Ultraviolet Dawn

Whatever exciting developments the distant future may hold, we can be sure of one thing: there’s going to be no shortage of employment for those with a penchant for bloodthirsty piracy.

At least this is the picture painted by Ultraviolet Dawn. Humanity's expansion into space will open up a new opportunities for trade and colonisation, but most of all the future looks rosy for the timeless art of pillaging and plundering.

That’s not to suggest donning an eye patch and finding yourself a robotic parrot are the only options available in this grandiose intergalactic romp; you can choose to adopt the righteous path and do things by the book too.

The game offers a wide range of trading missions and escort assignments which permit you to make an honest dollar and stay on the right side of the law. It’s even possible to earn money from taking down devious pirate-types.

Yet, as if often the case in life being a nefarious character is arguably more fun and you find that it's often much easier to plunder passing spaceships to rack up cash for those upgrades for which you’ve been longing.

Augmenting the capabilities of your spacecraft is one of the more rewarding facets of Ultraviolet Dawn.

Everything from armour plating to homing missiles can be bolted onto your ship, although some of the heavier weaponry can only be attached to more potent vessels and these naturally require a pretty hefty wad of cash.

Although the game showcases an entire universe to explore and a multitude of missions on which to embark, the actual combat system is incredibly basic. Playing much like a 360-degree arcade shooter, you guide your ship using a virtual analogue stick whilst hammering a button to unload your weapons.

Incoming hostiles flash up on your radar as red dots and must be obliterated before they get a chance to grind down your shields and batter your fragile hull.

It all sounds tremendously exciting, but sadly the battles grow repetitious. First you isolate your enemy, then you get in close enough to engage in a sloppy dog-fight, frantically spinning around on the spot so that your guns are always hitting your foe but his don’t touch you.

Practically every contest can be won in this manner and once you get your hands on more advanced armaments such as homing missiles and lasers, you find that you don’t even have to be all that dutiful in piloting your ship – rockets find their target regardless.

Outside of the tepid combat there are other troublesome issues that sap enjoyment away from the game even further.

Once you’ve accepted a mission it’s almost impossible to track your progress or even be aware that you’ve fulfilled your objective. The game provides no indication of how you’re progressing. Consequently, trying to follow a structured route through the game is frustratingly difficult.

The game’s universe is also bursting with inconsistencies. For example, when you’re being set upon by a horde of ravenous pirates you might expect the intergalactic police to step in and offer some aid, but these law-enforcing units often fly straight by the ruckus, oblivious to your plight.

It’s a shame that these issues are present because Ultraviolet Dawn has the basis for an excellent space epic. With a little more tweaking the combat could be demanding and engaging, while the lack of mission updates is something that could be solved with a few minor interface and menu alterations.

There’s every chance that developer Sad Cat Software will patch these problems, but for the time being Ultraviolet Dawn is a flawed, but still moderately enjoyable yarn.