If you had spoken to me before EGX 2022 about playing a game where you get addicted to having neat cable and pipe management, I would have raised an eyebrow that Sir Roger Moore would have been proud of. But here I am, totally addicted to one of my favourite indie titles of the show, The Last Starship.
The latest project from Introversion Software (Prison Architect), The Last Starship is best described as an engineering space simulator and strategy game.
Gameplay
You start the game picking your ship hull and having to use the limited resources you must construct its necessary systems – life support, engines, an FTL drive, and a power reactor. Once constructed, you need to manage your various fuels and ensure everything is connected properly. This part of the game is played in a top-down ‘construction mode’ and isn’t as mind-boggling as it sounds.
While the menu system is incredibly detailed and has a complex learning curve, I had no issues ensuring my first ship was ready to explore the vast unknowns of space. I must also admit that this is the point where I got addicted to making sure my cabling and pipework were neat and organised. Maybe this is pulled from real life where I spend an inordinate amount of time ensuring perfect cable management for my consoles and PC! Either way, I really enjoyed the construction side of things, working out what I needed, how I could hook everything up and testing it. It was my childhood Star Trek engineer dreams come true!
When it comes to details you know to expect a lot from Introversion Software – if you’ve ever played previous titles in their catalogue then the level of detail is what you’d expect while still being accessible.
The Last Starship is slow-paced, but as you build your ship, and eventually your armada, so much time will have passed you won’t even notice because you’ll be so engrossed in building the ultimate ships.
Now, The Last Starship isn’t all building – oh no. In fact, that’s only one small part of it. There’s plenty of resource management and upgrading to do. Once your ship is built you can engage that FTL drive with an impression of your favourite starship captain and set out in the galaxy to engage in a vast number of procedurally generated missions. This can be anything from combat (where you can switch to tactical mode) as well as constructing a mining operation, carrying out rescue missions or some good old-fashioned science and exploration.
The ships are varied in layout which means as the player you will be challenged to construct the systems properly to ensure the best capabilities possible. It also looked like there was the possibility to upgrade components as you got further into things such as larger fuel tanks. It’s important to remember that if you want your ship to have it… you need to construct it!
Visually, the cartoon style paired together with vibrant colours is a joy to look at. I particularly loved the animation for FTL travel and am looking forward to seeing how this game develops further.
Final Thoughts on The Last Starship
Honestly, the potential here for engaging content is limitless. I can’t wait to get stuck into the game when it releases and set out to explore, build, mine, rescue and fight my way to having an epic armada.
Release Information
The Last Starship is slated for release sometime in 2023 and will be available on PC. No word yet on other platforms. You can register interest and apply for early access on Steam now!
