As the game progresses, the enjoyment of moving around the map, by whatever FTL options your race employs, does not diminish. Systems in Star Ruler 2 can range from having only one or two planets to those containing several planets, asteroids (which can be mined for additional resources) and even special artifacts, so it often feels like players are discovering something new. As with hyperdrives, all methods of FTL travel require the use of FTL energy, which we’ll explore further a bit later. Other forms of FTL travel available include slipstreams (wormholes with fixed start/end points that any empire can use), gates (large nodes that take lengthy investments to build, but allow travel from any node to another once constructed) and flings (devices that do what they say on the can – hurtling vessels across large distances). The drawback to hyperdrives is that, although considerably faster than sublight speeds, the journey from system to system is not instantaneous. Similar in function to Battlestar Galactica’s jump drive, hyperdrives allow fleets to move from one system to another with a small warm-up time, as long as sufficient energy (FTL energy) is available. So slow, in fact, that even speeding the game up to its fastest setting still results in a painstakingly long process that players will become desperate to avoid.īasic FTL travel comes in the form of hyperdrives. While non-FTL travel between systems is possible, it’s…slow. As a personal preference, I most often choose the “human” Terrakin who start with a reasonably-sized fleet capable of dealing with minor threats and who accomplish their exploration through the use of their FTL technology.įTL (faster-than-light) technology is a critical component in travel and exploration in the game. Ships are available to begin exploration quickly, and the types will vary as a result of the race chosen. The homeworld serves as a critical launching point in galactic conquest, so it is important to consider initial expansion options carefully.
Players begin with control over one planet and system. After all, players striving to conquer the galaxy are going to have to discover what’s out there first. Sappy love story for devs aside, let’s further examine what makes Star Ruler 2 tick.ĮXplore:There’s no doubt that exploration is a central tenet of the entire modus operandi of Star Ruler 2. Seeing this process take place in increments has forced me to reflect on the depth of true workmanship that goes into crafting a game like Star Ruler 2 and given me a newfound respect (not that there wasn’t one already) for the tireless effort of many developers. The attention to detail is staggering and the endeavor nothing short of impressive. Over the course of my play-time in Early Access, Blind Mind Studios has made significant shifts, changes and adaptations to underlying core systems that have moved the game forward by great strides. Couple that with a visually intriguing interface and players will truly see the grandiosity of Star Ruler 2 even before jumping fully into their first playthrough.īefore moving on to unpack the title further in relation to its 4X components, I feel it prudent to note that this game has been a personally uplifting experience for me as a 4X player. Before long, contact with other empires will be made, each with unique flavor and dynamics, and players must utilize trade, diplomacy, and combat to gain the advantage and, ultimately, rule the galaxy.Īppropriately fitting to the mood of the gigantic galaxy (some maps can be ridiculously large – limited in practicality only by what the player’s system can handle), Star Ruler 2 boasts an excellent soundtrack that blends the themes of somber and victorious neatly into one package. These resources are then funneled back home (and later to other colony systems) to establish thriving worlds that solidify the player’s expansion.
Blind Mind Studios’ Star Ruler 2 is a grand-scale 4X RTS that places players at the helm of building a complex sprawling empire, forged from the metaphorical space fires of rampant expansion, dominating conquest, and cunning diplomacy.ĭoes that description sound appropriately epic enough for a game titled Star Ruler 2?įrom the game’s outset, players are challenged to take to the task of expanding out from their home system in search of coveted resources.