Oh 3D space combat, will I ever get tired of you? It turns out, much to no one’s surprise, that the answer is no. “Starpoint Gemini 2”, the sequel to the original released in 2010, is certainly turning some heads as it continues to develop. Before I go any further, I’d like to quickly thank Mario Mihokovic from Little Green Men Games for providing me with a free press copy. It’s important to stress that the game is still under development (as of 11/1/13), making the content featured below subject to change.
Starpoint Gemini 2 (Windows)
If this is your first time getting involved with the series, you’ll be pleased to know that you won’t need to play the original in order to get the most out of this latest project. You might miss some references to the lore, but that’s about it. “Starpoint Gemini 2” is all about the open world, (or open space in this case), single player experience…sort of like “Freelancer” was back in the day. Players will be free to command their own ship in 3D, as well as trade, get into fights, and more.
Some of the finer points regarding the key features include:
- Complex, but easy-to-use RPG system, now coupled with dynamic real-time 3D combat.
- Explore the dynamic game world as a whole, rather than through individual maps.
- Use T-Gates, wormholes and riftways to travel faster around the Gemini system .
- Fifty diverse factions ranging from states and companies to outlaws, locked in a power struggle, with over 100 commodities to trade or plunder.
- Special revocable licenses acquired from factions offer various bonuses and unlock new options.
- Hire mercenary captains to follow you on your travels and share your fate, and employ officers to fill key positions on your ship (engineering, navigation, tactical).
- Random missions get generated depending on the player’s actions and allegiances.
- Over 70 unique ships, fully upgradeable with various ship systems, with a.o. visible turrets, and a large arsenal of destructive weapons to blast enemies to pieces.
- Direct ship controls create complete immersion.
- Advanced physics provided by NVIDIA PhysX technology
It all sounds very inviting. As an added bonus, those who purchase into the Early Access program on Steam will receive a free copy of “Starpoint Gemini”. Not bad for a $19.99 price tag. While the game admittedly has some bugs (which is normal for an Alpha), I’m looking forward to seeing how the game shapes up when it’s completely done. In the meantime, feel free to check out my first impressions via the video featured below.
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You can learn more about and purchase “Starpoint Gemini 2” by visiting the following websites:
http://www.starpointgemini.com/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/236150/
You can view video play sessions of the Alpha here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44vZdfuLU0s