The pace of eXploration in StarDrive 2 is fast, in large part due to utilization of wormholes. Travel outside of this area and your ships will gradually use up their fuel supplies until, upon depletion, they are forced to crawl at an intergalactic space slug’s pace back to your nearest system. A colored outline on the strategy map, the main interface through which the galaxy is viewed, depicts both your empire’s area of control and the territory within which your ships are able to be refueled. You are provided with an exploration vessel and a colony ship with which you will branch out into the surrounding systems. What I do know, however, is that this is a review of StarDrive 2 and, regardless of your experience with its predecessor, I ask you take the time to consider both StarDrive 2’s merits and its flaws as a 4X game that stands on its own.ĮXplore: Your galactic voyage begins from your homeworld, a planet aptly suited to the particulars of your species. Some of those complaints may well be justified. I’ve never played the original StarDrive, nor am I overly familiar with the complaints levied against Zero Sum Games beyond only a passing knowledge. Reaching out to the stars is as noble a cause as any, but it soon turns out that the galaxy is a less than friendly place and you’ll be damned if you’ll let those other space-faring species get the better of you.īefore we explore the facets of the title further, it’s time we address the giant space amoeba in the room. This new focus on galactic expansion is made possible by the discovery (or re-discovery in some cases) of the powerful StarDrive technology, allowing for faster-than-light travel. With the wide-open galaxy ahead, players are tasked with leading their people’s first expedition to stars unknown. StarDrive 2 is a turn-based 4X strategy game in the vein of the Master of Orion series. Ok, back from your slice of cake? I know, I was hungry, too. And what a delightfully delectable cake it is! I contemplated leaving my review of Zero Sum Games’ StarDrive 2 right there, but the truth is that samurai space bears are only a tiny piece of the icing atop the StarDrive 2 cake.

Stardrive 2 vulfar ships