![]() The controls are simplistic and the action throughout is fast paced, responsive and ultimately rewarding. In terms of the actual gameplay, DarkStar One is all about accessibility. Although the potential for limited trading options do become available later in the game, with ship management and energy resources also becoming an issue as you progress, for the most part, it’s all about pimping out your ship and blasting away the many, many enemies standing between you and your ultimate goal. Your primary interests, especially early in the game, will be on upgrading your ship’s capabilities and finding mysterious organic artefacts that level up your ship, allowing you to equip larger weapons and defensive capabilities. ![]() They serve as an entertaining distraction and do open up the universe a bit, but due to the rewards lavished upon you from taking part in random battles and story quests, completion of these is subsequently made all but unnecessary. There are a selection of side missions available which sound relatively varied and interesting on paper, but in reality, these add up to little more than glorified fetch quests and assassination missions. ![]() Honestly though, while there is the option to go off the beaten track, you’re more likely to follow the game’s main story and build up your cash and resources by taking on the random skirmishes with space pirates. The bonuses associated with each choice aren’t really strong enough to have any major impact on gameplay, but there are subtle differences and unique bonuses for those willing to commit to the game’s vast universe. While the story (which does get better when you learn to live with the voice acting) tends to point you in the direction of a career as a bounty hunter, there is the option to play as a trader, smuggler or a mercenary. The side missions are a bit repetitive and the core gameplay is obviously limited by the game’s inherent design, but for fans of the genre, there’s enough quality hidden under the bonnet to make DarkStar One an intriguing proposition.ĭespite its streamlined design and controls, DarStar One still delivers a fair degree of depth thanks to its open world, trade options and varied job titles. If you can get over the terrible box art, poorly told story and last gen cut-scenes though (which obviously the majority of gamers couldn’t), DarkStar One does delivers an enjoyable slice of spaced-based shoot-em-up action. With an array of dodgy accents and the kind of OTT acting not seen since Eric Roberts’ 80’s heyday, the poorly told story will at least raise a few unintentional giggles along the way. Although directed with a degree of competency, these fuzzy, sub-HD snippets of story are rife with shoddy dialogue and some fantastically hilarious delivery. In-game too, despite the majority of play being from a first person cockpit view, you still have to deal with these dreadfully boring looking characters in the game’s less than impressive collection of cut-scenes. I remember seeing the box art upon its initial release and literally being put off even before knowing what the game was about. The cover art, plastered with the deplorably bland leads, positively screams budget release. I know, I know, it’s the game underneath that counts, right? Well, I agree, but when you’re trying to turn a mid-budget, new IP into a recognisable brand, these are the things that matter. Despite being an enjoyable and pleasingly accessible space-based shooter, DarkStar One suffers from some of the blandest character design and, subsequently, some of the worst box art I have seen this generation. In fairness though, DarkStar One doesn’t do itself any favours. Given the PC’s relative depth in the genre, DarkStar One’s failure at retail back in 2006 maybe isn’t all that shocking, but on 360, where only the equally poorly received, and in my opinion, hugely underrated, Poject Sylpheed stands as competition, you’d think that its release might have stirred up a little more interest. Will its recent release on the 360’s Games on Demand platform prove third time lucky for this plucky little shooter, or is this game truly destined for obscurity? I guess the more important question, however, is whether or not it is actually worthy of finding an audience? Is DarkStar One deserving of the muted response it has received thus far, or is this a title worthy of greater recognition than it has been afforded? Later ported onto the Xbox 360 in 2010 by Kalypso Media, DarkStar One once again failed to find a market. Originally release back in 2006 as a PC exclusive by the now defunct, Ascuron Entertainment, DarkStar One’s user-friendly take on the well-worn Elite template failed to find a market.
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