STARGROUND review - FACTORIO'S BASTARD CHILD WITH A ROGUELITE FETISH
Starground crash lands into the early access scene like a drunken space trucker, promising a mash-up of automation and dungeon crawling that nobody asked for but everyone secretly wanted. This unholy union of genres manages to be both addictive and frustrating, much like that ex you keep drunk-dialing at 2 AM.
GAMEPLAY: SPLIT PERSONALITY DISORDER IN SPACE
At its core, Starground is an identity crisis wrapped in a video game. On one hand, you've got the automation aspect, which feels like Factorio if it dropped out of engineering school to pursue interpretive dance. You'll start off banging rocks together like a caveman with anger issues, but soon you'll be orchestrating a symphony of conveyor belts and crafting machines that would make Rube Goldberg blush.
Then there's the dungeon crawling. It's about as smooth as a cheese grater massage, but it's got a certain charm. You'll be dodging alien baddies and swearing at the janky hitboxes faster than you can say "who the fuck thought this was a good idea?" The weapon crafting system lets you cobble together monstrosities that look like they were designed by a toddler with access to a welding torch. Want a spear that shoots lasers? Go for it. A sword made of guns? Why the fuck not?
VISUALS: FORAGER'S NEON-SOAKED FEVER DREAM
Graphically, Starground looks like Forager went on a three-day bender in Las Vegas. It's a riot of colors that'll either charm you or trigger an epileptic seizure. The cutesy art style clashes hilariously with the fact that you're essentially strip-mining an entire planet and committing alien genocide.
MULTIPLAYER: SHARED DELUSIONS ARE MORE FUN
Throw some friends into this mess, and Starground transforms from a weird solo experience into a beautiful disaster of conflicting priorities. While you're meticulously optimizing your iron production, your buddy's off in a dungeon getting his ass handed to him by what looks like a sentient jello mold. It's chaos, and it's glorious.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WHAT-THE-FUCK
Good shit: The gameplay loop is more addictive than whatever the hell they put in Pringles. The freedom to switch between automation and dungeon crawling means you're never stuck doing one thing for too long. And the weapon crafting? It's like playing God, if God was really into making ridiculous weapons.
Bad shit: It's early access, so expect more bugs than a roach motel. The combat feels like you're swinging pool noodles underwater, and the automation depth is shallower than a puddle in the Sahara.
FINAL THOUGHTS: A BEAUTIFUL MESS
Starground is the video game equivalent of a mullet - business in the front, party in the back, and questionable all over. It's got more potential than a trust fund baby, but right now it's about as polished as a mud wrestler's boots.
Is it perfect? Fuck no. Is it fun? Does a bear shit in the woods and then automate the cleanup process?
Final Score: 7 out of 10
Starground is a diamond in the rough, emphasis on the rough. It's got enough charm to make you overlook its flaws, but not quite enough content to keep you hooked for more than a few hours. But damn, those few hours are a wild ride.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go rebuild my factory for the 47th time. This time, I swear I'll automate everything, including my will to live.