Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
- March 27, 2023
- Cybertech
Get on SteamAn adaptation of the AD&D Spelljammer campaign setting, this game combines ship-to-ship combat, trading, and boarding party tactical combat.
Reviews
- The game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and retro charm, making it a fun blast from the past for fans of old-school AD&D.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- There is a hint of open-world exploration, allowing players to engage in various missions and upgrade their ships.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it difficult to play and often unplayable during key moments.
- Ship-to-ship and hand-to-hand combat mechanics are cumbersome and not enjoyable, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
- The economy system is flawed, with cargo prices being static across all ports, limiting the potential for profit and variety in gameplay.
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its repetitive and limited mission variety, primarily revolving around cargo transport and basic combat encounters. Players report technical issues, such as game freezes during critical moments, which hinder progress in the main quest. While there is a simple overarching narrative and opportunities for character and ship development, many find the execution lacking and frustrating.
“You can haul cargo, do various types of missions, hunt pirates or search for hidden stuff in wildspace, with the goal being upgrading your ship, buying a new one, leveling and buying gear for your crew, gaining notoriety and reputation and maybe eventually doing the main quest, which is pretty simple, but it is there for you to find.”
“You can get missions pitting you against neogi ships, which technically can be destroyed in space from the start, albeit with some difficult maneuvering and a bit of luck.”
“It would be best to decline those missions until you build up your ship and team.”
“You're basically stuck doing the same random cargo drop-off missions for the same amount of gold every time.”
“I was really enjoying it, but thumbs down because I can't even start the story, let alone finish it.”
“You'll pick up missions from taverns too, but these are also limited in their variety and usually boil down to your magical spacefaring ship being a glorified taxi.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality and engaging soundtrack, enhancing the overall playability. While some players note that it can become repetitive over time, the soundtrack remains a standout feature, with options for high-quality remakes available online.
“The soundtrack totally slaps and looks cool in the collection.”
“The playability is complemented by great music.”
“If you want, you can also listen to the high-quality remake soundtrack, which is available on YouTube.”
“The music gets repetitive after some time, which can be quite frustrating.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences significant stability issues, including frequent freezes during combat and crashes, particularly when interacting with enemies. However, players note that this release has fewer bugs compared to the original DOS version.
“The game freezes as soon as you land a hit on an enemy monster.”
“Every time a zombie attacks one of my crew members, the game freezes, making it impossible to complete the first story mission.”
“The other issue is that the game is buggy and can crash sometimes, though this release has far fewer bugs than I remember from the original DOS game.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace" may not match the maturity of later titles, but they effectively capture the unique atmosphere and bizarre visuals of the D&D spelljammer setting. The game's portrayal of space combat, including ship-to-ship and boarding elements, adds to its distinctive visual appeal, making it a memorable experience despite its niche status.
“Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace was niche even when it came out, but it is remarkable in its atmosphere and the bizarre visuals of the Spelljammer setting, portraying D&D combat in space with both ship-to-ship and boarding elements.”
“A game that may not be as graphically mature as later titles like Krynn, but for me is more playable.”
“Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace was niche even when it came out, but it is remarkable in its atmosphere and bizarre visuals of the Spelljammer setting, portraying D&D combat in space with both ship-to-ship and boarding elements.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game may lack the graphical sophistication of newer titles like Krynn, but it offers a more engaging and playable experience, enhancing its replayability.
“A game that may not be as graphically mature as later titles like Krynn, but for me is more playable.”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back to this game time and again.”
“The game lacks the depth and variety needed to keep me coming back for more.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay it.”
“The limited choices and outcomes make replaying feel more like a chore than a fun experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace" is noted for its unique and bizarre visuals that effectively capture the essence of D&D combat in a space setting, featuring both ship-to-ship battles and boarding actions. Despite its niche appeal, the game's distinctive ambiance stands out as a highlight.
“Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace was niche even when it came out, but it is remarkable in its atmosphere, featuring bizarre visuals of the Spelljammer setting and portraying D&D combat in space with both ship-to-ship and boarding elements.”
