Guardians of Orion (2015)

Full Gamepad Support

Guardians of Orion offers full support for gamepad controllers, ensuring seamless gameplay across multiple control setups.

Game Editions

There are currently three primary editions available for players to begin their journey in Guardians of Orion. Each edition provides access to unique content and gameplay features.

The Ultimate Sci-Fi RPG Experience

Guardians of Orion is a science-fiction MMORPG shooter that combines cooperative, competitive, social, and dog-fighting gameplay elements. Players can engage in both PvE and PvP modes, exploring expansive environments and participating in intense battles.

Story and Setting

The game is set fifty years in the future, allowing players to explore the New Solar System. A key resource, Ion Crystals, generated by the star Rigel, provides a renewable and unlimited source of clean energy. This energy powers Guardians’ advanced technology and weaponry, offering players access to futuristic tools and equipment throughout their journey.

Exploration

• Traverse multiple planets and moons alongside friends, discovering unique environments and challenges.
• Engage in cooperative survival missions against formidable enemies, including robots and dinosaurs.

Competitive Play

• Participate in various PvP modes, where kills reward store credits and experience points.
• Compete in leaderboards to track progress and compare skills with other players globally.

Gameplay Flexibility

• Switch between first-person, third-person, and top-down perspectives at any time during cooperative gameplay.
• Customize character loadouts with primary and secondary weapons, item kits, and grenade types.

Social Interaction

• Meet and interact with other players in immersive hubs, including space command centers, elemental moons, complex cave systems, and expansive cities.
• Acquire companions or pets that assist in collecting resources, items, and gear.

Inventory and Crafting

• Collect loot and gear throughout missions, and forge resources into equipment and other items to enhance your character.
• Complete a variety of missions, side objectives, daily challenges, and weekly challenges to earn store credits, unlock loot crates, and acquire new gear.

Statistics and Customization

• Monitor player accomplishments with detailed statistics and overviews.
• Millions of customization options are available, including armor sets, hats, helmets, weapon skins, shaders, tracers, effects, and more.

Combat Features

• Experience intense combat with gibs, gore, and over-the-top violence, which can be adjusted in gameplay settings.
• Perform extreme executions and fatalities for added gameplay intensity.
• Engage in free-for-all dog-fighting modes called Wargames, where skillful pilots earn store credits and experience rewards.

Local Co-Op and Play Options

• Additional local co-op features are being added as Guardians of Orion continues to grow and evolve.
• Most items in the Trek Store can be obtained either through in-game progression or purchased directly, focusing on cosmetic enhancements without pay-to-win mechanics.

Development and Release

All prototypes and early access versions of Guardians of Orion are fully funded by the development team. The official release was scheduled for December 20, 2016. Crowdfunding campaigns are used to expand the game's features based on community feedback, similar to the approach taken with the earlier title, ORION: Prelude.

Community Engagement

The development team encourages players to share the game with others, as increased community support allows for greater enhancements and additional content. The goal is to create a massive, expansive game world that evolves with player participation and feedback.

Guardians of Orion offers a lot of promises with its blend of sci-fi MMORPG elements, from cooperative play to dogfighting and PvP modes. However, despite the large scope, the game feels like it's struggling to deliver a polished experience. The visuals are outdated, the gameplay is repetitive, and the combat mechanics lack depth. The focus on in-game purchases, especially for cosmetics, leaves a bad taste, and while it's not a pay-to-win system, the grind can feel unbalanced.

Though it does have some unique features like the ability to switch perspectives and customize characters, the overall execution feels underwhelming. The community-driven development and crowdfunding approach is admirable, but it doesn't make up for the fact that the game falls short in terms of lasting appeal. If you're looking for a compelling sci-fi shooter, there are better options out there. We suggest skipping this one.