Two Clusters: Kain

Before I say anything else, let's get to the biggest complaint I have against this game. There is a very real possibility that players can get a GAME OVER before the game gets interesting. So, among the first missions of the game tasks the player to take a fleet of four frigates to Pluto. If the mission was simply a matter of going from Point A to Point B, maybe it wouldn't be so stressful and/or rage-inducing. However, the mission asks for players to not loose any of the ships in the fleet, or else, it's a GAME OVER. While the player has some agency as to how often they fight during this mission, if the enemy detects the player, the ensuing fight is unavoidable. The enemy approaches the player at a speed that exceed the player's. However, what makes this mission stressful is that there is no way to direct enemy fire to ships that are more well off, and no way to repair damage from the vessels that are in danger of being destroyed. Thus, the possibility of getting a GAME OVER before the game gets interesting. I feel the art style and writing can be a little rough in places. Do they detract from my fun? No, but, this is ultimately my opinion, and experience, and that can certainly vary between person to person. Complaints about not knowing where to go and what to do are... kinda fair? For what it's worth, I mostly did whatever the mission computer on Uranus station had. Though, some of the crew on your cruiser have a few tasks you can perform. I'm vaguely aware there's a number of tasks the player can find on their own from exploring bases, and talking to people, in a classic take on the RPG gameplay loop. However, if you can manage to get past all the complaints, there IS a fun game to be had here! The cruiser players get later alleviates some of the issues with the first complaint, as they have an ability to recharge shields. It might be better if that ability could also increase the dodge rate, but, as it stands, it's fine. The five pirate fights one can find in the outer reaches of the solar system are certainly more plausible with a lone cruiser than it would be with four frigates! I also really appreciate the navigation buoys that lay out a road/path from system to system, even if there sometimes is a more efficient route.