Space Commander: War and Trade

 Switch
Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. GameGrin
    Jun 22, 2021
    45
    Space Commander is a competent game, with many features and some innovation, turning focus from piloting one ship to managing and controlling a fleet. It can be engaging but unfortunately not for long as it is just too simplified and lacks in variety, depth or challenge.

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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Slyderule
    May 3, 2022
    8
    Space Commander: War and Trade is a space combat and commerce RPG with excellent graphics, sound effects, and a well-imagined world, all at aSpace Commander: War and Trade is a space combat and commerce RPG with excellent graphics, sound effects, and a well-imagined world, all at a budget price. But it operates quite differently from most space combat and trading games, and those differences have thrown many of the reviewers.

    Combat and trade are generally separate activities. Warships have no cargo holds, and cargo ships have only some weak defensive weapons. Straight cargo runs don't involve any combat unless you take too long in transit, which can allow pirates to catch up. Even then you can usually just run away.

    Combat missions other than campaign-related ones are obtained via contracts that you can pick up at various stations. Running around looking for someone to fight isn't going to be productive. Combat contracts often don't pay enough to cover your expenses (fuel, repairs, rearming), and campaign missions don't pay you anything at all. You need to do some serious trading to afford combat.

    The combat is arcade-style, not full 6-degree-of-freedom space combat. In fact, the flight controls operate the same in space as in atmosphere. There's an up and a down, with a ceiling and a floor. Combat against smaller ships is also arcade style, involving multiple waves of fairly easily destroyed enemies. Combat against bigger ships, and destroying structures, can require some tactical thought if you want to survive. In the bigger battles you encounter later in the game, the simplified flight system turns out to be very helpful in keeping from getting disoriented.

    Trade is mainly handled via contracts that you can pick up at various stations. You certainly can trade independently, but it's hard to make much money at it. The contracts are where the money is.

    The economic system is very unusual. The needs and products of each station depend almost entirely on the mining and industrial facilities at that station, and they don't vary much over time. Those, in turn, are influenced by the location within the solar system and the faction running the station. Mining products and industrial materials can't be sold except to stations advertising that they use them, and many of the higher-priced goods aren't in much demand except when a contract calls for them.

    Later in the game, you get the opportunity to start building up a manufacturing operation of your own. You can buy stations and build mining or industrial facilities as appropriate. Don't expect to be profitable right away, but in the long term a well-run operation can produce significant profits.

    Also later in the game, wormholes open up to other star systems. Unfortunately, that part of the game is very disappointing. There's little of value in the other star systems except that you can build up a separate manufacturing operation in each one. Considering them for that purpose, the star systems range from fairly easy (e.g. Alpha Centauri) to very challenging (e.g. Sirius). You're able to have as many as 54 separate manufacturing operations within your one game save: one in each star system.

    The main campaign story line ends with a surprise twist. That twist, however, doesn't actually affect the game play.

    After the main campaign story finishes, war regularly breaks out between the various factions. You'll have the opportunity to engage in large-scale battles, often involving maybe half a dozen enemy capital ships and dozens of enemy light craft already on the battlefield, with more light craft waiting. Many of the battles also feature a number of friendly forces, and the battle zone can get a bit crowded. It's nothing like the simple skirmishes of the early parts of the game.

    Two additional campaigns are focused entirely on arcade-style combat. The Tau Ceti campaign is set following the main campaign, while the other campaign is combat simulator training.

    Considering its budget price, Space Commander: War and Trade offers a lot of value for those who generally prefer the trading side over the combat side. Fans of arcade space combat would probably enjoy it, too.    … Full Review »
  2. NindieSpotlight
    Dec 17, 2021
    6
    Budget-friendly titles can often tend to be difficult to evaluate when their competition carries a higher price tag and something like SpaceBudget-friendly titles can often tend to be difficult to evaluate when their competition carries a higher price tag and something like Space Commander highlights the problem well. What you’re getting is a reasonably-good space sim that does have a general story but will give you more than one path to follow, with both combat and shipping stuff around being viable ways to get things done… or certainly a mix of both. That said, the interface and space combat are certainly rough around the edges. Dogfighting is not just lacking in visual flair but also in depth as your maneuverability is pretty hamstrung and your aiming to shoot down enemies is a bit too automatic. The result is only moderately satisfying combat, so for space sim fans looking for that sort of thrill there are better options out there. That leaves you with the conundrum of the price, with the general quality of the title fairly matching what you’ll pay. So while there are faults, if you’re on a budget it provides a fair deal.

    https://www.nindiespotlight.com/2021/05/mini-reviews-may-18th-edition-nintendo.html    … Full Review »