Review: Void Bastards (Steam)

Inspired by BioShock and System Shock 2, Void Bastards is a revolutionary new strategy-shooter that will test your wits as well as exercise your aim. Can you lead the misfit prisoners of the Void Ark through the derelict spaceships and myriad dangers of the Sargasso Nebula?

Pros:

• Awesome comic book graphics.
• 5073mb download size.
• Full controller support.
• Steam achievements.
• Controller settings-sensitivity sliders, toggle run, invert axis and acceleration.
• Roguelike fps gameplay.
• Can rebind keyboard mouse and controller.
• Five difficulties-easy peasy, easy, normal, hard and hard bastard.
• Comic book presentation from the comic book front cover splash screen to cutscenes done via comic strips.
• Excellent voice work.
• Mini map shows collectibles/interactions.
• Star map-randomize every run, you choose where to go with each stop using fuel and food. On each stop, you can choose what to do and you get a look at enemy types on this location.
• Game-you fly in your ship and Dock other ships for loot and supplies.
• Ships can have random effects on them like no map or no lights or maybe poisonous gas.
• Many enemy types.
• Clean hud.
• Oxygen-when entering a ship you have a timer for how much oxygen you have which dictates how long you can stay on board.
• Tons of Replayability.
• Addictive.
• Death-you keep some items like crafting materials but lose everything else and come back as a random character who may have good and bad attributes/buffs/ailments.
• Crafting-find plans and materials to unlock and upgrade the many weapons in the crafting tree. You can salvage trash and parts for different materials.
• Locate mode-highlights specific parts for a build making it somewhat easier.
• Satisfying gunplay.
• Gadgets as well as guns like bombs.
• Play how you want.
• Help section after a brief tutorial.
• Horror aspect that ks to the quiet ships, not knowing what’s around the corner, noises from a monster and seeing/hearing footsteps.
• Can leave a ship whenever you want as long as you have power to the transporter.

Cons:

• Can’t rebind the controller.
• A lot to take in.
• No proper tutorial just basic.
• Doesn’t explain a lot very well.
• Difficult.
• RNG is the enemy and dictates everything.
• Can feel aimless outside of general wanting better stuff. The overall arc is not that enticing.