Starbound is a side-scrolling exploration game with crafting, survival elements, varied environments and missions. It is a game that truly does live up to the "freeform gameplay" tag that a lot of these kind of games claim. The universe is a huge, randomly generated place full of varied planets, moons, anomalies and other friendly (or not so friendly) other ships. It is playable in single-player and also via drop-in-out multiplayer and dedicated servers.

Progression is a really well done mechanic in the game. There is no "XP" for tasks at all. You simply get better at doing the things you do by doing them - via better materials, tech and experience. This then allows you to take on greater challenges. The early game consists of "survival", where your ship is stranded, orbiting a planet. From here you must gather by mining, looting, exploring and dungeon crawling on the planet to make yourself better gear and establish a foothold. Once you have a base and a way of generating food you can then plan out your next big excursion. This area of the game gives you a good opportunity to explore the systems in place and mess around, without too much hassle. When you feel you are ready to experience the rest of the game you fix your ship and suddenly the game opens up into a much more massive and more complex being, which had me in awe. After that you are free to do whatever you want - you can go for the main quests or choose something else entirely. There is a main storyline, which centers around finding the infinity stones artefacts of 5 different races. This can be tackled at your own pace. The game also offers side quests from planet inhabitants and also the many different species on the "Outpost" (an intergalactic shopping mall in space).

Your character can be equipped with a variety of different "tech", enhancing their abilities. How about the ability to wall-run, double-jump, dash or even turn into a sticky "ball" that can climb up walls and onto ceilings? Your character is further customised with an extensive armour and clothing system, which adds to certain abilities and allows you to enhance the aspect of your character that you want. Melee, ranged, duel-wielding guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, flame-throwers, magical staffs - you name it it has it. Find a play-style that works for you and go nuts with it. The variety here is great.

Fairly early on in the game you are also given a Mech - which can be deployed on planets or in space. The mech is particularly useful when mining for ship fuel on moons where there is no atmosphere or boarding other ships and stations to loot, trade or attack. This, like with everything in the game can be upgraded and customised to your liking. Quests also give you access to hiring crew members, which in turn upgrade your ship and give you companions to help you on your travels.

The crafting and building systems are actually quite detailed. You are given a "Matter Manipulator" at the start of the game, which can be upgraded as you play. This is the basic tool you use for terraforming. Later on it can also be used to collect liquids, paint and lay wires to connect objects that interact with each-other. Planets can be changed to your liking - you can create bases, houses, farms or anything else your imagination comes up with. You can even make a business out of it: for example, you can turn your farm into a food business and ship off the food you make for profit or even create housing for the local inhabitants of the planets and become landlord to receive rent. You can even make a zoo, with the intent on harvesting rare materials. There really is so much you can do here that it's mind-boggling to come to terms with the scope. Thankfully, the intuitive building system makes it quick and easy to make things. As you learn additional blueprints and mine more advanced materials you can craft better and better things. Not just buildings either, but armour, weapons, bombs, tools, furniture and technology.

So, in summary: the game is great. There is an enormous amount of content that will keep you playing for hundreds of hours. Thanks to the addictive and intuitive mechanics in play, it will also keep you coming back for more. Build, craft, loot, explore, hunt, dungeon crawl, run a business empire - it has it all.

Jimbo Rating: 9/10

Starbound is a side-scrolling exploration game with crafting, survival elements, varied environments and missions. It is a game that truly does live up to the "freeform gameplay" tag that a lot of these kind of games claim. The universe is a huge, randomly generated place full of varied planets, moons, anomalies and other friendly (or not so friendly) other ships. It is playable in single-player and also via drop-in-out multiplayer and dedicated servers. Progression is a really well done mechanic in the game. There is no "XP" for tasks at all. You simply get better at doing the things you do by doing them - via better materials, tech and experience. This then allows you to take on greater challenges. The early game consists of "survival", where your ship is stranded, orbiting a planet. From here you must gather by mining, looting, exploring and dungeon crawling on the planet to make yourself better gear and establish a foothold. Once you have a base and a way of generating food you can then plan out your next big excursion. This area of the game gives you a good opportunity to explore the systems in place and mess around, without too much hassle. When you feel you are ready to experience the rest of the game you fix your ship and suddenly the game opens up into a much more massive and more complex being, which had me in awe. After that you are free to do whatever you want - you can go for the main quests or choose something else entirely. There is a main storyline, which centers around finding the [strike]infinity stones[/strike] artefacts of 5 different races. This can be tackled at your own pace. The game also offers side quests from planet inhabitants and also the many different species on the "Outpost" (an intergalactic shopping mall in space). Your character can be equipped with a variety of different "tech", enhancing their abilities. How about the ability to wall-run, double-jump, dash or even turn into a sticky "ball" that can climb up walls and onto ceilings? Your character is further customised with an extensive armour and clothing system, which adds to certain abilities and allows you to enhance the aspect of your character that you want. Melee, ranged, duel-wielding guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, flame-throwers, magical staffs - you name it it has it. Find a play-style that works for you and go nuts with it. The variety here is great. Fairly early on in the game you are also given a Mech - which can be deployed on planets or in space. The mech is particularly useful when mining for ship fuel on moons where there is no atmosphere or boarding other ships and stations to loot, trade or attack. This, like with everything in the game can be upgraded and customised to your liking. Quests also give you access to hiring crew members, which in turn upgrade your ship and give you companions to help you on your travels. The crafting and building systems are actually quite detailed. You are given a "Matter Manipulator" at the start of the game, which can be upgraded as you play. This is the basic tool you use for terraforming. Later on it can also be used to collect liquids, paint and lay wires to connect objects that interact with each-other. Planets can be changed to your liking - you can create bases, houses, farms or anything else your imagination comes up with. You can even make a business out of it: for example, you can turn your farm into a food business and ship off the food you make for profit or even create housing for the local inhabitants of the planets and become landlord to receive rent. You can even make a zoo, with the intent on harvesting rare materials. There really is so much you can do here that it's mind-boggling to come to terms with the scope. Thankfully, the intuitive building system makes it quick and easy to make things. As you learn additional blueprints and mine more advanced materials you can craft better and better things. Not just buildings either, but armour, weapons, bombs, tools, furniture and technology. So, in summary: the game is great. There is an enormous amount of content that will keep you playing for hundreds of hours. Thanks to the addictive and intuitive mechanics in play, it will also keep you coming back for more. Build, craft, loot, explore, hunt, dungeon crawl, run a business empire - it has it all. [b]Jimbo Rating: 9/10[/b]