Star Wolves
A real-time space tactics game with role-playing elements.
Star Wolves (Звездные волки) is a real-time sci-fi video game from Russian developer X-bow Software that blends role-playing elements with real-time tactics. Originally released in Russia by 1C Company in 2004, it reached other parts of Europe in 2005 and North America in 2006. A sequel, Star Wolves 2, followed in Russia in 2006 and in North America in 2007. The latest series entry, Star Wolves 2: Civil War, is known as Star Wolves 3: Civil War in Europe and North America.
Gameplay centers on controlling a mothership and a small fleet of fighter craft in real time with the mouse, similar to Homeworld. Each ship is piloted by a character whose skills improve over time. Players choose from several skill specializations per character, making each one distinct, and can customize ship armaments and buy new equipment on open or black markets. New characters periodically join the player’s team, expanding and diversifying the group.
The story takes place in a future where humanity has formed an interstellar empire. During the game, the empire faces threats from an alien species and from mega-corporations that increasingly control people’s lives. The player leads a ragtag band of mercenaries, taking missions for various factions while also shaping humanity’s fate.
Originally conceived as a turn-based successor to Homeworld, development shifted to emphasize characters and added the “Smart Pause” feature seen in games like Baldur’s Gate.
As of January 2009, Star Wolves had a Metacritic score of 61 and a MobyRank of 73. The game received good reviews in Germany and Russia, but poor ones in English-speaking countries, largely due to a badly localized voiceover.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Star Wolves
- Developer
- X-bow Software
- Publisher
- 1C Company
- Director
- Aleksey Kozyrev
- Designer
- Dmitry Gulin / Elena Kozyreva
- Writer
- Dmitry Gulin / Aleksey Kozyrev / Paul Kondrashov / Max Bodrikov
- Programmer
- Sergey Semenov
- Artist
- Sergey Kondratovich
- Composer
- Max Kachanoff / Artem Kolpakov
- Released
- Retail / RU · 2004 · EU · 2005 · NA · 2006GamersGate / WW · 2006
- Genre
- Real-time tactics / RPG / Space simulation
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game centers around controlling a mothership and small armada of fighter craft in real-time using the mouse, in a manner very similar to Homeworld. Ships are piloted by characters whose skills advance as the game progresses, and the player can select from a number of skill specializations for each character, making each unique. Players can customize each ship's armament and purchase new equipment on the open and black markets. At various times, new characters join the player's party, making the team larger and more diverse.
Reader's Guide
Star Wolves was originally envisioned as a turn-based successor to Homeworld, but continued development saw an increased focus on characters and the addition of the 'Smart Pause' feature found in games such as Baldur's Gate. The game's reception varied sharply by region: it received good reviews in Germany and Russia, but bad reviews in English-speaking countries due to the horribly localized voiceover. Its composite review scores on Metacritic and MobyRank were 61 and 73, respectively, as of January 2009. The game spawned a sequel, Star Wolves 2, published in Russia in 2006 and in North America in 2007, and a later entry, Star Wolves 2: Civil War (known as Star Wolves 3: Civil War in EU and NA regions).
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