Co-op shenanigans in house.
Figuring out that I might be spending a part of PAX West with some shut associates, I used to be looking for a multi-player targeted demo for the 4 of us to take a look at. When Devolver Digital reached out a couple of particular protection alternative that checked that very field, I could not rightly refuse to take a look at an upcoming recreation from one in every of my favourite publishers. The title in query was STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions, and despite the fact that I’m not overly conversant in its predecessor with whom it shares a universe, my friends and I fortunately bopped across the co-op targeted world earlier than finishing our job and being whisked away off planet.
The demo located us proper in the course of the motion, with an goal marker to move in direction of as we step by step found out the controls and our capabilities as house station crew members. Crammed with vibrant and pastel-shaded colours, we labored to attain our first job of reaching the relay station. A lot of the enjoyable got here not from attending to the station however from bouncing all over the world and taking part in with the totally different tools we began the demo with. My software could possibly be used to deform the bottom to create pits or tunnels or in its alternate mode may shoot a blast of air or vitality to propel enemies (or possibly associates) ahead; one other buddy may shoot water from his package to wash off goop disrupting our progress or coating necessary objects. I used to be left with no alternative after we had completed all the demo’s fundamental duties however to make use of my gear to launch my teammates off the mountain we had scaled. It’s this sort of freeform, emergent gameplay that Starseeker seems to enjoy.
After exploring the relay station, our subsequent aim grew to become the retrieval of a lacking sensor array, which fortuitously wasn’t too distant. After all, the mission wasn’t going to be over that simply, and so our true take a look at got here from scaling a close-by mountain whereas one in every of us introduced the array all the best way to the highest. Our squad needed to work collectively to keep at bay enemies, create a tunnel that needed to spiral step by step upwards towards the summit, and carry the array alongside this path. The temptation for mischief was ever current, however we managed to withstand lengthy sufficient to get the tools up the mountain and activated, which signaled the conclusion of our work. All that was left was to traverse one other quick distance to our close by shuttles. Geared up with gliders harking back to Buzz Lightyear, we took a leap of religion and slowly made our method all the way down to the ultimate goal marker. Trying to grab away our victory on the eleventh hour was a rocky creature, however our mixed efforts have been sufficient to push it away in order that we may make our escape.
The simplicity and freedom of the PAX West demo was one in every of my main takeaways, and it felt like I had solely scratched the floor of what could possibly be a very enjoyable however possibly much less demanding co-op expertise. I dare use the time period “cozy” right here, however loosely I feel it suits: the cartoonish visuals, the abundance of colour, the relative ease with which we may escape hazard. I can see the potential in Starseeker for an internet multiplayer expertise that I return to in massive or small bursts for the aim of chilling with associates and dropping ourselves for some time on unusual planets in a related universe. I’m excited by the prospect of a extra lowkey, much less pressure-filled journey with associates, and in 2026 we’ll have the ability to see and be taught extra as Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions prepares for launch on Change 2.
