Starlink: Battle for Atlas Xbox One review — A grand universe brimming with potential

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an open-earth shooter brimming with potential. The title can exist played digitally, or through the use of figurines similar those establish in Disney Infinity and Skylanders. The toys-to-life approach hinders its potential at a grander scale considering, at times, it feels like the game was pared down to entreatment to a younger demographic. Instead of mature characters, Starlink features baroque teenagers who joke around despite the fact that their lives are in peril. The title could've been a franchise to rival the greatest sci-fi series' out in that location due to its expansive environments. Indeed, Starlink is fantabulous, only information technology could've been one of the all-time games of 2022 if Ubisoft had taken a few more than risks.

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Gameplay and inspirations

Starlink takes a lot of cues from experiences like Mass Event: Andromeda and No Human's Sky. Just like Mass Result: Andromeda, the latest adventure from Ubisoft starts off with a crash landing and a missing captain. The eventual goal is to recruit allies to defeat an oppressive force known as the "Legion." While the shooting tin can feel repetitive, there are a lot of activities to partake in on each planet. Certain zones feature higher-tiered enemies, so you have to return to these areas once you lot're strong enough. You can mine resources, harvest plants, explore ruins, inquiry animals, and participate in other sorts of activities to grow your grapheme.

Gameplay is a lot more like No Homo'south Sky however.

The gameplay resembles No Man's Sky in some ways. However, unlike No Man'southward Sky, you can't exit your craft, and take to pick up missions and fight on land from your transport. The disability to jump out of your send and explore your immediate surround feels like a missed opportunity. Fifty-fifty though y'all're exploring uncharted space, you lot feel trapped in Starlink. Instead of providing a rover or some other land-based vehicle, Starlink essentially turns your spaceship into a hovercraft. You lot even take to "jump" to avoid incoming fire. It feels jarring, well-nigh as if developer Ubisoft Toronto ran out of time and decided to cut some features.

Visuals and functioning

Starlink seems to run at 4K resolution on Xbox 1 X, merely the frame rate is locked to thirty FPS. It typically maintains its frame charge per unit, aside from when there are a lot of enemies or explosions on screen. Since the game doesn't appear to exist as well technically demanding given its visuals, a 60 FPS manner is a strange omission. Starlink features gorgeous lighting, but the ground textures are muddied and lacking in detail. Aside from the boost to the resolution, it doesn't seem like Ubisoft Toronto put much piece of work into taking full reward of the Xbox Ane 10 or PlayStation 4 Pro. The game looks eerily similar to the one institute on Nintendo Switch. It's axiomatic that not a lot of effort was put into enhancing it for the more powerful consoles.

The game was designed for the Nintendo Switch.

The Nintendo Switch version features Star Play a trick on, who has his own backstory. The Xbox Ane and PlayStation 4 versions characteristic no such additional characters. As such, information technology tin feel every bit if the game was designed for the Nintendo Switch and the other versions were an afterthought. Why couldn't the Xbox One version become a guest character from a Microsoft franchise? It comes across every bit an unfair omission, especially because the breadth of additional content bachelor on the Nintendo Switch at no added toll. While marketing agreements are an integral role of the gaming industry, publishers should notwithstanding aim for content parity.

Toys-to-life approach

Starlink's toys are of the highest quality. The plastics are shine, and each slice fits into its designated slots perfectly. You have to use a holster to attach the toys to your controller. Unfortunately, they're a little bad-mannered to attach to an Xbox Ane controller, and some of the larger ships hinder your power to apply thumbsticks or buttons comfortably. They're also quite challenging to take apart once a airplane pilot has been inserted into the cockpit.

They toys are quite difficult to take autonomously once a pilot has been inserted.

The toys are great collectibles, but if you want to play the game without getting slaughtered by powerful enemies, you'll desire to get with the Digital Deluxe Edition. It comes with all of the spaceships, and you don't have to fumble effectually when y'all're trying to change weapons, vehicles, or pilots.

Unbelievable customization

Customization plays a major function in Starlink. You can modify the way your send looks and the capabilities of various weapons. For example, you can rear mount your guns during interstellar gainsay.

Send customization plays a major function in Starlink.

Sure boosted ship parts increment your crime or defense. Apart from that, y'all can equip mods which tin can make you even stronger. Learning how all of these mechanics work is an important footstep towards mastering the game and makes for rewarding play over time.

Smooth gameplay

Starlink is a lot of fun to play, and even though it's locked to 30 FPS, the combat feels smooth and responsive. Given the upgrade systems, gameplay can exist quite complex every bit well, because you have to customize your loadout depending on the threat you're nigh to tackle. Using a standard Gatling gun on an enemy that's only vulnerable to ice weaponry won't do you much good. Before entering into certain combat scenarios, you have to scrutinize your opponents. Equipping the right arsenal is essential to success.

The combat feels smoothen and responsive.

Maneuvering your ship is also an absolute joy. Whether you're hovering above a planet'south surface or taking out pirates in the vacuum of infinite, the controls never let you downwardly. There's absolutely no learning curve and anyone tin can option information technology up immediately. The controls seem to exist designed for all historic period groups in mind.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas last thoughts

Overall, Starlink is an impressive experience. It's a shame that the story and limited exploration options hold the title back. The game could've rivaled some of the all-time space exploration games out in that location, but its need to appeal to a younger oversupply undoubtedly takes away from the package. More than anything, Starlink needs a stronger cast of characters, and the ability to explore your immediate surrounding on foot and interact with the game's worlds directly. Despite these issues, the game is a lot of fun, especially when you're blasting away enemies in thrilling space combat. I just wish its true potential had been realized.

Pros:

• Massive open-world environments.
• Tight controls.
• Detailed customization.
• Weapon variety.

Cons:

• Weak characters.
• Can't exit arts and crafts.
• Expensive toys.
• Poor Xbox One X support.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is currently bachelor on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. Pricing starts at $59.99.

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This review was conducted on an Xbox One 10 and PlayStation 4 Pro, using a copy provided by the publisher and purchased by the author.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/starlink-battle-atlas-xbox-one-review

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