The Case

Starpoint Gemini 2 is one of those games with a formula that either works brilliantly or fails catastrophically. In our preview, I talked about the games potential and when it launched, I was all over it. A mixture between Freelancer, the X Universe and Homeworld, the title held promise and also added some distinctiveness by its own design choices. The question is now whether the smoothie has the taste we crave.

The Trial

In some ways, it certainly pulled it off. The Universe is wide and expansive, there are a sizable number of diverse ships and weapon systems and the RPG elements are purposely kept light enough to not cause frustration over the fact that they could indeed have been more substantive. The distinctive ‘global’ feel of the universe also speaks in its favour, with plenty of culturally diverse factions and ethnicities to portray a human civilization that has taken to the stars. Seeing the game in developments, it was also great to see the interactivity of the devs with their community.

But that’s where the good stuff stops and problems set in. You see, as much as the foundation is there, Starpoint Gemini 2 feels empty. The faction and reputation system fails to add depth as the player is hardly ever drawn into it via game design but only engages with it platonically by having a few random ships to shoot at. The sandbox elements have, sadly, not changed much since its pre-release version. Back then, exploring the universe was something I’d gladly do as I prepared myself for the eventual release. Yet, with a few changes left aside, the sandbox elements remain the same as before. While back then it was interesting to see how the developers had created the universe, now it had little to show for itself. Now, that in itself is excusable if the story arc and campaign was any good – problem is that it isn’t.

Here it becomes complicated though. The story itself is not the issue. Cringe worthy dialogues and buggy audio sequences aside, the overall story isn’t too bad. Sure, one doesn’t feel any direct connection with the protagonist nor other NPCs, but the story can be followed without flipping once. The problem is the game design and how the story is interwoven with the sandbox elements. Basically every story mission has a recommended level which, as you progress, often outclasses your own by a few notches. This is where the sandbox comes in. So as you go through side quest, destroy ships and sell goods, you prepare yourself for the next mission. Yet, with little to show for it in the sandbox, these numerous intervals, unnecessarily break up the flow of the game. There could have been a few ways these sequences would have benefited the game, from wide-ranging side quests, to faction related missions to using the time available to bond the player to the protagonist by giving our hero a little bit screen time. Alas, it’s like the bugger doesn’t exist.

Now take a game like Freelancer and you’ll see the same. In that tile however, the sequences in which the player was supposed to earn money, fend for himself and upgrade the armoury were timed in such a manner as to not interfere with the main enjoyment of the storyline, but rather compliment it by allowing the player to explore new sectors and experiment with weaponry and ships. Starpoint Gemini 2 doesn’t do the same. Nearly every new story mission you have is set at a level or two above you and while this certainly doesn’t mean you can’t succeed, it does beg the question what you are supposed to do in the meantime. Sure, action is easily found but running one side quest after the other, without much variation between them does bring about a boredom rivalled only just by the size of the games universe. Ultimately, the game boils down to lengthy, joyless rides of doing the same over and over again until you finally are at the recommended level for the story missions. Destroying ships, repairing stations and escorting VIPs only stays interesting for so long. After that, it becomes a true drag.

The price the game pays for these intervals is massive. The story feels disconnected, not by content but by game design. To compensate, the player searches in vain for something to keep his interest going. I’ll be honest. Had I not been given this job, I wouldn’t have bothered to play this game longer than a few hours. And that comes from someone with countless hours in the X-Universe, an avid flight simer and simulation game fan – which is a genre that doesn’t particularly stand out as using action to keep a players interest. Starpoint Gemini 2 is simply empty. It has the base and foundation to allow for interesting and time-consuming gameplay but outside the storyline the sandbox element is devoid of any meaningful content that keeps the player engaged. Looking at a lack of content in the Steam Workshop for an arguably extensively moddable game, I wonder how many would-be modders simply never got to make content as the game didn’t keep them engaged.

While fights seem to last a bit longer now than in the initial versions, once you are really used to the mechanics it’s a simple sit back and relax job. While visually and acoustically appealing and thus allowing for some bombastic fights, the game fails to deliver truly spectacular engagements. Sure, fly something fast and agile and you’ll have to maneuver yourself into a good firing solution, but the overall difficulty comes more from being reckless than from any direct in-game threat or a smart AI. Truly, you can disengage from most battles with a mere click of the button. Granted, it doesn’t always work but it damn well nearly always does. It’s a shame because it takes away a lot of the risk management I would have liked to have seen.

The Verdict

When it comes down to it, Starpoint Gemini 2 isn’t bad as a program. It has a solid foundation, a stable build and the assets to make a great universe. But that’s where it stops. Mods could definitely work in the games favour but as a players interest in the game falters fast, I doubt we will see substantive alterations. Shame.

Case Review