Dust Fleet

The idea to combine 4X with Homeworld like fights is an interesting one and on the surface it is well executed. The tech tree isn't to deep, the number of ships you can build is limited, but you can call it steamlined. And because you fit out your ship hardpoints with weapons of your choice you still got tactical deep. In difference to Homeworld you are only allowed to control one faction, because the "bad guys" have to be stronger by simply getting stronger ships. Sadly those are the ships that do look better. And while the 4X mode does work in its limited borders, the 3D space combat is the weak point of the game. There are no formation options, neither can you set the behavior of your ships. Sure, if you order ships somewhere, they will end there in a wall formation. They won't keep this formation while going there. Fast ships will overtake, at last as long they are not "blocked" by the bigger ones unable to overtake (fighters fail attacking by being "blocked" too). And movement will end up in a line "formation". Fighting gets even worse, because the moment ships start to shoot at the enemy, they will start to close in at the enemy until their shortest range weapon is in range. And because they move how they move, they will even block each others line of fire. Your plan was to outfit your cruisers with a long range Gaus, to hares the enemy, until it gets in range of your rocket launcher and finish it up with your guns? The moment the Gaus fires the first ships on full throttle And if you got the "good" idea (as I did) to add a repair beam to your cruisers, so they can support each other. That one is treated as a "weapon" too. One with very short range. So your cruisers want to hug the enemy, while all other weapons are actually longer range. When you loose many more ships (and well outfitted ships are expensive) then needed, because those ships do what they want and your defense starts to break, space battles are not very enjoyable and the game breaks down.

I will never claim that this is the most perfect game ever. Compare it to Homeworld and it just falls flat. However, left on its own merits, I can honestly say that I recommend it. No, it's not the most polished nor is the game play the best ever. But what it is is: Fun. I had a blast playing this game, despite the odd interface, the guard command that doesn't work, and having to micromanage the herd of ships that behave more like sheep than wolves. I'd love to see this concept expanded upon and the story broadened, but, for now, I got my money's worth and I recommend this game to anyone that is looking for a strategy game that has a little extra in it.

I'm enjoying this a lot. Not overcomplicated but not too simple either. You can just jump in and have fun. Also, the developer is pretty active when it comes to engaging with the community. The price is right too.

Weak engine and some bugs doing this game mediocre. No need any complex strategy. Graphics are good, but rather simple. I have 16GB 6800XT and game lagging and sometime game freeze. I have fun for couple of games, it's not really bad, in simplicity is strength this game. But need patch. A BIG patch.