Space Punks Preview (Epic Games Store Early Access)

by Jim Smale · July 22, 2021

Welcome to our first look at Space Punks with our Space Punks Preview. Space Punks is a top-down isometric action role-playing game (ARPG). Featuring crazy, over-the-top action in a unique, irreverent sci-fi setting, players blast their way to fame, glory, and wealth by taking on lucrative contracts on far-flung planets against impossible odds. Designed to be a living, breathing, and ever-changing game world, Space Punks will grow and evolve through Early Access, Open Beta, and beyond.

Space Punks Preview:

Decent cel-shaded graphics.
6.73GB Download size.
Graphics – fullscreen, resolution, v-sync, graphics preset (low/medium/high/ultra/extreme).
Full controller support.
Action RPG gameplay.
Tutorial missions at the start.
Four difficulties – Easy, normal, hard, and hardcore.
Can rebind controls.
Combat is a mix of melee and twin-stick ranged.
Public social space hub where you get missions, use the map, inventory management, shops, upgrades, and skills, etc.
Free to play.
Looks like Borderlands but plays like Helldivers.
Loot drops.
Comic book shout-out pop-ups for damage and critical.
End of a level breakdown showing exp earned unlocks etc.
Vault is where you go to change equipment and gear.
Scrap unwanted gear.
You can play solo, with friends or with randoms.
Maps uncover as you discover them.
The narrator tells of your tasks.
Power level determines how good you are with all equipment and gear having a power score.
Extraction zone spawns after your final objective.
Levels and attempts will randomize the map layout and content placement.
Fame – you earn this from doing missions and unlock new options, loot, and a lot more from the fame Road menu. Looks like a Battlepass but is in fact your road to progress.
Difficulty affects how many objectives you have in a level plus enemy numbers and fame reward.
Emote system to abuse.
Icons on the screen to show your objectives.
Timed activities will pop on the map screen.
Loot Chests can be opened or shot open.
Loot rarity that affects its power level and any possible buffs.
You play how you want in that you always have a handful of choices of which levels to play.
Failure – boots you back to the hub but you keep the loot collected.
Trophies – tiered objectives (Bronze/Silver/Gold) and give crafting materials.
Contracts – like trophies but with more in-depth objectives and rewards.
Crafting model for new gear.
Daily and weekly challenges.
Tasks – give 3 bonus tasks for quick rewards.

Space Punks Preview:

Always online connected.
Slow to start missions.
Cannot pause the game even solo.
Matchmaking itself is rather slow.
Short timer for finding players.
Only a mini-map.
Hard to see loot chests at times.
Few tutorial-style missions then boom nothing.
Have it not connect to the server a lot.
The cursor for the menus acts like a mouse.
No Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
The hub area is fine but the camera is very far away and you have no controls for it.
Despite always waiting, I have never had randoms join my game or me join a session.
No way to get rid of notifications.
Huge power level jumps between missions which means you have to grind out a load of jobs.
Tasks are the same every day.
Slow to build your fame.
Not nearly enough loot drops.
You cannot see the exact loot you got or indeed equip it until after you extract it back to the hub.