Game Reviews

Starbase Orion

Star onStar onStar onStar halfStar off
|
iOS
| Starbase Orion
Get
Starbase Orion
|
iOS
| Starbase Orion

The mobile touchscreen has provided a platform for the revival of several genres, including the real-time strategy game.

From the makers of Starbase Command, Starbase Orion brings a hardcore aesthetic to the iPhone and iPad that will appeal to long-time players, though casual gamers need not apply.

Play to win

Like Masters of Orion and other obvious inspirations, Starbase Orion pits a handful of races in a battle for galaxy domination. This game of space chess allows you to win on the strength of your tactical nous.

The focus is on resource-management split between your military, exploration, infrastructure, and farming. Leaning too hard on a particular leg will give you starving troops, weak defences, and other problems. The problems associated with having a bad military will become clear whenever the colourful battles take place.

Though Starbase Orion is Universal, even the iPad version fills the screen with information, from money, population, and turn stats, to galaxy, research, and military data.

Thankfully, the centre of the board is much cleaner, letting you place your ships and the surrounding planets and stars on a clear-cut grid. Moving your ships is as easy as sliding your finger from a ship to its desired destination.

Choose your own adventure

The sheer number of options makes for a deep strategy experience. You can create your own race by allocating skills, a la Dungeons & Dragons, or you can play with one of the five preset ones, ranging from the tough and ruthless Isather to the farm-focused and slippery Draske. You can choose the size of the galaxy, the number of opponents, and the AI difficulty.

Even more appealing is the multiplayer over wi-fi, offering a one-on-one match, a two-on-one match, or a free-for-all. The turn-based setup makes it easy to jump into matches and get an update when your move is up. It has a built-in chat function, too, for smack talking.

The big challenge here will be for novice players. Starbase Orion is light on the instructions – don’t expect any training or practice mode – and the guidance it does provide is well within the game, usually when it’s too late to actually do anything about it.

Old skool RTS fans will feel right at home with Starbase Orion, but newbies should start with something much, much simpler.

Starbase Orion

Starbase Orion is a nice ode to old skool RTSs, but provides little guidance for novices
Score
Damon Brown
Damon Brown
Damon Brown has been speaking the mobile game gospel since 2003 for Playboy, New York Post, and many other outlets. Damon writes books when he isn't busy gaming or Twittering. His most popular book is Porn & Pong: How Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Other Sexy Games Changed Our Culture.