Space Trader: Merchant Marine

It was more fun than it should be. Altogether, it seems more like a concept demo that the publishers decided to just put out as a game so that they can focus on other projects. “It’s done enough” emanates throughout every part of the game. A little bit of basic trading (buy when prices are down, sell when up) and a bit of Shooter thrown in. The FPS bits are really about collecting loot during the shootouts, which you then sell. Buy this game, but on deep discount. If there’s ever a sequel done by a reputable team, I would buy that at full price!

This game's release was one of the many tragedies of 2008. Boring buy low, sell high mechanics with a good bit of randomness just to be a good trader. There's also a poorly-implemented FPS component with four guns and terrible hit registration. Not worth the buck.

If you were alive during the noughts and are looking to fill an itch of nostalgia, it's a great game that'll do exactly that. Perhaps too well, as people seem prone to a bit of "remember the few fun parts because of the memories they created, forget the god-awful dreck that was most of the market" bias here. That said, if you AREN'T in this for that very specific nostalgia, you're going to hate this game, as it's entirely awful. Just awful in that very, hyper-specific "noughts game that was forgotten for a good reason" way.

I have played some incredible, awe-inspiring games which had stuck with me throughout my life, inspiring me to be and do better; however, this game is not that. Simple enough to pick up, but arguably too simple for extended play throughs.

This game prepped a whole buncha kids to grow up and blow a hole in the stock market.

⠀

It's surprisingly fun and entertaining

Go play Rebel Galaxy

Sinceramente Space Trader já devia ser um jogo ultrapassado em 2008, além dos gráficos datados a jogabilidade é simples, fraca e as vezes esquisita. O gunplay na partes de FPS é fraco e esquisito, já nas partes de comércio que é pra ser o foco do jogo tudo se torna mais repetitivo e simples de mais: você compra um produto e vende pra outra pessoa por um preço maior. Eu não consegui ter paciência pra jogar o segundo capitulo inteiro, teoricamente o jogo funciona bem, mas eu não vejo como algo que pelo menos eu tiraria diversão de investir mais tempo. -------------------------------- Honestly, Space Trader should have been an outdated game in 2008. In addition to the dated graphics, the gameplay is simple, weak and sometimes weird. The gunplay in the FPS parts is weak and weird, while in the trading parts, which should be the focus of the game, everything becomes more repetitive and too simple: you buy a product and sell it to someone else for a higher price. I couldn't have the patience to play the entire second chapter. Theoretically, the game works well, but I don't see it as something that I would enjoy investing more time in.

I have no idea why I bought this game 8 years ago and then never played it till the other day. Some people may find some charm in it but I struggle to find it, and I grew up playing games like this, its like they copied the early 2k's video game design language but picked all the 30% positive review scored ones from PCGamer reviews.