DarkStar One

 PC
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 63
  3. Negative: 10 out of 63
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. ElliotN.
    Nov 8, 2006
    7
    This game has very good graphics but the story line is very loose like Freelancer and also the pirates are extremely easy to beat once you get to a certain point in the game. Also the battleships are too easy to beat. Also it's very easy to get money and upgrade and finding artifacts making your ship "indestructable". Although this is the best space game I've played yet it just This game has very good graphics but the story line is very loose like Freelancer and also the pirates are extremely easy to beat once you get to a certain point in the game. Also the battleships are too easy to beat. Also it's very easy to get money and upgrade and finding artifacts making your ship "indestructable". Although this is the best space game I've played yet it just isn't that thrilling.… Expand
  2. Kurtz
    Dec 22, 2011
    6
    Not a fantastic game by any means. Outclassed by others in the genre. Gameplay wise it is pretty repetitive. Although there are lots of things to do such as smuggling they lack depth and incentive to actually do them because 'shooting bad guys' usually happens regardless. There is some re-playability here, I myself finished the game twice to see what a different ship build would be like.Not a fantastic game by any means. Outclassed by others in the genre. Gameplay wise it is pretty repetitive. Although there are lots of things to do such as smuggling they lack depth and incentive to actually do them because 'shooting bad guys' usually happens regardless. There is some re-playability here, I myself finished the game twice to see what a different ship build would be like. The game is a little cheesy though especially in the dialogue. If you are going to buy this I would hope you get it from a bargain bin.… Expand
  3. I_Am_Turok
    Oct 4, 2012
    6
    2012 and the game plays quite nicely. I have Windows 7, and so far no bugs like the many forums have reported. The missions are repetitive, the storyline, well hardly engrossing, but get it for cheap, play it for 30 minutes at a time, and it is quite nice. It's Xwing/Elite style fighting. Personally I prefer the better cleaner environment of X3, this is too colourful for my liking, but2012 and the game plays quite nicely. I have Windows 7, and so far no bugs like the many forums have reported. The missions are repetitive, the storyline, well hardly engrossing, but get it for cheap, play it for 30 minutes at a time, and it is quite nice. It's Xwing/Elite style fighting. Personally I prefer the better cleaner environment of X3, this is too colourful for my liking, but it's easy on the eye. And easy to play, mostly. Oddly you often need to take your hand off the joystick, press space plus action the mouse to do something, then return to the joystick. Bizarre UI, who thought that would be good. (For a 2006, I'm quite tolerant of it, but I see XBox had a 2010 version. I hope it is vastly improved and deeper for Xbox, if this game were to be released in 2010 I'd be far more harsh on it).… Expand
  4. ShodanSpectre
    Jul 10, 2014
    5
    Below is a critical review from a person who likes really hardcore sims - where run out of ammo, fuel, oxygen and battery power.

    The pros: decent eye candy graphics. Unlike many space sims - the cutscenes include decently rendered characters and dialogues. The cons: From the very first minutes this game hits you with the perspective that you will be farming money to buy "upgrades" to    Below is a critical review from a person who likes really hardcore sims - where run out of ammo, fuel, oxygen and battery power.

    The pros: decent eye candy graphics. Unlike many space sims - the cutscenes include decently rendered characters and dialogues.

    The cons: From the very first minutes this game hits you with the perspective that you will be farming money to buy "upgrades" to your ship. The upgrade system is pretty straightforward and dull - there are about 10 different types of systems on your ship or so, each system can be unpgraded. The highest level is 10. And of course you start with ALL systems at lvl 1. Even though the plot/backstory suggests that you get a _really_cool_ ship from your father as a graduation present - you in fact get an equivalent of classic newbie set of gear that is nothing but a substitute for upgrading to something decent. On the very first station where you start at there are lvl 2 components in the market that make you feel just how awesome your dad's present is, and give you a reason to go farm some money.

    The farming, or rather, the plot missions - give a "spy-kids" feeling: if you go to salvage some abandoned container well of course there will be a bunch of pirates incoming at the exact moment you come, of course they will die easily but of course they will never retreat.

    The fighting itself is a rather arcadish close-range pew-pew dogfight, and the space locations seem rather small and crowded. Unlike, i.e. StarShatter, or EVE, where anything less than 10 kilometers is considered close range, and you gotta know your weapons' specs to use them effectively!

    Overall - an arcadish pew-pew space shooter with decent graphics and a simple storyline. If you can close your eyes on it being very childish - you can enjoy the game. If you're looking for a space SIMULATOR - look elsewhere.    … Expand
  5. WayneW.
    Nov 19, 2006
    7
    So tell me what space games have come out that can offer a ship that can be upgraded so many ways,and you can see evolving and morphing throughout the game? The critics o this one seem to omit that fact,and the fact that it lends itself very nicely to the story. My single complaint is the repetetiveness of the missions taken on in the trade stations,looks to be about 6 or so of the same So tell me what space games have come out that can offer a ship that can be upgraded so many ways,and you can see evolving and morphing throughout the game? The critics o this one seem to omit that fact,and the fact that it lends itself very nicely to the story. My single complaint is the repetetiveness of the missions taken on in the trade stations,looks to be about 6 or so of the same type and exact briefing on EVERY single station! That being said, this is still one of the most pleasant surprises I have had in a space game since KoToR. Bug eyed terrans aside (grin)This game is fun, does tend to get boring after about 4 hours or so, but by that time It's time for a soda break any way.… Expand
  6. RobE.
    Oct 5, 2006
    7
    A reasonable game throughout, but ultimately unremarkable. Smooth space fighting along the lines of wing commander. Decent story, typically corny euro dialogue. Don't expect the depth of X here. To upgrade your ship, you have to collect the magic boogers or whatever. They're marked on the map. go there, fly in the asteroid, collect them, move on. This process was boring enough A reasonable game throughout, but ultimately unremarkable. Smooth space fighting along the lines of wing commander. Decent story, typically corny euro dialogue. Don't expect the depth of X here. To upgrade your ship, you have to collect the magic boogers or whatever. They're marked on the map. go there, fly in the asteroid, collect them, move on. This process was boring enough that the devs included the option to bypass it by flying to the space station instead. All in all a great space engine that is hindered by uninspired gameplay.… Expand
  7. GolovA
    May 21, 2012
    7
    Yet again i wanted to give this game a 6.5. But rounded - 7 it is :)
    In any case - this is a space flight sim with a rather nice implementation of the ship's upgrade which is based on player experience. However, mission do tend to become similar very fast. Controls are a little weird but i got used to them. However - it's weird that while you can strafe left and right you cannot    Yet again i wanted to give this game a 6.5. But rounded - 7 it is :)
    In any case - this is a space flight sim with a rather nice implementation of the ship's upgrade which is based on player experience. However, mission do tend to become similar very fast. Controls are a little weird but i got used to them. However - it's weird that while you can strafe left and right you cannot strafe upward or down (descend and ascend). Weird.
    Xpansion is a much more deeply involving experience, even if you do not choose to pursue the main plot. Dark Star is basically Expansion Lite (very lite!) :)    … Expand
  8. tech-noir
    Sep 17, 2011
    7
    Customizing your ship with weapons and special abilities is the best part about this game. While space battles are well done, fun, and with good physics, it does get boring somewhat quickly. The main missions and side quests can be interesting as it progresses through the storyline, but it does not give you a feeling of great accomplishment as you go through them. The trading aspect of theCustomizing your ship with weapons and special abilities is the best part about this game. While space battles are well done, fun, and with good physics, it does get boring somewhat quickly. The main missions and side quests can be interesting as it progresses through the storyline, but it does not give you a feeling of great accomplishment as you go through them. The trading aspect of the game can and might as well be ignored completely. It provides you with minimal profits in comparison to the other means to acquire credits. Speaking of credits, I completed the game with 8.5 million credits in my possession. After a while, the amount of credits you accumulate will become obsolete, as you will have more than enough to get whatever you want. The game suffers from extreme repetitiveness, which also creates tedium and dullness when you do the same two or three activities over, and over, and over, and over. Simply put, the game is about 20 hours too long. The developers should have been more concise and implemented more diverse aspects in more ways than just this. The end game is surprisingly bland and unexciting. Also, throughout the game, you are given a false sense of freewill. Your progress is almost completely linear. It took me about 31 hours to complete.… Expand
  9. Babaganoush
    Nov 20, 2012
    5
    Extremely bland. You'll be wondering if there's any other missions than shoot these fighters or the occasional cruiser. You are given an assortment of weapons per class upgrade yet it usually the current race sector's weapons that are the best choice. The economy system is decent, but it's nothing complicated. Voice acting is very mediocre. Eona's (your forced sidekick) probably the worstExtremely bland. You'll be wondering if there's any other missions than shoot these fighters or the occasional cruiser. You are given an assortment of weapons per class upgrade yet it usually the current race sector's weapons that are the best choice. The economy system is decent, but it's nothing complicated. Voice acting is very mediocre. Eona's (your forced sidekick) probably the worst part of the game though. She's like a Navi from Ocarina of Time and there's no option to shut her up with her bland remarks of stating the obvious. Yes. I know there's one on my tail, Eona, the display state that. Yes I know, my shields are down... why can't I just space you...… Expand

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best PC Game of 2006
56
#56 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
30
#30 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. GameWatcher
    70
    Darkstar One is as cold and empty as space itself once the novelty of trading or being a "system rebel" wears off.
    Read full review
  2. PALGN
    70
    Constricted. It isn’t so much that Darkstar One is a bad game, it’s just that the developers failed to optimise on good ideas - it seems as though they took the easy way out rather than expand on them.
    Read full review
  3. Eurogamer
    80
    The key element of the game, of course, is combat and here it excels...Compared to many of its peers, Darkstar One may seem slight - but what it does, it does expertly.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »