Guardians of Orion (Phase 2)

Guardians of Orion (Phase 2) is a science fiction action-RPG and cooperative looter shooter that aims high with its concept and content. Developed and self-published by DANKIE, the game is the spiritual continuation of the ORION series and brings back its signature blend of fast-paced combat, futuristic settings, and dinosaur-slaying chaos. It’s a project filled with ambition, offering players multiple gameplay modes, extensive character customization, and a mix of PvE and sandbox elements. While it manages to create a distinct identity with its scope and visual flair, the experience is often marred by uneven execution and lingering technical roughness that undermines its best ideas. At the center of the experience is the role of the “Guardian”—a heavily armed, ability-wielding character class that players can fully customize and upgrade through missions and collected loot. One of the game’s more unique features is its multi-perspective camera system, allowing players to switch between first-person, third-person, and even a top-down view on the fly. This offers a refreshing sense of flexibility in combat, with each perspective providing its own tactical advantages and flavor. The gunplay is responsive and explosive, complemented by jetpacks, deployable turrets, cloaking fields, and a variety of offensive abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Battles often pit players against hordes of robotic enemies and massive dinosaurs, leading to chaotic, high-energy encounters that are as absurd as they are entertaining. Progression plays a major role in Guardians of Orion, with skill trees, loot rarity tiers, pets, crafting, and daily/weekly objectives all contributing to long-term player investment. There’s an abundance of content here for players who enjoy grinding for gear and tweaking builds. Unfortunately, the systems that support this depth often feel unintuitive or cumbersome. Inventory management is awkward, crafting can be frustratingly opaque, and the interface lacks the polish expected from modern action RPGs. Navigating menus often feels like an uphill battle, especially for new players who are given minimal in-game guidance on how to make sense of the game’s many mechanics. The core loop of earning loot, improving stats, and repeating missions remains solid, but the surrounding infrastructure doesn’t always support it as smoothly as it should. The game’s presentation is a mixed bag. Visually, it has a distinctive low-poly, stylized aesthetic that suits its fast, arcade-like gameplay. The environments are colorful and diverse, ranging from alien jungles to sci-fi industrial complexes. Weapon effects are satisfying, enemies are varied, and the sheer spectacle of fighting giant dinosaurs with futuristic weapons carries an undeniable charm. Audio design, on the other hand, is serviceable but not especially remarkable. Weapons have decent impact, and the synth-heavy soundtrack fits the game’s futuristic theme, but there’s little that stands out as memorable or immersive. Voice acting is minimal or absent, and sound effects can sometimes feel repetitive during longer play sessions. One of the more impressive aspects of Phase 2 is the technical overhaul that was carried out since its original release. The developers replaced legacy server systems with a new player-hosted multiplayer model, drastically reduced load times, and improved general optimization. Performance is considerably better now compared to its earlier iterations, and these backend changes allow for smoother online sessions—though some connectivity hiccups still remain. The ability to play offline or host private co-op games with friends adds valuable flexibility, but matchmaking for public games remains inconsistent, largely due to a small player base and limited support infrastructure. Despite these improvements, there are still lingering issues that hold the game back. Enemy AI, while functional, often behaves erratically—ranged enemies may ignore cover, while larger enemies like T-Rexes can miss targets by throwing objects wildly off-course. Level design sometimes lacks direction, leading to moments of confusion or aimless wandering. There’s also a distinct lack of narrative context. Outside of mission objectives and scattered text, the world of Guardians of Orion never feels fully realized. Players are thrown into combat-heavy scenarios with little storytelling, making the overall experience feel more like an extended horde mode than a cohesive adventure. Perhaps the most divisive aspect of the game is its monetization structure. While the base game is very affordable—frequently priced under a dollar—additional content is segmented into various “editions” that lock extra heroes and cosmetics behind a paywall. This has led to criticism from players who feel that the price of full access doesn’t match the value offered, especially considering the inconsistent quality and the game’s relatively obscure status in the marketplace. While the developer's pricing model may reflect the game’s indie origins, the lack of transparency and uniformity across editions can create confusion and frustration. In the end, Guardians of Orion (Phase 2) is a game brimming with creativity and big ideas, but one that struggles under the weight of its own ambition. It’s a chaotic and fun shooter when everything is working well—full of over-the-top action, futuristic flair, and wild enemy encounters. But for every exciting firefight or successful loot drop, there’s often a frustrating menu, a clumsy system, or a technical hiccup that breaks immersion. Players who enjoy indie oddities, looter shooters, and science fiction worlds may find a lot to like here—especially in co-op—but patience and a willingness to overlook flaws are required. It’s clear that Guardians of Orion is a passion project. The development team has poured a lot into building a flexible, feature-rich universe, and their ongoing updates reflect a commitment to the game’s longevity. Yet, even with years of updates and iteration, the game still feels like it’s in an experimental stage—more of a foundation for something bigger than a fully refined experience in its own right. For players willing to dig into its layers and embrace its imperfections, there is enjoyment to be found. But for those seeking a polished, tightly balanced shooter-RPG hybrid, this may be more of a curiosity than a mainstay. Rating: 5/10