Thanks to developer Realmforge Studios and publisher Kalypso Media, gamers now have the opportunity to holiday in the best destination of them all in the form of outer space. In Spacebase Startopia, which is essentially a spiritual successor to Startopia, players have to build up and manage a space station, keeping visitors safe and entertained throughout their time aboard.
As a detailed management simulator, practically every single element of the spacebase is put under the control of the player. Everything from constructing new buildings to employing staff to keep everything running smoothly needs to be handled efficiently, otherwise, chaos will almost certainly ensue. There’s a lot else to consider as well, such as research, trading with other space stations, and farming food - but perhaps the biggest concern of all is ensuring that everyone is entertained and happy while they explore the spacebase.
In total, there are eight different species of alien that can visit and these have general traits that are consistent throughout individuals of that race. For example, Greys are inquisitive and clever, requiring more involved attractions to simulate them, while others are more easygoing and prefer mindless fun. However, every single individual has a unique personality that players have to consider, with these traits also making them suitable for certain jobs if a user wants to employ them.
The basic mechanics in Spacebase Startopia are rather simple, as almost everything revolves around the generation and spending of energy. This acts as the main form of currency in the game and is the most important thing to focus on, although there are a lot of other menus and resources to consider. The sheer amount of information and systems available can be overwhelming at first and even with the expansive tutorial system, it is difficult to get to grips with everything. After a few hours of playing, everything begins to make sense and becomes second nature so that players don’t have to consciously think about every action.
Fortunately, controlling everything in Spacebase Startopia is pretty intuitive even with a controller. While management titles usually need a keyboard and mouse to function effectively, the developer has put in place an efficient system that works well with a gamepad. It’s possible to control a free-roam camera with the thumbsticks and use the d-pad to quickly switch between the three decks of the space station. Navigating through the various menus is also a fairly straightforward process, even if taking in all the information is still a tricky prospect.
Simulation fans can take heart in the fact that Spacebase Startopia has lots of depth and should provide dozens of hours of fun for those who want to get invested in the world. The only real letdown comes with the combat portions of the game, which feel a little shallow compared to the rest of the experience. The gameplay resembles classic RTS games but these sections don’t require much in the way of strategy or skill, with players just needing to point at various parts of the screen to destroy the attacking enemies.
Like its 2001 predecessor, Spacebase Startopia has a somewhat comical atmosphere. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously and there’s plenty of humor to be found under the lighthearted surface, whether it’s the sarcastic quips from the AI companion VAL or the antics of the alien visitors. The cartoony visual style also contrasts well with the complex gameplay and fits well with the wacky theme of the overall game.
The Xbox family of systems is not known for having a great selection of management simulators, so the fact that Spacebase Startopia not only works well but excels most of the time is great news for console players. This is a game that users can quickly get lost in, spending hours trying to perfect the art of building and maintaining the ideal space station without realizing how much time has gone by. Some players might feel slightly put off by the daunting user interface but those who persevere will be rewarded with a satisfying and charming experience.
Spacebase Startopia is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Screen Rant was provided with a digital Xbox Series X code for the purpose of this review.