Derelict Void | PC Review
Derelict Void is a hellaciously difficult resource management game, with the emphasis on hellacious. This project really piqued my interest because the concept brought on by Stirling Games is really quite intriguing. Roguelikes have grown exponentially on me recently, so I’ve been keeping an eye out for new ones as they come across the table. City Builders have always been an enjoyment for me, as well. So after watching the announcement trailer describing Derelict Void as a roguelike city builder, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. However, the experience I got was far from what I was expecting.
Lost In Space, Literally
You are the captain of a ship, in a very small sense of the word, in space. It is suspected that a wyrmhole is to blame for your abrupt displacement from known territory. Nobody knows why or how, and your ship is not the only survivor. Numerous communications are being received from the surrounding darkness.
The setting is fascinating. Decisions bombard you from every angle. You need resources to survive, but do you risk them to save others? Do you keep your crew up to date on the grim circumstances as they evolve into deeper, more somber futures? Or do you keep them in the dark in an attempt to prevent the ship’s morale from dropping? One thing Derelict Void does very well is sending your moral compass spinning with the choices that must be made as your journey progresses.
Scrambling in the Dark
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Derelict Void’s gameplay. The path is procedurally generated, but that’s the only roguelike aspect present, other than the constant deaths. You start with a top-down view of your simple ship, basically a hull on an engine. You must travel to different locations, some with different hulls you can salvage or connect to your own, others with possible resources to add to your stockpile. This brings another challenging decisive aspect, as you use the resources you have not only to survive, but also to fuel your engines. If you don’t find more, you will run out very fast, spelling doom for you and your crew.
The building system is intriguing at first, but becomes infuriatingly disheartening shortly after. Instead of using resources to create buildings, you have to find them on other hulls in your travels. There’s one big problem: the buildings you find aren’t functional. You are tasked with repairing them, which in principle isn’t that difficult. You must find another of the same type of building, and use its parts to repair the original. This concept houses the most glaring issue I had with Derelict Void. With everything procedurally generated, I more often than not would never find second versions of the buildings I had. I was just wasting space and mass lugging around junk factories and processing plants. Yes, your ship’s mass plays a role in your survival as well.
The view of the uncharted space you fly through is beautiful at first glance. That view gets stale rapidly, however, when you realize that it’s the only view you will have the entire time you play the game. With the exception of adding hulls and visual changes to your ship if you get the opportunity to upgrade, you will be staring at that same thing the entire length (normally short) of your survival. But, then again, the title is Derelict Void, so maybe that’s intentional?
Final Verdict
Derelict Void is challenging. Extremely challenging. I just wish it was a challenge that was more fun. The story is really great, and I want so badly to see my ship and crew steered to safety, and witness the product of doing so. Unfortunately, after only a couple of hours of play, I struggled mightily to push forward. That struggle grew exponentially as the frustration mounted. Between the extreme resource management, the inability to get the facilities, which I needed badly, up and running, and the bland visuals, my drive to survive deteriorated rapidly.
To hear me talk more about Derelict Void, be sure to listen to Episode 338 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.
This review is based on a Steam copy of Derelict Void provided by the developer for coverage purposes.
Derelict Void
$19.99
Pros
- Very Interesting Story Plot
- Superb Decision-Making Challenges
Cons
- Extremely Difficult
- Slow Learning Curve
- Frustrating Building System
- Resources Used for Survival AND Travel, a “Candle Burning at Both Ends.”
- Stale Visuals
