The public beta for Starhawk opens up for all PS3 gamers across globe sometime today. See what Jay “Anotherdae” Bowen thought about the private beta for this game and whether you should check this out.
Starhawk is a third-person shooter that takes place in a distant, sci-fi future. It is a Playstation 3 exclusive title that drops on May 8th of this year and is the “spiritual successor” to the popular Warhawk game (also for the PS3). I participated in the private beta (versions played: 1.2.9-1.2.10) which I just spent the last week getting worked over in. The beta is testing the multiplayer aspect of the game, which doesn’t explain the story of Starhawk and I’ll admit, I have no idea why the guy’s eye or his hand are glowing.
Real Steel
Starhawk is a multiplayer extravaganza. Picture Battlefield 1943 meets Gundam. Players start out deployed as foot soldiers, then they quickly move on to 4x4 vehicles (Razorbacks) and jet packs (Vultures). Or take it up a notch with a Hawk, Starhawk’s version of the mech. A mech is basically a ridiculously large robot suit; being piloted by a humanoid makes it a mech. Hawks add another level to the shooter aspect, allowing aerial combat with their alternate jet mode. Not to mention the heavy firepower they bring to the table.
Any fan of robot carnage will want to jump into this game. I recommend this game to any Transformers fan or shooter addict. Basically anyone who enjoyed anything from Robotech to Appleseed.
Trial by Fire
Don’t even launch the game if you aren’t prepared to get killed a lot. Get ready to roll in hot, as no tutorials are available in the demo. You can find that information here. You begin by choosing your spawning point, then drop into the game map from orbit. Hang in there. You’ll eventually become accustomed to the map and using the various vehicles. I suggest starting out with either capture the flag or team death match modes so you have a few friendlies around. Also, hold down R2 to always be running.
If you ever played the original Warhawk on the PS One -- this game is nothing like that. The real special thing about Starhawk is the building. Using stored up Rift energy players can build any number of structures from protective walls to turret guns. Rift energy is acquired through successful attacks or more slowly by guarding the home base. Players can “call down” these buildings and they will drop from orbit. Smart players will start out building a defensive position then move on to Hawk and Razorback launchers.
Drop in
Starhawk seems pretty smooth to me. The graphics are great. My only issues are a couple of game freezes which could be easily blamed on my connection speed. A beta is an unfinished product after all. Starhawk is filling my need for mechanical melee while I wait for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. There are a couple dozen games similar such as PC games which I haven’t had the privilege of playing. More recently Front Mission Evolved and the upcoming Hawken. I hope the final release of Starhawk has a rich story mode as well. If it doesn’t, I would tire of the game after awhile, getting shot too much or from the repetition of the multiplayer game mode.
About the Author
Jay “Anotherdae” Bowen lives in New York City and is a full time Art Director. Gaming is a passion mostly enjoyed at night for hours on end after spending time with his new wife, Megan, and three-year-old chocolate brown cocker spaniel, Sylar. He started writing game reviews in 2010 to keep a record his gaming experience. Jay’s preferred console is the PS3 but his love for gaming started with his first Atari. He’s looking forward to the company of fellow adult gamers and bringing reviews to a like-minded community. Check out more from Jay at Gamedae.blogspot.com.
