Star Valor

[Generic-User]

Genre: Exploration

Year released: 2022

Ross's rating: Unrated

Link to game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/833360/Star_Valor/

Free to play: No

GaaS: No

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[Steven K]

I'm really enjoying this one. It's certainly not what I expected and probably not what many others would either, so I'll share some details of my experience.

 

It is a real time action RPG, but it's 90% strategy, 10% reflex. The controls are like classic Asteroids where your ship rotates independent of its momentum, and no matter how maneuverable you make your ship you will wind up trading blows at some point. This ship customization is really fun though. Any shipyard where you can get a new ship will have a huge selection of basic equipment, the cost of equipment is only a tiny fraction of the ship itself, and you can try anything. This isn't one of those simulations where you can build your ship, launch it, and die because you forgot to divert enough energy to life support or something. Every equipment combination at least works, and when you run into a problem like energy drain or weapons overheating you shift stuff around until you like it. Even the smallest ships have at least two guns and dozens of equipment loadouts. Also, you can hire mercenary escorts immediately upon starting the game and begin building a customizable fleet within an hour of playing. I don't know where fleets cap out but at the time of writing I can have up to 20 ships that are at least as good as the player-controlled ship you start with. 

 

 I was expecting something like Diablo in space, but there are no trivial enemy encounters (unless you are returning to low level sectors where it can be quite satisfying to crush everything that flies).  It's more like the Divinity Original Sin series where every enemy encounter takes at least some thought, and in many cases it's better to just flee. Enemies fly the same ships you can, and as you get familiar with different weapons you can draw inspiration for ship loadouts from the enemies that are doing things you wish your ships could do.

 

The piloting and space exploration are also not what I was expecting but I find them very enjoyable. Each sector is a rectangular map covered in a fog of war that you fly through to uncover points of interest. For the most part there is no risk of collision (you can collide with enemy ships in combat, and ships can be configured as flying battering rams that smash enemy ships to pieces). There are no labyrinths or space dungeons or anything that requires tricky piloting, and most of the sectors are cookie cutter although there is a lot of visual variety which I find keeps things interesting. For the most part flying around is a very relaxing experience where you just take your hands off the controls and look around.

 

However, your missions (or just plain trying to find a place to unload your cargo and get upgrades) require you to go from sector to sector, and that is where the exploration gets pretty fun. Some sectors are connected through warp gates you can use freely, others require you to use limited resources to make warp jumps with your ship. Using the star chart to plot your course, searching sectors for the warp gates and stations you need, and occasionally make emergency jumps to get out of danger and going off course all lead to the sorts of discoveries and adventures that take what would otherwise be a rather monotonous part of the game and keep it fresh and exciting.

 

The story is very bare bones, does not take itself seriously, and from what I've seen can be ignored entirely. I like the setting though. Human society has been recently subjugated by an alien empire, and you are flying around space looking for opportunities in the ensuing lawlessness.