Starcom: Nexus

get the new version(starcom unknown space) or SPAZ

Probably my new favourite game to play on the side ... That said it's an excellent space exploration game with some decent combat. Nice progressions systems makes it enjoyable to push always a bit further. Looking for some kind of space "arpg" this might be it !

This game is a game I cannot recommend because it's bugged badly. Some achievements do not "trigger" even if you accomplished them. Worse than this, you most likely won't be able to finish the story because it will also bug at some point. It's sad because the combat mechanics and ship building are not bad in my opinion. Plus the story was great until I realized I can't progress anymore for some reason.

Starcom: Nexus is a 2D build-your-own spaceship and explore an unknown galaxy game. The gameplay parts are rudimentary, but serviceable and fun, but where this game really stands out is the writing and exploration. Despite planetary exploration being "just" a text game, it nails letting you feel like you're discovering something cool for the first time. There's some legitimately great planet adventures and because of this, flying around the galaxy and exploring always feels great. There's little strategy to the combat, but to me that's fine because scaling up your build from tiny scout to huge battleship is still fun and rewarding, and it feels like you're progressing. It's a really well paced game, where the flying bits are a nice change to the reading bits.

A basic gameplay loop where you jump your ship to a system, kill anything hostile in it, and explore everything before moving on. The writing and visual novel style interactions when you explore and interact with other beings is where it shines. The overarching mystery and story, and final twist is very well paced and really good, which more than makes up for any of the games shortcomings.

Hello, While I haven't logged many hours in *Starcom Nexus* yet, I’ve unfortunately realized quite quickly that the game doesn't meet my personal needs. Furthermore, as someone who analyzes video games in detail and evaluates their core elements, I have to admit that I’m already encountering repetitive gameplay mechanics that significantly detract from the experience for me. Take the "free spaceship design" feature, for instance—it’s nonsense and has nothing to do with true freedom. You’re limited to a few modules that you snap together on a fixed hexagonal grid. You end up building either a "flying wing" or a "sausage" shape; other designs offer little to no gameplay advantage. On top of that, engines *always* have to be placed behind other modules - hindering in module placement - so much for "free design." The enemies pose no real threat at the start; you begin with a technological advantage over the bad guys in the initial sectors and don't have to make any effort to survive in this alien galaxy. But what really kills the fun for me is the fact that the galaxy is just a collection of planets where you might get lucky and find a few resources—or lose some crew. I would have liked planet exploration to be more complex and involved. The alien species you encounter just say a few words and fly off. You’re welcomed into the new galaxy without any hurdles or conditions. I remember the days of *X-Tension*, where you had to earn the trust of other species—where you were actually occupied with the struggle to survive. Unfortunately, *Starcom Nexus* is—at least for a while—a very repetitive game that constantly forces you to fly long distances for minimal reward (even though you *can* actually find research points out in deep space). The combat is as simple as launching an application. Weapons draw energy from a reserve; if the reserve runs dry, they fire more slowly. Aiming is controlled via the mouse, with slight deviations occurring if weapon stabilization hasn't been researched yet. Although you are piloting an exploration vessel yourself, enemy cruisers don't seem to pose a threat. I don't know what the situation might be like later in the game, but I have to admit: if the journey there hardly motivates me, things certainly won't get any better by the end. For me, the atmosphere, the thrill, and the survival aspect being touted are missing here. Instead of being able to fly through the galaxy like a free spirit, I ought to be weighing whether I even want to jump to the next sector. To me, guerrilla tactics and high-risk resource scavenging are essential parts of a space survival game. Yet *Starcom Nexus* throws the doors wide open for the player; the only thing stopping the red carpet from fully unrolling is the fact that, without research, you are limited to attaching only a small number of modules to your ship. I see great potential here, but unfortunately, *Starcom Nexus* isn't the game for me—it doesn't challenge me, nor does it tell a story that truly draws me in. Everything feels somewhat perfunctory and ill-conceived (even though I don't doubt a lot of thought went into it). Ultimately, anyone expecting an epic space survival experience or a completely free-form ship-building editor will be quickly disappointed. I prefer sticking to games like *Starsector* or *Endless Sky*; while they may lack free-form ship editors, the quality of ship outfitting and armament is high enough to satisfy.

I didn't ask much of it when I picked it up. What pulled me in is the premise of the game, the appeal of being a captain, managing diplomacy with other alien races, and a little bit of exploration and ship designing. These were all things I was curious about and did not indulge in in the past. The exploration is actually so good I constantly held my breath going deeper into unexplored sections of space not knowing if I was going to be welcome, find relief or walk right into the hands of a predator of this space jungle. It is also painful since you cannot tell if you're wasting your time with a path, but so rewarding when it does lead you to something. The plot really impressed me. It burned its way into my mind to become something to think about for very long. The way the plot is revealed to us is done so tastefully and without a lot of handholding. It further reinforces the nature of deep dark space where there is nothing to rely on for mentorship. The combat was fun. To me it was really satisfying. Figuring out how to fight different types of enemy ships gave them character which is otherwise hard to show. That alone gave you a sort of idea into how those races function. I enjoyed meeting different alien races. Sometimes it led to more trouble, sometimes another friendly face in this foreign space. But each time without fail - a lot of intrigue into their nature. Diplomacy is limited, your options are limited. The quests were interesting for the most part, but there were a few that were a pain to chase. Overall, thank you for making this game. It's earned a sweet spot in me.