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Starship Troopers: Extermination didn’t wow me like I expected it to. I’ve dabbled with Helldivers 2 and I hoped that this would hit those dizzying heights. As it is, there are plenty of flawed moments that may leave you feeling frustrated. However, if you don’t compare it to its well-received counterpart, there are plenty of elements to enjoy. Moreover, if you grab some like-minded friends, you will find plenty of fun mechanics that keep you coming back for more.
This FPS was developed by Offworld Industries Ltd and published by Knights Peak. Moreover, it is a single-player and online cooperative multiplayer affair. As such, this can be enjoyed by a large and varied audience. I tried both modes and I have to say that the single-player campaign is laughable at best. Unfortunately, it doesn’t shine and it feels like an afterthought. The same can be said for the Galactic Front live-service campaign (more on this later). Thankfully, the multiplayer action is great fun and there are genuine dramatic and challenging moments that get under your skin.
Starship Troopers: Extermination doesn’t read the room.
The Starship Troopers franchise is a satirical beast that is loaded with action elements. It works so well because the balance between the 2 layers is perfectly considered. If one was slightly off, the films would have been awful and they’d have probably flopped. Unfortunately, Starship Troopers: Extermination misses the satirical element altogether. This was a shame as I’d have loved the story and the cinematic cutscenes to grab the theme by the balls. Disappointingly, this didn’t happen and the developer has allowed the hellish action to sit at the fore.
You must join the Deep Space Vanguard as they engage the menacing bug threat. The hordes of arachnids swarm each battlefield as the Mobile Infantry tries to complete its goal. The fast-paced and often fluid gameplay is challenging to keep on top of. However, there are handy mission guides and your teammates to turn to if things go south.
Starship Troopers: Extermination: 16-player multiplayer madness.
The core game mode for Starship Troopers: Extermination is the 4 squad 16-player online matches. These brutal encounters ask you to complete an array of missions whilst tackling every wave of bugs. The game normally culminates in a base-building exercise that is followed by a horde-based encounter. If you survive this, you must make it to the escape ship and get the hell off the planet.
Each of these elements sounds fantastic by themselves, but when you put them together, they can be challenging to overcome. The base building is reasonably intuitive and working together with 15 strangers was oddly rewarding. As time ticks away, you must place walls, ammo, guns, auto-turrets, and much more. If you complete your base in time, you can stand guard and tackle wave after wave of horrible space bugs. Yet, if you haven’t been quick enough, you’ll have to fight off the horde whilst you establish a safe perimeter.
Once you survive the intense battle, you must sprint to the awaiting escape ship. This simple element was one of my favourite features. Though it shouldn’t have been every man/woman for themselves, it often was. If you are heroic, you may stop to help fallen comrades. However, this leaves you vulnerable and I’m not sure they’ll return the favour. I know they won’t as I was left to bleed out on many occasions.
Choose your warrior.
In typical genre fashion, there are plenty of classes to choose from. Do you wish to snipe and stay out of the battle or are you a lover of flames and risking your life? Either way, there are plenty of options available. You’ll want to understand how your class complements another when you team up with strangers. After all, if you are all hiding in the shadows with a sniper rifle, your teammates will need your support.
Where Starship Troopers: Extermination excels is its dynamic battlefields and the remains of every bug you thwart. This was spectacular as the battlefield was an ever-evolving threat that changes the way you think. As you slay the bugs, their bodies pile high like a gruesome trophy. This was splendid to look at but caused no end of problems. If the bodies pile up against your walls, the bugs can use them as a ghastly ramp to attack you. Alternatively, you can become trapped within a dead bug prison and this affects your ability to fight and your ability to stay alive.
Luckily, you can destroy the bug corpses to clear a path. This was such a great mechanic as the world felt truly alive. What’s more, you may choose to keep each bug corpse as a reminder of your success. Either way, it is truly gruesome and I love the twisted sci-fi edge.
The shortcomings.
The recently added single-player campaign is god-awful. The missions are terrible and the settings aren’t much better. Moreover, the AI is so stupid that I’d have been better off without them. I know most people will buy Starship Troopers: Extermination for the online action, but people still want a great single-player campaign. Unfortunately, the developers have not delivered on this aspect, and that was a shame.
The Galactic Front clan-focused gameplay was equally poor. This afterthought option should have been great fun and challenging. However, it’s very lacklustre and I wasn’t inspired to push it to its limits. Additionally, if you are a casual player, you don’t get a sense of urgency or reward as you complete each unified mission.
Starship Troopers: Extermination could do with some polish.
Each mission feels massive. It doesn’t matter if you are tackling a classic base-building exercise or you are running around gathering resources. The environments are varied and moving between waves of bugs was enjoyable. On the other hand, you can sit in your base and tackle the oncoming bug army. Both are valid contributions and you get equal enjoyment from either approach.
What wasn’t so good, was the lack of polish. The textures feel off and some of the landmarks and environments felt flat. Though you don’t get much time to examine the world in great detail, it should have looked much better. Additionally, the animation felt janky and the bug movement wasn’t as smooth as I hoped.
The audio fares a little better as the soundtrack is loud and aggressive. Moreover, the voiceover work is good and each mission is well-explained. Alongside this, the sound effects are suitable and each bug will make your skin crawl. I had to turn the volume on my headset down as the constant banging, shooting, and noise made my ears ring. However, you will adore the uncomfortably loud audio if you like to be semi-deaf after each round.
Decent controls.
The control system works well with a gamepad. It has an intelligent controller layout that is simple to understand and master. First, Starship Troopers: Extermination pushes you into a tutorial mode that explains combat and base building. This was necessary and I didn’t feel that the 20-minute quest was a waste or outstayed its welcome.
The afterthought single-player campaign and guild missions were a letdown. The developer needs to rework these elements to enhance replay value and longevity. Though I enjoyed the multiplayer campaign, I’m not sure it would grab my attention forever. As such, it risks alienating its audience unless new content is added.
Starship Troopers: Extermination was fun but flawed.
Starship Troopers: Extermination is a fun multiplayer experience. Whether you play this with friends or strangers, you will enjoy the fast-paced action and the never-ending bug waves. However, it isn’t as polished as expected and the gameplay is flawed. Furthermore, there isn’t enough depth in its current state. Accordingly, I’m on the fence. Though I can see it losing its appeal quickly, I’m still enjoying it and recommend buying it here! Can you defeat the filthy bugs? Pick your class, find a squad, and wipe out the bug menace.
