I played an early build of the space trading simulator Stellar Trader. It's an alpha version, but still developed enough to give me a glimpse of what could become a very interesting space economy. The game puts us in the role of a commodity trader in the distant future, where the galaxy is richly populated and supply and demand dictate everything. As the opening credits say: "The whole world is a stage, and everyone is acting solely for their own benefit." Although the early build does not offer much content, there are a few hours of gameplay, just enough for initial impressions.
A rough start, but a good offer
Immediately after the beginning, we create our character, the captain of the ship who will be provided by the international trade union. The welcome package includes a starter ship, fuel and some cash. Fair enough, and a good way to familiarize yourself with the basics.
The character creator offers more than I expected: we choose stats and quirks that affect trade, mechanics, piloting, negotiation and other useful traits. Nicely thought out, and it feels like something that will seriously affect development later on.
However, after detailed character creation, including starting goods and business direction, I was really only looking at him through a thumbnail portrait during the game. No third-person movement, no walking around the stations, at least for now. It is possible that this component is yet to come.
The lack of tutorials is noticeable
What the game definitely lacks is a good tutorial. My first adventure ended in bankruptcy, and faster than I'd like to admit. The key is to read the market correctly: you have to keep track of which resources are abundant on certain planets and which are in demand elsewhere.
Along the way, you accept various quests at space stations: transits, deliveries, time-limited shipments. When it sits, the lova turns slightly. You then invest the money in new goods, ship upgrades, and later in expanding the crew.
Dream of your own planet
One of the most interesting mechanics played by tek hinta is the possibility of colonizing your own planet. The planet is assigned to you randomly, as part of a lottery, and you choose between three offered, each with different characteristics. Unfortunately, you cannot visit it right away. For that, you need to earn enough, buy a ship capable of interstellar travel (all of which are locked in this build) and put together a competent crew, so I could just… look at my future planet on the map.
Navigation and hazards
The journey between the stations is automated: set the course on the map and the ship sails by itself. At the same time, it does not look boring at all, the galaxy is visually very pleasant. Nebulas, star clouds, constellations... everything fits very nicely into the frame.
However, every trip carries risks. You have to watch out for fuel, shields, crew decompression and, of course, pirates. Combat is the most superficial part of the game so far: red dots circle around the ship, you autolock them and hold the left click. No tactics, no serious loot. Just a nuisance.
Aesthetics and sound
Graphically, Stellar Trader makes a very good first impression. Space is beautiful and it does not become tiring to look at it even after several flights. The stations are diverse: from mining complexes and solar power plants to biofarms and synthetic plantations.
Planets are currently unavailable for landing. Interactions with the characters are conducted through text dialogs and avatar windows in the menus. The avatar design is the only visual part that stands out so far.
The synth soundtrack is subtle and atmospheric, just enough to make you feel like you're playing a budget version of Blade Runner.
The menus show that the game has a lot of plans: investments in stocks and loans, residential zones, colony management, more types of ships, more characters. Each planet has its advantages and disadvantages - some are industrial, others are touristic, others are mining. Stable 60 fps and no crashing during gameplay - commendable.
Conclusion
I haven't seen enough to pass a firm judgment on Stellar Trader yet, but from what I've played, it has potential. It's a good feeling when you cleverly resell the goods, earn a bunch of credits, upgrade the ship, recruit a crew member and still have some left over for a new cargo.
System and planet exploration has charm for now, but many options are locked and require more time. We'll have to wait and see what else plays out, but for now I'm optimistic, and I'm putting Stellar Trader on my radar.
