Spacebourne 2 is a space sim of ambition and scope, attempting to deliver an epic galactic adventure. Low budget flirts with quality in a game of two distinct halves, potentially appealing to some players but showing the seams here and there. Still, the amount of content and the depth of mechanics is impressive, even more considering that this is the work of a sole developer.

Gravity Beats

Spacebourne 2 sits among other games of the genre such as Elite Dangerous, No Man’s Sky, Everspace, and Star Citizen, despite the obvious differences. It’s a space simulator where you travel from planet to planet, galaxy to galaxy, completing missions of various types. Unlike space combat sims such as Everspace though, you can get out of your ship and explore on foot, going through different biomes and marveling at the expanse of the work that went into this game.

This is an intricate adventure to start, with a tutorial that goes on and on – and understandably so – taking you through the motions, from space dogfights to gravity boots and ground combat. Finding your ship in the station for the first time will bring a smile to your face, as you step into the cockpit and take off to outer space. There’s a brief transition between planet surface and space, but other than that, the universe is cohesive and staggeringly large, often with some great sightseeing to do.

The atmosphere fluctuates between adequate and impressive, with the prize going to the space battles, which are fast, fun, and engaging. Your ship is equipped with various weapon types and a lock-on system to better focus on a single enemy craft at a time. The chases are fast, and you have some resourceful maneuvers at your disposal, from rolls to dodges. The visual effects are top-notch, and the ship detail is incredible, even more when you get your hands on more advanced ships and fiddle around with the complex upgrade system.

Exploring on foot has its ups and downs. There are some details that give away this game as one not hailing from a major studio, such as the odd character animations – both running and jumping have this amateur feel to them that hits hard during the first hour. Using the gravity boots to fly around is a nice touch and saves on some long walks and stamina depletion. The environmental detail is often pleasing and another major reason to explore various planets and attempt as many side missions as possible. There is so much to see, so many places to go, that it feels like Bethesda’s own Starfield will have a tough time facing this underdog.

Third-person shooting is the area where Spacebourne 2 severely requires some extra work. Enemies act as bullet sponges and shot feedback isn’t satisfactory, with weird hitboxes as bullets clearly hit them, but to no avail. Weapons feel unbalanced, not quite precise or powerful as you would expect. Finally, it’s impossible to ignore the characters spawning in front of your eyes during some missions, resulting in a frustrating quality dive.

Another aspect that contributes to the initial awkward impressions is the voice-over quality. These are generally bad, showing no emotions or accentuations according to the type of dialogue occurring, and at times it almost feels like they were created using a text-to-speech software. Furthermore, there are recurrent grammar issues that are worrying, something that a game with this scope and determination shouldn’t have.

The vast ambition works as a double-edged sword, in the sense that the planets and regions end up being large but bare. Letting go of the missions and exploring parts of these galaxies just to see what’s in store ends up being underwhelming unless you are in it for the different and occasionally impressive sights.

Diamond in the Space

It’s hard to imagine that Spacebourne 2 is the work of a sole developer. It’s complex, rich in systems and mechanics that will reward players willing to devote themselves, learning through the many tutorials while pointing at the lack of a few more, cursing the bugs that show up frequently, and yet amazed at the whole thing. This is the definition of diamond in the rough, a game that has plenty of room to grow and to become something truly special.

As it stands, Spacebourne 2 is the type of space simulator that has its sights set on becoming an epic galactic journey. It’s enjoyable, broad, occasionally frustrating, but it’s bigger than the sum of its parts. If you’re a fan of the genre and not easily distracted by a few troubles, get into your ship, and take off for an adventure with countless hours of exploration and fighting.

Pros

• A space sim as vast as they come
• Exciting dogfighting
• Can look great sometimes
• Great array of systems, from ship upgrades to diplomacy

Cons

• Ground combat needs work
• Voice-overs are terrible
• Some bugs and visible niggles

Rating: 7/10