Starpoint Gemini 2

Space enthusiasts and PC fans have been able to play Starpoint Gemini 2 for quite some time by now. The game was initially launched in 2014 on PC, but it's not until now that it has made its way onto Xbox One so that console players can explore the darkest corners of the universe in this space simulation. Has the journey over from PC to console been worth the wait?

The spacecraft you're tasked with commanding in Starpoint Gemini 2 is far from an agile X-Wing-type ship, but a rather it's sturdy piece of hardware. Naturally, you can attack enemies and defend yourself from malicious assaults, but your ship has primarily been built to transport passengers and cargo. Once you progress a bit further into the game you will be given the opportunity to buy new ships with new abilities and you'll be able to upgrade and modify your craft to your heart's content. Everything from weaponry to new shields and useful items can be purchased in order to make your spacecraft into the hottest piece of junk in the galaxy. At the start of the game you're also asked to pick one of three classes (Commander, Gunner and Engineer), each with different attributes that will suit particular play-styles.

The main focus of the game revolves around trade and conflict. Much of your time will be spent transporting goods, escorting people, and gunning down baddies. You can assume various jobs (scientist, asteroid miner), recruit allies to your fleet, or go rogue and become a bloodthirsty space pirate who attacks anyone in order to lay claim to their credits and resources. There is a surprising amount of things to do in Starpoint Gemini 2 and this is undoubtedly one of the great strengths of the game. Another key strength is the combat system that is accessible and easy to get into. The combat is fun and engaging; we found ourselves attacking other ships for no other reason than it being good fun.

You can choose whether to play the campaign or head straight into the Free Roam mode and create your own story. We'd recommend you go for the latter option as the story mode isn't all that great. In the campaign you step into the shoes of Captain Adrian Faulkner, who tries to solve the mystery of his murdered father - a decorated war hero. The story is rather uninteresting, the voice acting awful, and the missions don't offer anything new compared to the mission you can take on in the Free Roam mode. So do yourself a favour and skip the story in favour of exploring and engaging with the universe on your own terms. But be prepared that it may take you a little while to get fully accustomed to everything.

In some ways you can compare Starpoint Gemini 2 to a game like Bloodborne. Even if that is an entirely different sort of game, they're not games you can just casually approach and expect to grasp within seconds of booting up. You need to earn that knowledge through playing. Nothing is given to you. Once you've mastered the essentials of the game you can progress onwards and build on your knowledge and that's when Starpoint Gemini 2 truly opens up. That's when you really experience the serenity of space.

But if you look at it from another perspective the developers at LGM Games may have been better off making Starpoint Gemini 2 slightly more accessible than it is now. There's no introduction worth mentioning here and it's up to you to read the manuals in order to grasp how things work. Given the relatively advanced game concept it wouldn't have hurt to have been eased into things a bit more and perhaps have your hand held through some basic tutorials. Instead we're thrown into the dark and deep end of space and made to fend for ourselves; quite daunting for players who are new to the genre and something that's sure to scare off some before they've even really gotten started.

So is it worth the effort of jumping into a spaceship and setting out to explore the stars with Starpoint Gemini 2? Yes, most definitely. Just don't forget to bring an ample supply of patience along for the ride.