Starship Troopers: Extermination Review
As fate would have it, 2024 proved to be a challenging year for releasing a co-op multiplayer game centered around a satirical fascistic military force taking on waves of alien creatures. Among the trio of games fitting this description, Starship Troopers: Extermination falls short compared to its counterparts Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2. Despite this, the game does offer some unique features like larger teams and inventive base-building segments that can provide enjoyable moments before the gameplay becomes repetitive.
Single-Player Campaign
Prior to delving into the multiplayer action, Starship Troopers: Extermination introduces a skippable single-player campaign where players can familiarize themselves with the game mechanics. The narrative, revolving around a nameless soldier in the Special Operations Group under the command of General Johnny Rico, lacks depth and serves more as a tutorial than a compelling story. While the campaign may help seasoned players brush up on their skills, it may fall flat for beginners looking for an engaging narrative.
Multiplayer Experience
Starship Troopers: Extermination shines in its multiplayer gameplay, allowing up to 16 players to team up and combat hordes of alien enemies. The game presents a formidable challenge as players must work together to complete objectives and fend off relentless waves of bugs. The six distinct soldier classes each offer unique abilities and equipment, adding depth to the gameplay but also requiring substantial grinding to unlock all their potential.
Challenges and Gameplay
The intense combat in Starship Troopers: Extermination is both exhilarating and demanding, with players needing to strategize and coordinate effectively to survive. The base-building mechanics add an extra layer of strategy, offering players the opportunity to create defenses against the relentless enemy onslaught. However, the game suffers from a lack of enemy variety and occasionally unresponsive gameplay mechanics, impacting the overall experience.
Game Modes
While modes like Hive Hunt and Assault and Secure provide unique challenges, the overall execution of gameplay on mostly empty maps leaves something to be desired. The lack of polish and occasional performance issues further detract from the overall experience, requiring players to adjust settings for optimal gameplay.