt cut-offs and repetitive loops. While some appreciate the ability to choose music genres, many feel that the soundtrack lacks originality and depth, often relying on generic stock music. Overall, there is a consensus that the music needs improvement and more expert composition to enhance the gaming experience.
“I want to just click where I want to go and watch my pretty ship fly there while I look at the stars and listen to spacey music.”
“Also, the music is banging (especially the fight music which you can pick the genre! How cool is that!?).”
“Get some kickass music going, and I think you're going to have a pretty epic hit game on your hands.”
“The same 1-minute soundtrack plays during combat and has a very noticeable cut off and restart.”
“Music is decent, but very inconsistent; I keep having it cut out, go silent, resume at weird times, etc.”
“The music in many sections is only about 30-45 seconds long and has obvious places where it loops again.”
- humor50 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its charmingly janky mechanics, hilarious visual bugs, and awkward AI voice acting, which often leads to amusing dialogue and translation errors. Players find themselves laughing at the game's rough edges, such as ships stacking on top of each other and the absurdity of combat scenarios, creating a lighthearted experience despite its flaws. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the enjoyment of the game, making it feel like a fun, albeit imperfect, space adventure.
“The dialogue and voice acting is necessarily awful because of the resources available to single-handedly develop a game on this scope, but while some might find it off-putting, I find it hilarious and kind of charming.”
“Points for the hilarious translation fails though!”
“It's rough around the edges and sometimes the spelling doesn't quite make sense, but y'know for a one-man team, this is hecking fun and hilarious!”
- emotional18 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its ambitious emotional depth and immersive storytelling, particularly through AI-narrated dialogues that enhance player engagement. While some players note that the emotional delivery could be improved and the game requires further polishing, many express a strong emotional investment in the world and characters, indicating a promising potential for deeper connections as the game evolves. Overall, it evokes a sense of adventure and excitement, making players feel like they are part of a true space journey.
“Feature-wise, this game seems to be very ambitious and touching on content that I don't think we see in many other games.”
“Give the player a home in this world and NPCs they truly care about, and watch engagement and emotional investment skyrocket.”
“This game made me feel like I was in a true space adventure; the controls feel pretty good, the designs are nice, and the gameplay is really fun.”
“I don't mind the crappy UI or the AI voice acting and boring story quests, but I'm not going to spend my free time traveling and traveling without getting anything done.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's monetization model is praised for being fair, as it is priced at $20 with no microtransactions, reflecting a genuine effort rather than a corporate cash grab. Players appreciate the value for money, especially given the game's potential, though some express a desire for better advertising to increase visibility. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as a positive aspect, contributing to the game's appeal.
“This game is made by one guy, costs $20, has no microtransactions, and I'm pretty sure it will get a full release before others.”
“I'm never going back to that scam of a cash grab!!!”
“The video that's advertising it on the store page is far better than what I've experienced so far.”
“Thank god this was a cheap purchase, because I would be far more upset if I paid more for it.”
- character development8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted as a strong point, featuring a robust system that includes diplomacy, guilds, and various progression mechanics for items, ships, and characters. However, the overall story lacks depth and fails to provide meaningful character growth, with some reviewers noting that it feels simplistic and unengaging. Despite the narrative shortcomings, the RPG elements contribute positively to the character development experience.
“The character development system is really well done.”
“There is a lot of RPG in this game, with questing for your companions, storyline progression, and character development.”
“The various systems, including character development, diplomacy, and guilds, really make the game enjoyable.”
“The story is like a story that a kid makes up while playing with toys. It sucks. There is no character development whatsoever.”
“There are only a couple of missions that are fun, but the way it introduces features through the story is done pretty well.”
“There is a lot of RPG in this game as well, with questing for your companions, story line progression, and character development.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight a significant replayability factor in the game, noting that there are numerous activities and challenges to engage with, making it worth the investment. While some players experienced technical issues initially, they found that resolving these problems enhanced their overall enjoyment and willingness to revisit the game.
“Tons of things to do and work on, the replayability factor is huge. I can say it's worth the money, very well done so far.”