C
reated by former System Shock 2 designers,
Void Bastards is about exploring derelict
spaceships, scavenging what you can find
and avoiding being murdered by horribly mutated
Northerners. You’re a randomly selected prisoner en
route to a penal colony on a giant prison ship when it
becomes trapped in a gigantic spaceship graveyard.
Your ship doesn’t have the necessary parts to escape, so
you’re up for early release ... into the dark void of space.
Although completing the game requires you to
achieve set goals, for the most part you’ll be looking
for items that get you to the next ship across the
graveyard, such as more fuel for your little scout-pod,
or gadgets to build new weapons and equipment.
You navigate the graveyard via a 2D, FTL-like interface.
When you board a ship, however, the game switches
to a 3D, first-person perspective. The derelicts have
different classes that affect the rooms and items
you’re likely to find. Medical frigates have healing bays
and plentiful staples for your ad hoc shotgun, while
luxury cruise liners are usually stuffed with food.
However, your spacesuit only has a limited supply of
oxygen, while each ship has its own colourful and deadly
threats. The mutants range from blob-like Tourists,
who explode when close to you, to thuggish Juves,
who fire telekinetic orbs at you while turning the air a
distinctly Mancunian shade of blue. In addition, there’s
a range of potential environmental hazards, including
fires, radiation pools and deadly security systems.
The condition of each ship is procedurally generated
with its own unique puzzle – how you attempt to solve
it is up to you. You could head straight to the Bridge
to download item and enemy locations, for example,
or you could go to the other end of the ship and grab
some fuel. The equipment you bring on board, also
affects your tactics – whether you go in guns blazing,
or use wandering ‘Kittybots’ to distract enemies.
The vivid comic-book art style and Douglas Adams-
style humour lend Void Bastards a unique tone without
compromising the atmosphere of exploring those
eerie derelicts. Unfortunately, though, only around
half the enemies are fun to fight. Others are best
avoided, but higher-level ships are often so crammed
with enemies that avoidance is near impossible.
Although the algorithms that drive Void Bastards can
frustrate at times, it’s hard to resist the appeal of delving
into another spaceship to see what surprises it contains. If
procedural System Shock with added jokes sounds like your
cup of tea, it’s worth doing some time with Void Bastards.
RICK LANE
/VERDICT
The combat may
stumble, but Void
Bastards’ whip-
smart aesthetics
andcompelling
systemsstillmake
it worthplaying.OVERALL SCORE
80 %
VOI D
+ Stylishvisuals
+ Fun tactical
exploration
+ Good humourAVO I D- Some annoying
enemies - To om a n y
enemieson
higher-level ships
VoidBastards/£24.99 inc VAT
DEVELOPER Blue Manchu / PUBLISHER Humble Bundle