Starship Troopers: Terran Command
- March 30, 2022
- The Artistocrats
- 18h median play time
Starship Troopers: Terran Command doesn’t reinvite the RTS genre, but it’s so steeped in its fantastic source material and great gameplay elements that it manages to be one of the best games to release in years.
"Starship Troopers: Terran Command" is a real-time strategy game based on the Starship Troopers franchise. As a commander of the Mobile Infantry, you must protect humanity from the Arachnid threat through tactical decision making and strategic unit placement. Engage in intense battles, managing resources and upgrading your forces to ensure survival and ultimately, victory.
Reviews
- Captures the essence of the Starship Troopers universe, with great references to the original film.
- Engaging gameplay that emphasizes tactical positioning and unit management over traditional resource gathering.
- Variety of units and missions keeps the gameplay fresh and interesting.
- AI pathfinding issues can lead to frustrating moments where units get stuck or fail to respond to commands.
- Lack of base building and resource management may disappoint traditional RTS fans.
- Some missions can feel repetitive and overly scripted, leading to a lack of replayability.
- story2,438 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Starship Troopers: Terran Command" is a blend of campy humor and military satire, closely mirroring the tone of the original film. Players engage in a series of 19 missions that revolve around battling hordes of bugs, with each mission introducing new units and challenges, although many reviewers noted a lack of depth and variety in the narrative. While the game captures the essence of the franchise with its propaganda-style briefings and voice acting, it suffers from linear mission design and limited replayability, leaving players wanting more in terms of story and gameplay options.
“The story and characters are fully voiced and complemented by dramatic propaganda video sequences that perfectly capture the film's exaggerated fascism and militarism.”
“The campaign missions are very cool, with the juxtaposition between the propaganda you're shown in the cutscenes and the real story unfolding through your gameplay.”
“The game nails the starship troopers feel while still introducing a new storyline and fun units that fit inside the lore.”
“The story is... well it's mostly one mission one story type of deal.”
“The campaign is a string of standalone scenarios, there's no attempt at carry-over between missions.”
“The story is mind-numbingly boring in the way it's presented, which I didn't even know was possible for an alien bug invasion murder shooty game.”
- gameplay943 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Starship Troopers: Terran Command" is characterized by its solid mechanics, particularly the line of sight and positioning requirements that encourage strategic troop placement. While the game offers a unique tactical experience reminiscent of classic RTS titles, it suffers from repetitiveness and basic base-building mechanics, which may disappoint players seeking depth. Overall, it captures the essence of the franchise, providing engaging combat and a nostalgic atmosphere, but lacks variety and complexity in its gameplay loop.
“The gameplay is very solid with a great variety of units.”
“One of the main mechanics that sets this game apart from others is the line of sight mechanic given to your soldiers.”
“Gameplay starts off easy, giving players a chance to familiarize themselves with the mechanics, but the difficulty ramps up significantly after mission 5, offering a satisfying challenge.”
“The gameplay is boring and lackluster.”
“The gameplay loop sounds like it'll get old, but it honestly doesn't since the story missions mix it up quite a bit.”
“Gameplay is boring, and is as basic as it gets; there is no depth to anything and it is basically point and click and that's it.”
- graphics365 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the aesthetic as faithful to the Starship Troopers franchise, capturing the gritty and satirical tone of the films. While some players appreciate the detailed character models and environments, others criticize the graphics as mediocre or dated, lacking advanced options and experiencing occasional glitches. Overall, the visuals are generally considered decent for an indie RTS, though they may not meet the expectations set by modern AAA titles.
“From the stark alien landscapes to the adrenaline-fueled combat scenarios, the visuals and atmosphere are top-notch.”
“Visually, the game is a treat for fans of the franchise, with detailed character models and environments that capture the gritty, futuristic aesthetic of the movies.”
“The graphics are amazing for this type of game, detailed but not overly detailed to the point my graphics card sounds like a jet engine warming up.”
“The graphics are lackluster, the character models devoid of detail or personality.”
“The graphics are very dated (I had it set on max graphics), gameplay is horribly linear, the tutorial is meh and the game plays out like it was designed by a bunch of 5th graders who have never played a video game before.”
“The graphics settings are terrible.”
- music217 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its forgettable nature compared to the iconic soundtrack of the original *Starship Troopers* film. While some appreciate the game's attempt to capture the film's tone through its brass-heavy score and dynamic music that adapts to gameplay, others lament the absence of the original tracks, feeling that the new compositions lack the emotional impact and nostalgia associated with the movie. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as decent but ultimately falls short of expectations, especially for fans of the film.
“The music, the voice lines, the style and presentation... it all oozes Starship Troopers and its glorious cheese!”
“The dynamic soundtrack is also an awesome feature, and executed with a level of quality I've only seen a handful of games do.”
“The music is bombastic, the propaganda broadcasts spot-on, and the bugs perfectly splatty.”
“The music is forgettable and sad, which is made even worse when you consider that the IP had previously used Basil Poledouris's work.”
“The only thing this game is painfully missing is the original soundtrack from the first movie.”
“The music is completely bland, probably royalty-free.”
- replayability187 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting a significant lack of content beyond the main campaign and few options for varied gameplay, such as skirmish or multiplayer modes. While some players appreciate the tactical combat and community-created content, the absence of features like a scenario editor or co-op play limits long-term engagement. Future updates are anticipated to enhance replayability, but as it stands, many feel the game offers minimal replay value.
“The gameplay loop is fun and most levels seem very much replayable.”
“This game is fun, and the community maps add near infinite replay value.”
“Perfect style & feel from the films, good gameplay, long duration & exceptional replayability due to community content.”
“The absence of a 360-degree camera, skirmish mode, and multiplayer options feels like a missed opportunity to expand its appeal and replayability.”
“There isn't really any replay value unless you want to sort through community scenarios and hope they're fun or balanced.”
“The game severely lacks any form of replayability.”
- stability109 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of bugs and glitches, including crashes, graphical issues, and AI pathfinding problems. While some users experienced minimal issues and found the game enjoyable, others faced significant stability problems that hindered gameplay, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to have a solid foundation but requires further polish to address the numerous reported bugs.
“I love the atmosphere, and it was pretty much bug-free while I played it.”
“I encountered minimal game bugs and issues, and the game runs great.”
“The game looks good and runs great; I can see myself playing it again in the future.”
“17 hours in, with several visits to YouTube walkthroughs, and now I'm experiencing screen stuttering, frequent frame freezes, and crashes.”
“I couldn't even get the game to launch. I went through all the troubleshooting YouTube videos and still could not get the game to start. I sent in a ticket and got my money back.”
“It's a buggy mess and it's chock-full of issues.”
- atmosphere103 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Starship Troopers: Terran Command" is widely praised for its faithful recreation of the film's essence, capturing the campy, militaristic tone and humor that fans appreciate. While the graphics and sound design receive mixed reviews, many players find the overall ambiance engaging and immersive, particularly during combat scenarios and mission narratives. However, some critiques highlight a lack of tension and depth in later stages, suggesting that while the atmosphere is strong, it may not fully compensate for gameplay shortcomings.
“From the stark alien landscapes to the adrenaline-fueled combat scenarios, the visuals and atmosphere are top-notch.”
“I highly recommend Starship Troopers: Terran Command; it shines with charm and atmosphere, bringing the film’s essence to life.”
“The atmosphere captures the movie well.”
“The game fails to build a proper atmosphere and especially in its later half, also fails to build tension and suspense since you're already used to just careful positioning or simply a-moving if you use the again, objectively broken units.”
“Cut scenes are ok, interface is ok, but the game has 0 atmosphere.”
“Not even close to the movie, no atmosphere, boring and repetitive mission design.”
- humor76 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever satire and faithful homage to the "Starship Troopers" franchise, featuring over-the-top propaganda and dark comedic elements that resonate with fans of the original movie. Many players find the dialogue and storytelling to be genuinely funny, with moments that evoke laughter throughout the gameplay, although some feel the humor can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game successfully captures the campy charm and absurdity of its source material, making it an enjoyable experience for those familiar with the franchise.
“The humor is top notch and nails the feeling of Starship Troopers.”
“It's funny that a game about exterminating bugs has bugs itself.”
“The narrative and tone of the game is hilarious, with the dialogue depicting incompetent leadership throwing away the lives of their subordinates for little to no tactical advantage.”
“Oh and stop with all the stupid movie quote references, honestly it's not funny and it's not helpful, we get it!”
- grinding75 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive micromanagement required for unit control and the lack of strategic depth. While some find enjoyment in the combat and troop management, the overall consensus is that the gameplay often devolves into a slog, particularly in higher difficulty settings, leading to a less satisfying experience. Players suggest that the game could benefit from improvements to streamline mechanics and reduce the grind.
“Grinding requires some unit micromanagement (sight lines and unit special abilities) to be efficient in a mission, but it is not tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It gets so tedious that you better restart the mission instead of wasting time in an endless tug of war with the bugs.”
“The mechanics lack depth and innovation, reducing the once exhilarating battles against the arachnid horde to tedious and repetitive encounters.”
“Honestly, there needs to be like a 'meh' button; if it's on sale, get it. It'll be fun. I can't imagine these issues are as punishing on lower difficulty as they are on high, but on high difficulty, these mechanics were brutal and only lead to grinding gameplay instead of strategic play.”
- optimization59 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance on lower-end systems, while others experience significant stuttering, frame drops, and crashes even on high-end rigs. While many appreciate the graphics and overall gameplay experience, there are notable issues with pathing and performance degradation over time, particularly in later missions. Overall, while some users find it well-optimized, others highlight the need for further improvements to enhance stability and performance consistency.
“This game runs smoothly on all my lousy computers!”
“Performance-wise, it works perfectly.”
“The graphics and animation are fantastic, well optimized, and I haven't experienced any bugs.”
“Got some performance issues on quite a high-end machine, but I think it can be a limit of the engine.”
“Used to highly recommend, but sometime in the past 2 months an update has utterly butchered performance.”
“4090, Ryzen 7 7700X, WD Black SN850X NVMe, 64 GB of RAM, lowest fastest graphics setting and still can't play the game without performance issues... it's games like this that tarnish developers' reputation.”
- monetization21 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players labeling it a cash grab that relies heavily on nostalgia and the original IP without offering substantial new content. While some reviewers criticize the game for its high price relative to its limited gameplay and perceived lack of originality, others appreciate the developers' effort and find it enjoyable, noting the absence of microtransactions and online requirements. Overall, opinions vary widely, with a significant portion of players feeling it falls short of expectations, while a few see it as a genuine homage to the source material.
“No microtransactions, no nonsense. Always online servers causing single player lag? Just... no nonsense.”
“This game is a joyless cash grab that banks on the IP, desperately clinging to the original story without providing a whole lot of original content.”
“This is not an RTS game and it's nothing like the old Starship Troopers game either. It felt like a nostalgia cash grab and nothing more; it was boring on-rails gameplay from start to finish, not to mention the options and keyboard layout felt like an afterthought.”
“This game is nothing more than a lazy cash grab at best, and if you strip away all the Starship Trooper stickers off of it, it's a bad RTS with half the functionality cut away, bad voice acting, and stupidly designed missions.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of feelings, from discomfort and sadness to a lack of attachment to characters, particularly in the context of sacrifice and loss. While some players appreciate the emotional beats borrowed from the movie, others feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from forming deeper connections with the characters. Overall, the emotional experience is mixed, with moments of resonance overshadowed by a sense of detachment.
“Emotionally, I felt dirty by the end of the Gehenna (DLC) campaign.”
“Love this game, but the scorpion bugs made me cry :(”
“It borrows emotional beats from the movie too much, though the last mission's emotional resonance was good - but because the movie's was good too.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant lack of character development in the game, with players expressing disappointment over the absence of meaningful arcs or progression. Despite memorable artwork and character design, the overall narrative and character growth are deemed nonexistent, leaving players unsatisfied.
“The artwork is memorable and the character design is quintessentially stunning.”
“The mission finishes and you sit there waiting for the next mission, expecting some kind of character development arc, and instead you see credits.”
“There's no base building or character development.”
“Nonexistent story and character development.”
Critic Reviews
Starship Troopers: Terran Command Review
Starship Troopers: Terran Command doesn’t reinvite the RTS genre, but it’s so steeped in its fantastic source material and great gameplay elements that it manages to be one of the best games to release in years.
90%Starship Troopers Terran Command – Review
When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.
80%Starship Troopers: Terran Command (PC) REVIEW – Does Its Part
It may not have the same teeth or originality as the satirical film it’s based on, but Starship Troopers: Terran Command is still a whole lot of exciting bug-squashing fun.
75%