Starsiege: Deadzone

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Starsiege: Deadzone is a single player and multiplayer survival shooter game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Prophecy Games and was released on July 18, 2023. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Starsiege: Deadzone is a multiplayer corridor extraction shooter set in a dark sci-fi universe. As a space mercenary, known as a Raider, explore procedurally generated derelict ships to extract valuable weapons and resources for your faction. Customize your loadout, team up with others, and use tactical PvP combat to survive deadly traps, defenses, and rival Raiders."

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53%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,022 reviews

gameplay59 positive mentions

monetization20 negative mentions

The game has a unique blend of extraction shooter mechanics with a sci-fi setting, providing a fresh experience.
Gunplay feels satisfying, and the ability to shoot out lights adds a strategic layer to gameplay.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and actively work on updates and improvements.

The game suffers from severe balance issues, with higher-level players dominating lower-level players due to gear disparities.
Matchmaking is inconsistent, often pairing new players with experienced ones, leading to frustrating experiences.
The game has frequent server issues and long queue times, making it difficult to find matches.

gameplay
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it initially engaging and fun, particularly in its earlier versions, while others criticize recent changes that have made it feel clunky and unbalanced. Many users highlight issues such as inconsistent mechanics, repetitive loops, and server instability, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the unique elements like stealth mechanics and the extraction shooter format, suggesting that with further refinement, the gameplay could improve significantly.
- “The gameplay is simple, fun, and straightforward.”
- “Amazing gameplay and gunplay.”
- “The core gameplay is solid and enjoyable, but the core is kind of all the game has got.”
- “It was actually super fun to play in its 2.0 release, but changes to looting mechanics and PvE health pools rendered the game unplayable and it died within a week.”
- “Gameplay is highly repetitive, press F on crates and kill enemies that can hardly even damage you.”
- “Too slow, with very few mechanics, and the gameplay is clunky as hell.”
graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals as "amazing" and "stunning," especially for an early access title, while others criticize the performance issues and limited graphic options. Many users note that the art style feels either generic or cartoonish, and while some find the graphics enjoyable, others feel they do not stand out or match the gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are considered decent but inconsistent, with room for improvement in both performance and artistic cohesion.
- “For a free game, it has amazing graphics!!!”
- “The graphics and sound design are both superb.”
- “I must say, the in-game visuals, HUD, UI, and graphics overall are amazing, especially considering the fact that it is still in early access.”
- “I can run Tarkov, a far more graphically demanding game on medium settings, and have it look and run great. But this game, I'm running on 'normal' graphics, TAA low, and it runs like crap after this update.”
- “Graphical fidelity isn't a thing in this game, as lighting has been made incredibly scarce, leaving you surrounded by almost pure blackness, broken only by four different boxes.”
- “Runs poorly for a game that doesn't have intense graphics; it takes minutes just to get into a lobby, even though there are many players online.”
story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The game's story is largely considered minimal and underdeveloped, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and environmental storytelling. While some find the concept intriguing, they feel that the execution fails to provide a compelling narrative, often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and multiplayer focus. There is hope among players for future expansions to the story and quests, but currently, it feels like a missed opportunity in an otherwise engaging extraction shooter framework.
- “Tarkov vibes in space with missions was really getting me excited.”
- “My quest led me to Starseige Deadzone, and I can confidently say that it exceeded all my expectations, leaving me utterly captivated by its gameplay, graphics, and overall excitement.”
- “I would definitely recommend leaning into things like proximity voice and the story, as I think there is a lot there that is not being tapped into.”
- “While the game has no story and no single player element to it, the game is all about the multiplayer.”
- “There is a story, but it's basically nonexistent; that's to be expected from a free-to-play/early access game (hope they do expand on it).”
- “The theming isn't the strongest, with low amounts of environmental storytelling or general lore.”
monetization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
4%
83%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to high prices for minimal rewards and perceived abandonment by developers. While some users argue that the monetization is reasonable and the game has potential, the overall sentiment leans towards skepticism regarding the developers' intentions and the game's long-term viability. Players are advised to engage with the game for free rather than invest money, as concerns about its sustainability and developer support persist.
- “Monetization is more than reasonable.”
- “Monetization is the least aggressive I've ever seen.”
- “There are pretty much no microtransactions that I can see. Keep playing for free for now though.”
- “Feels like a cash grab.”
- “The game seems like a cash grab; prices are really high for very little reward.”
- “Edit: the devs have shown that they don't care about the player base and this was obviously a quick cash grab game.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
95%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the casual nature and fun of grinding for abilities and gear, others find it tedious and overly repetitive, with a lack of meaningful rewards for the time invested. Overall, the game is seen as less grindy than titles like Escape from Tarkov, but still suffers from a frustrating progression system that can deter players from fully engaging.
- “It's not grindy; it's very casual.”
- “The grinding feels rewarding and satisfying, making each level-up a real achievement.”
- “I love how the grind is balanced; it never feels tedious and always keeps me engaged.”
- “This game has a lot of potential, but it can be extremely grindy. You need to invest a ton of hours just to get to the point of 'having fun.'”
- “Penalizing top players and low players while making the mid-tier grindy with little to no worthwhile rewards makes this game frustrating.”
- “The progression system is super grindy and feels like it's just asking you to 'wait, bro.'”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and network issues that significantly impact gameplay. Many users experience long matchmaking times, lag, and performance problems even on high-end systems, leading to frustrating encounters and inconsistent game mechanics. While some acknowledge the game's potential and enjoy the core experience, the overall consensus is that it remains highly unstable, particularly in its current early access state.
- “TTK is a little high in my opinion, scanner can be a bit much, but other than that this game has a lot of potential and runs great with no real FPS drops.”
- “Terrible stiff movement along with a low gravity jump that simply leaves the character control feeling buggy and lackluster. It's also important to mention the game has network issues and multiple bugs/glitches when interacting with inventory/stash menus.”
- “Very buggy, laggy, and takes hours to load. Once I spawned outside the map and other times I didn't even get to play; I just died. Not to mention the horrible matchmaking that takes another hour.”
- “The game (and yes, I understand it's in beta) has very long matchmaking times and has some very weird and common glitches that make it slow and difficult to play.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive sci-fi elements, creating a tense and engaging environment that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of creepy settings, well-designed maps, and the thrill of loot discovery, which contribute to a sense of excitement and urgency. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, drawing comparisons to other popular titles while maintaining its unique charm.
- “Very fun game if you enjoy Tarkov/The Cycle/Dark & Darker/Halo, etc. Incredible atmosphere and fun well-paced matches.”
- “It feels very atmospheric, and the maps are procedural, which adds an element to the game I enjoy.”
- “It's like dark and darker with guns and a sci-fi atmosphere.”
- “Love the atmosphere, and the gameplay starts chill then gets progressively more exciting.”
- “I love the atmosphere > add some mild gore and serious aliens/monsters.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
25%
42%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and desync, while others report no major hiccups. Overall, many agree that the game is under-optimized, with graphics and performance not meeting expectations, though a few users found it enjoyable despite these flaws. The lack of content and balancing issues further contribute to the perception of poor optimization.
- “Sure, there are a few non-breaking bugs and some small balance changes, but overall at this early stage, it's really fun and the performance is amazing.”
- “No major performance hiccups (r9/7900xt/64gb/w11) or insane bugs in the first couple of hours.”
- “- No issues on performance so far.”
- “The game isn't optimized; before, my game ran amazing with no issues, and now there is so much stutter and desync that it was giving me motion sickness, and I don't get motion sick easily.”
- “The game graphics are okay, but the performance is poorer than it should be.”
- “Optimization is terrible; the gunplay is subpar, and the game feels bare bones.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of dark and light-hearted, with players finding it amusing despite its flaws and occasional sadness. Many enjoy the comedic moments that arise during gameplay, especially when playing with friends, and the presence of voice chat adds to the hilarity. Overall, while the game has its rough edges, it remains a fun and entertaining experience for players.
- “What's funny is that it's one of those games that grows on you; so many simple quality of life changes would make the game much better (like not booting members off your party after every game). The rough edges don't make you hate the game; for one reason or another (especially when enjoyed with friends), the game is actually a great way to spend time.”
- “Funny game as heck, but too many shady players out there... but after all, it's fun.”
- “This game is incredibly fun, and has voice chat, so it's funny at times.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with users appreciating the background tracks and sound effects. However, some players express a desire for more variety in the music and ambience, while others have experienced technical issues that disrupt their gameplay experience.
- “The lobby background music is, in my opinion, well made.”
- “Well done background music and sound effects.”
- “All this does is make me miss the Dynamix classics that had the kickass music and over-the-top action.”
- “I'd like to see a little more music/ambience, but otherwise the gameplay is pretty good.”
- “It loads up fine but always ends up on a black screen with music playing in the background and I can move my mouse around but have to alt-tab out and shut down through task manager; alt+F4 won't close the game and task manager says it's in a not responding state every time.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development received mixed feedback, with some users expressing disappointment in the player character design, which they felt did not meet the high standards typically set by Hi-Rez for creating engaging and fun characters. However, other aspects of the game were considered solid during the beta phase.
- “I'm not a fan of the player character design. Hi-Rez typically excels at creating fun characters that you want to play, but this time it fell short.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking the depth and complexity that I was hoping for.”
- “I found the character progression system to be confusing and unengaging, making it hard to feel invested in my character's growth.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express deep disappointment and heartbreak over the game's lack of player engagement, feeling betrayed by the developers' decisions. The emotional response is further amplified by a sense of loss and frustration, leading some to vow never to support the studio again.
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Players note that the game offers high replayability due to its procedural generation and looting mechanics, making each playthrough feel fresh. However, some feel that it currently lacks sufficient gameplay loops and depth to fully capitalize on its potential, suggesting that while the foundation is strong, there is room for improvement.
- “Half the fun and replayability was that I didn't lose everything upon death.”
- “It's very fun and has high replayability thanks to the procedural generation and looting.”
- “The overall foundation is there, ready for something amazing to be built. Give it a shot if you enjoy extraction shooters.”
- “Doesn't have enough in terms of replayability and gameplay loop, but the overall foundation is there, ready for something amazing to be built. Give it a shot if you enjoy extraction shooters.”